Director of Alumni Engagement and Special Events

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Alumni Engagement, the Director of Alumni Engagement and Special Events is responsible for the planning and implementation of programs and initiatives that strategically engage alumni and foster life-long connections with Meharry Medical College.
The Director of Alumni Engagement and Special Events is charged with securing commitments from alumni to provide professional expertise and volunteer service to fellow alumni, current students, and other Meharry College initiatives, and will collaborate with colleagues across the College to create and maintain pathways for alumni participation that advance Meharry's strategic priorities. The Director also partners with Advancement colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward current and prospective alumni donors, especially in their reunion years. This includes supporting efforts to engage alumni in Campaign 150, the College's $350 million capital campaign, which is scheduled to close in 2026, the 150th anniversary of Meharry.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Alumni Engagement, the Director of Alumni Engagement and Special Events is responsible for the planning and implementation of programs and initiatives that strategically engage alumni and foster life-long connections with Meharry Medical College.

The Director of Alumni Engagement and Special Events is charged with securing commitments from alumni to provide professional expertise and volunteer service to fellow alumni, current students, and other Meharry College initiatives, and will collaborate with colleagues across the College to create and maintain pathways for alumni participation that advance Meharry's strategic priorities. The Director also partners with Advancement colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward current and prospective alumni donors, especially in their reunion years. This includes supporting efforts to engage alumni in Campaign 150, the College's $350 million capital campaign, which is scheduled to close in 2026, the 150th anniversary of Meharry.

Essential Functions (Duties and Responsibilities)

• In collaboration with the AVP, Alumni Engagement, develops and implements a comprehensive program designed to grow the engagement of Meharry alumni and the broader community with the purposes of furthering philanthropy, volunteer recruitment and retention, as well as Meharry's strategic goals through activities (including events), communications, volunteer involvement, personal interaction, online programming, and travel programs with measurable success.
• Serves as a natural partner to advancement officers on key alumni solicitations, helps foster relationships, deepens relationships with the College, and communicates the impact of giving on the College's students and alumni.
• Establishes and builds relationships with a wide range of alumni, locally, regionally, and nationally; maintains regular communication with alumni via personalized emails, phone calls, and texts; meetings; and broad-based channels.
• Co-creates and facilitates a strategic alumni communications plan focused on engagement and cultivation in coordination with Alumni Association and communications and marketing colleagues, including promotional messaging for alumni activities and events, content for the alumni webpage, social media, print publications, and e-mail outreach.
• Collaborates with the Meharry National Alumni Association, advancement colleagues, and other College departments/divisions to develop and test new engagement strategies that encourage regular campus visits, frequent communication with faculty/staff and fellow alumni, active involvement and leadership in regional alumni chapters, and increased levels of involvement and philanthropic support.
• Leverages Raiser's Edge to update alumni records as they receive new information and to prepare for strategic engagement of individual alumni.
• Builds and maintains an in-depth knowledge of Meharry, its funding priorities, and giving opportunities in order to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents and to demonstrate the importance of philanthropy to alums' specific areas of interest and program affiliations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in alumni relations and external affairs; experience in a higher education advancement office preferred.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, together with the ability to work collaboratively and courteously with colleagues throughout the College, alumni, other constituents and the public

• The demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve institutional goals
• High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information
• Solid computer skills with experience using Microsoft Office applications, the internet, and social media; experience using Raiser's Edge (or similar database) preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Values a team environment and collaboration.
• Ability to plan, implement, and manage multiple projects.
• Authentic appreciation for the role that Meharry Medical College plays as a premier medical college and a Historically Black College and University institution.
• Frequent travel, and some evening/weekend work required.
• Must hold a valid driver's license.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience would be an advantage.

Environmental Conditions and Physical Demands

• Usual office environment.
• Manual dexterity
• Visual and auditory acuity
• Able to sit, stand or walk for extended periods of time