General Summary of Position:
The Executive Director of Alumni Relations is responsible for providing the strategic directive for alumni and donor engagement programs. The Executive Director provides leadership, direction, and implementation of the University’s alumni outreach. The position includes being the internal and external leader for alumni and future alumni cultivation and engagement. The Executive Director’s role includes strategic planning, budget oversight, integration of the university’s mission into overall planning, and implementation and evaluation of programs which build greater alumni interest and increase the engagement of alumni in shaping and supporting the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This person will strategize and manage alumni, donor, and campaign-based events. This position may carry a modest portfolio of alumni and friends to engage in fundraising initiatives.
Essential Job Duties:
1. Provide strategic direction for integration of alumni engagement initiatives with all the Schools and Colleges to enhance their alumni support. Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with the Directors of Development, deans, key faculty, and counterparts to foster their involvement in university-wide alumni activities and efforts more closely aligned with their respective areas of responsibility. Advises and manages various departmental and college alumni activities.
2. Oversee all Campaign-related events, regional and international activities, and virtual alumni programs.
3. Develop programs that foster alumni volunteerism to maximize the reach of the division and its mission. Develop and implement strategic partnerships for alumni involvement in the key university priorities including fundraising, advisory boards, admissions, international relations and career services.
4. Manage donor relations special events (to execute high level cultivation events for constituents and donors) that provide strategic support to all functions within the Division of University Advancement.
5. Work with Advancement Communications on building an integrated marketing strategy for segmented and targeted alumni outreach, along with contributing to the Alumni Magazine and other university materials that have an alumni demographic.
6. Serve as liaison to the UMass President’s Office and UMass Foundation for system-wide alumni activities and programs among all UMass campuses.
7. Other related duties as assigned by the Vice Chancellor for Advancement.
Promote the University’s commitment to customer service by:
• Building effective partnerships with co-workers throughout the University by freely sharing appropriate information and providing assistance when needed.
• Ensuring optimum service to all internal and external partners in response to all requests for service and information.
• Maintaining an environment that is welcoming to UML alumni and friends of all backgrounds.
Working Conditions:
- Participates in Advancement-wide projects, meetings, events, retreats as needed including some nights and weekends. National and international travel, as necessary
Impact of Actions:
- Important decisions regarding procedures and programs are made daily.
Complexity:
- The position is a senior leadership position in University Advancement, where the Executive Director is expected to manage and operate under the guidance of the Vice Chancellor, in the best interests of the university.
Supervision Exercised:
- Supervise Alumni Relations staff
Internal/External Communications:
- Frequent communications among co-workers, staff, alumni, and other campus departments. This position must have excellent customer relations skills in order to interact with both internal staff and external donors and alumni.
Special Skills:
- Frequent communications among co-workers, staff, alumni, and other campus departments. This position must have excellent customer relations skills in order to interact with both internal staff and external donors and alumni.
Minimum Qualifications (Required):
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Ten to fifteen years of progressively responsible alumni relations, event planning or volunteer management experience, preferably in higher education.
Additional Considerations:
- Flexibility to travel, the majority of which will be national in scope.
- Weekend and evening work will be necessary.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal relationships and volunteer stewardship skills.
- Proven computer skills including desktop applications, databases and web-based information and familiarity with alumni and development software systems, including PeopleSoft Contributor Relations and Advance tools. Experience in planning and executing successful events for alumni groups both on and off-campus within defined budgetary and other constituent groups.
- Ability to create and nurture productive working partnerships internally and externally.
- Proven leader with integrity and manager who is intuitive, creative, self-directed, conscientious, motivated and a team player.
- Experience in higher education and working in complex organizations is preferred.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.
This is a Non-Unit, Professional position, Grade P24.
Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required during the application process.
