Associate Director, Alumni Volunteer Experience

Department

ADV Alumni and Volunteer Experience 1

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 Volunteer Experience, will develop innovative strategies for building and strengthening UChicago Alumni volunteer programs. They will be responsible for identifying and executing initiatives that strengthen volunteer engagement, experience, and retention. The Associate Director will be responsible for working closely with team members and volunteer leaders to identify and implement new volunteer activities, strategic plans, and community organizational structures, in alignment with University goals. They will be responsible for managing a volunteer portfolio and initiatives designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation giving, and advance the objectives of UChicago Alumni, divisional alumni initiatives, and the broader University.

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

• Manages a portfolio of alumni volunteers with a focus on cultivating and stewarding volunteers and identifying opportunities to deepen engagement.
• Provides support for affinity communities, partnering with volunteers to develop programs and initiatives aligned with community and University priorities.
• Develops and leads strategies that amplify the impact of UChicago Alumni volunteer programs, with specific and measurable annual and multi-year goals aligned with the University's alumni engagement strategic priorities.
• Increases consistency and cohesion across UChicago Alumni volunteer programs. Maximizes volunteer engagement by developing an infrastructure for strategic engagement touchpoints that elevate experience, retention, satisfaction, and impact.
• Establishes organization-wide recommendations to strengthen volunteer organizations and leadership pipelines. Partners with team leads to assess, align, and implement volunteer recruitment, training, support, and stewardship practices.
• Collaborates with key stakeholders in planning and executing volunteer recognition events, experiences, and communications.
• Formalizes and facilitates training program for volunteer managers across the division to standardize best practices, resources, and leadership development opportunities.
• Assesses and reimagines signature UChicago Alumni volunteer leadership programs.
• In partnership with volunteer managers and alumni leaders, identifies and integrates practices that increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across volunteer programs and experiences. Develops strategies to meaningfully and sustainably diversify the leadership pipeline, voices amplified through UChicago Alumni channels, and communities engaged.
• Facilitates proactive data pulls, reports, and lists. Completes proactive analyses of events. Assesses trends and presents findings. Tracks survey data and analyzes results. Makes recommendations based on these analyses. Maintains records and files, and updates database regularly.
• Maintains accurate and detailed records, timelines, and process documents when coordinating events. Archives event details.
• Builds a culture of philanthropy across volunteer communities and organizations. Drives new initiatives and supports existing efforts to leverage volunteer roles and channels to drive giving. Solicits annual gifts as assigned.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• 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. 

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 

• Strong commitment to customer service. 
• A strong commitment to personal and professional development and foster 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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