Associate Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience

Department

ADV College Experience

About the Department

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

Within the Office of Advancement, the Alumni and Volunteer Experience team oversees a diverse set of programs and initiatives designed to increase participation and engagement among alumni, parents, and friends of the University, with a focus on driving key University priorities. Under the direction of the Executive Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience, this team is responsible for achieving ambitious participation, engagement, and fundraising goals.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Alumni and Volunteer Experience, will serve in a new role focused on developing innovative strategies for building and strengthening undergraduate alumni engagement through various College affiliations, which include residential houses, registered student organizations, and athletics. The University’s undergraduate College has seen significant growth and change in the past two decades, resulting in diversity of identity and campus experiences in the undergraduate alumni population. The Associate Director will be responsible for responding to this diversity by taking an entrepreneurial and proactive approach to tailoring experiences based on the College’s unique communities. As an inaugural member of a new vertical focused on the undergraduate alumni experience, they will also shape the priorities and culture of a developing team.

This role uses best practices and knowledge within Alumni Relations and leads a program designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of the Alumni Association and the broader University. Researches, executes, and implements best practices in alumni relationship management. Works with the Alumni Board of Governors to create and implement guidelines to govern shared interest groups.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements strategic engagement plans for various College affiliations, with specific and measurable goals, aligned with the University's alumni engagement and fundraising priorities and tailored to the unique needs of each community.
• Identifies, creates, and executes opportunities for meaningful engagement based on these College affiliations with a focus on strengthening connections between alumni and the University; deepening alumni pride; and enhancing and expanding engagement opportunities for the global UChicago undergraduate alumni community.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders in planning and executing strategic experiences based on undergraduate affiliations, including Homecoming and Alumni Weekend programming.
• Partners with colleagues across the University and the College, including College athletics fundraising leads, to develop and implement strategies to increase cross-campus collaboration on College affiliation engagement strategies and goals.
• Builds a culture of philanthropy across alumni communities, supporting divisional qualification, cultivation, and solicitation strategies and ensuring that volunteer boards meet philanthropic goals.
• Continually evaluates, assesses, and reports on College affiliation alumni engagement strategies for ongoing improvement and growth, with a particular focus on driving Advancement goals.
• Identifies and integrates strategies for increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across programs and experiences.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions and with an eye towards broadly diversifying the advancement profession.
• Assists in leading and coordinating the planning, organization, and management of events, programs, and services designed to cultivate and maintain ties between the University of Chicago and key constituent groups. May assist in or individually create a marketing plan to maximize participation and engagement of alumni, parents, and friends.
• Has a deep understanding of strategic planning, data management, the creation and tracking of metrics, and the creation and implementation of new constituent relations programs worldwide. Measures, tracks, and reports participation and success of initiatives.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Minimum five years of professional work experience in nonprofit management, development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, sales, or similar field.
• Minimum one year of experience developing and monitoring budgets.
• Strong commitment to customer service.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including Phoenix, (the University's Donor Relationship Management System.
• Proficient in Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.
• Proficient with Salesforce CRM.

Preferred Competencies

• A strong commitment to personal and professional development and fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively. Explain complex ideas clearly and simply.
• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Self-motivated and take initiative.
• Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.

Working Conditions

• This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in office presence.
• Standard office environment.
• Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)

Job Family

Alumni Relations & Development

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$76,500.00 - $90,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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