POSITION OBJECTIVE

The associate director of alumni affinity programs will develop and implement programs designed to instill a sense of lifelong engagement with the university among current students and recent graduates. This position will have primary responsibility for the design and execution of specific programs related to affinity groups to identify, cultivate, and steward engagement. The incumbent will work directly with each affinity group to identify potential new members, plan and execute social and civic activities, solicit and steward affinity members for university funding, and cultivate leadership development and succession planning. The position will also strategize how to identify, strengthen and develop new alumni affinity groups.

The associate director will develop relationships with individual alumni and qualify them as potential leadership annual or major gift prospects. The associate director will partner with development officers to assist with cultivation and stewardship efforts for individual alumni, donors and prospects, and play a supporting role in solicitations, in an effort to increase philanthropic attainment and the university's alumni participation rate.

This position will be responsible for supervising the student and young alumni manager, whose principal responsibility will be engaging current and incoming students and young alumni to inspire a culture of ongoing commitment to the university.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Manage existing affinity groups to ensure that the groups have meaningful programming opportunities, volunteer service opportunities and university fundraising for programs/services that are tied directly to the mission and interests of the group identity and keep alumni connected to the university. Identify, cultivate, and steward affinity group leaders and volunteers. Collaborate with development officers in the Office of Annual and Special Giving and Office of National Development and Major Gifts, as well as development officers in the schools/college to advance prospective donors toward a philanthropic solicitation. Build relations and communicate with groups continuously, developing leadership and succession planning. Recommend changes/improvements to processes to affinity network goals and objectives to increase engagement and participation. (40%)
2. Work with university partners to identify, create and develop new affinity groups in unique areas of student life, student organizations, and identity in alignment with short- and long-term strategies. Nurture, support, communicate expectations, and provide structure to ensure that new affinity groups are successful and effective. Build relations and communicate with the constituents of these groups continuously, developing leadership and succession planning. Develop plans regarding membership outreach and inclusion. (20%)
3. In partnership with development officers, engage affinity group members and other volunteers to qualify, cultivate and steward individuals who have capacity to make gifts of $10,000 or more to the university. Collaborate with development officers in Annual and Special Giving and National Development and Major Gifts, as well as development officers in the schools/college to advance prospective donors toward a philanthropic solicitation. Support development officers' stewardship efforts through face-to-face and digital engagement with prospects and donors. (15%)
4. Oversee the strategic plan to engage students and new alumni with the alumni association. Mentor and supervise staff member responsible for developing and executing student and young alumni outreach through events and digital engagement. Cultivate the connection between affinity groups and their student organization counterparts to ensure a seamless experience for students transitioning to alumni. (10%)
5. Serve as the staff liaison for the RISE (racial injustice and social equity) Committee of the alumni board. Coordinate meetings for the committee, prepare agendas and ensure action items are handled in a timely manner. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Responsible for developing and executing strategic plans by establishing, measuring and tracking metrics related to programs, events and engagement. Contribute to the annual report of accomplishments and duties. Develop and manage a budget tied to strategic goals of each program. Plan a fiscally responsible budget for all affinity groups and oversee the programming budget for student/young alumni, including student organization program sponsorships. Oversee performance evaluation and resourcing, process improvement, and research to ensure the most efficient and effective use of resources. (5%)
2. Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with the associate vice president, director, and all alumni relations staff as required to perform essential functions.

University: Contact with senior level administrative and central development staff, senior staff in academic units and management centers, and faculty as required to perform essential functions.

External: Contact with alumni, donors, outside vendors and community members as required to perform essential functions.

Students: Contact with students/student volunteers as required to perform essential functions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Direct supervision of a student and young alumni manager.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 5 or more years of work experience; prefer experience in alumni relations, higher education, non-profit and/or fundraising, public relations, or related field; Previous professional experience in alumni relations is highly desirable.

Education: Bachelor's degree in a related field required; Master's degree preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

1. Ability to work with and effectively manage alumni, volunteers, students and student organizations.
2. High degree of energy, organization, creativity, flexibility and organizational skills.
3. Proven ability to operate on a strategic level dealing with complex issues.
4. Ability and willingness to consider and implement best practices among peer institutions.
5. Proven success on strategic implementation.
6. Proven ability to develop and manage budgets tied to strategic goals.
7. Ability to interact with and relate to diverse constituencies.
8. Highly motivated with uncompromising standards of excellence and quality.
9. Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills are necessary, as is ability to interact with diverse internal and external constituencies. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
10. Computer proficiency (including Microsoft Office and Google Suite) and ability to learn new programs. Experience with database programming is a plus.
11. Ability to meet consistent attendance.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General office environment. Some travel required.

This position is eligible for hybrid work arrangement up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department. New employees may begin a hybrid schedule upon approval from the supervisor, successful completion of an orientation period and signing the remote work checklist certification form.

In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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