Director of Alumni Engagement

About Sidwell Friends School

Sidwell Friends School is a dynamic pre-kindergarten through grade 12 educational community, on campuses in Bethesda, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Sidwell is grounded in Quaker values of ethical leadership, global citizenship, environmental stewardship, and service. Through our curriculum and our approach to learning, we strive to help students discern deeper truths about themselves and our common humanity so that they may “let their lives speak.”

Sidwell Friends will open a new Upper School for grades 9-12 in September 2026. It will be the largest building on campus and will feature state-of-the art facilities, welcoming common spaces, and natural light throughout. The current Lower School, in Bethesda, Maryland, has been separated from the rest of the Sidwell campus for more than 60 years.

Starting in the summer of 2026, Sidwell Friends will begin construction of a new Lower School that will incorporate parts of the existing Upper School, with significant additions and modifications to accommodate the needs of our youngest students. The new Lower School, along with the creation of a new central green space that will unite the campus, will open in the fall of 2028.

Position Overview

The Director of Alumni Engagement, reporting to the Senior Director of Engagement, plays a key role in planning, implementing, and managing a comprehensive engagement program for alumni. This position creates and measures engagement opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and the life of the School in alignment with the School’s alumni engagement strategic plan and the Advancement department’s overall goals. The Director of Alumni Engagement works collaboratively to advance the goals of the department. The Director of Alumni Engagement has a demonstrated track record of strategic planning, data analytics, collaboration, innovation, and creativity, and is well-versed in alumni engagement best practices.

Key Responsibilities

Alumni Engagement

• Identify the key metrics and goals for alumni engagement, oversee the collection of and analysis of data, evaluate program success, and employ data-based decision making to strengthen the alumni programs.
• Oversee and manage the execution of signature alumni events such as Homecoming, Reunion Weekend, and Let Your Life Speak Morning.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Engagement and the Friends Alumni Network Advisory Board volunteers to develop and implement strategic goals and objectives that align with the School’s Strategic Plan.
• Bring an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to the management of alumni engagement tools and systems like the recently relaunched alumni directory and developing mentorship platform to create sustainable, impactful engagement.
• In collaboration with Individual Giving colleagues and with the support of the Executive Assistant, plan and execute programming specifically focused on preparing current students for their alumni experience and young alumni in college, including the Almost Alumni Celebration, 100 Days activity, College Dinner Series, College Care Package, College Connections Program, and other activities or events as identified.
• Facilitate and support close collaboration between alumni engagement and giving. In collaboration with donor engagement and individual giving colleagues, turn increased engagement into philanthropic support and build momentum around signature alumni programs such as Homecoming, Reunion Weekend, and more.

Volunteer Management

• Support the identification, recruitment, training, and retention of volunteers, in coordination with Engagement and Individual Giving colleagues
• Manage two standing committees under the Friends Alumni Network Advisory Board:
  • Let Your Life Speak Committee, in selection and recruitment of alumni to serve as speakers for the Let Your Life Speak Morning event, and manage all logistics associated with the event.
  • Dehejia Fellows Program Committee; in recruitment of alumni internship hosts and promotion of the program to the broader School community, and coordination with Center for Ethical Leadership and donor engagement staff to manage logistics associated with the program.
• Manage affinity-based volunteer groups in alignment with strategic priorities:
  • Black Alumni Alliance, including management of all sub-Committees, execution of associated events, planning and implementation of bi-annual Black Alumni Alliance Summit
• Oversee the 50th Reunion year class for Reunion Weekend, as well as young alumni classes celebrating their 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th year Reunions. In partnership with Individual Giving colleagues, recruit and manage volunteers for these classes to plan class-specific events and engage peer alumni via Reunion Weekend.
• Work with Individual Giving colleagues to create personalized engagement opportunities for prospective donors.

Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree is required with four to six years of experience in alumni engagement, preferably in a higher-education or independent school setting. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker who has a deep understanding of sustained relationship management, fundraising, stewardship, and engagement programming. Professionalism, discretion, creativity, willingness to travel and work occasional irregular hours, and the ability to deal with confidential information are vital in this role.

Required Skills & Experience

Required

• Must be able to provide strategic development, implementation, and management of a comprehensive engagement program for alumni.
• Must be a strategic, self-motivated, highly dependable, independent worker with the ability to effectively prioritize work and problem-solve.
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize projects to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and best practices in alumni engagement.
• Skilled in project and event management, both in-person and virtual.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage complex, multi-phase projects from inception to completion.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with colleagues.
• Ability to represent the School with internal and external constituents in the community by attending events and social gatherings, including occasional nights and weekends, as needed.
• Approximately 10% domestic travel is required for the role.

Desired

Experience using Raiser’s Edge/NXT, Almabase, and Finalsite in a non-profit setting.

Salary & Benefits

Sidwell Friends School offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees’ health, well-being, and long-term financial security. Benefits include multiple medical, dental, and vision plan options; school-paid life and long-term disability insurance; wellness programs; and flexible spending accounts.

Sidwell contributes 7% of gross salary to a 403(b) retirement plan, with a 3% employee contribution, along with generous paid time off including school breaks, federal holidays, personal days, and paid family leave. Additional benefits include free lunch and parking, public transportation support, access to campus facilities, childcare and summer program discounts, and other community-focused resources.

Salary: $90,000-$100,000 per year. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications

To Apply
To be considered, qualified candidates must upload a cover letter, a resume , and three references through our applicant tracking system (ClearCo). To learn more about our school and current openings, please visit our website.

Diversity Statement
Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, “How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world?"