Associate Director of Alumni Engagement: Affinities

The Associate Director of Alumni Engagement reports to the Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement and is responsible for managing activities centered around faculty connections, key affinity groups, and on-campus programming in support of alumni needs, as well as any initiatives determined by the Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement. This position will work collaboratively with all members of the alumni engagement team, leveraging a strong alumni base highly motivated to connect back to their alma mater, as well as embrace an integrated engagement and annual giving model by proactively identifying and executing "soft-ask" opportunities within the alumni journey to drive participation in the Lafayette College Annual Fund.

The ideal candidate for this role has experience engaging and mobilizing large audiences. Expertise on how to manipulate data and develop actionable analytics is critical. Attention to detail, facility with new technologies, event planning, ability to manage several high-visibility projects simultaneously and an entrepreneurial mindset are imperative. All members of the team are expected to support Lafayette College and the Advancement Team's key initiatives, major events, projects and strategic goals.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential roles and responsibilities for this position include creation and oversight of the following areas:

Affinity Programming

• Identify lead volunteers for fraternity and sorority life (AISB) and Council of Lafayette Women (CLW) affinities
• Collaborate with the Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement to build a pipeline of volunteers and establish volunteer protocol and guidelines for these affinities
• Manage all logistical needs of AISB and CLW affinities as identified by the Director of Alumni and Volunteer Engagement, including but not limited to attending regular meetings and serving as the alumni engagement liaison
• Support the growth and execution of professional affinities, not limited to health professions and finance affinities.
• Plan, organize and execute the biennial Council of Lafayette Women's Conference, as well as off year regional and virtual programming

Gateway Career Center

• Partner with Gateway Career Center on various initiatives and serve as the main alumni engagement liaison with this campus partner
• Identify, cultivate and steward alumni volunteers interested in supporting the Gateway Career Center and steer towards initiatives that support the strategic goals of Gateway.
• Coordinate with the Gateway Alumni liaison to build alumni programming, with the focus on online career development

Faculty

• Develop and execute signature events that connect alumni and faculty through meaningful engagement
• Explore possible faculty led or supplemented alumni travel programs that align with key strategic goals of the College
• Identify, cultivate and steward alumni volunteer opportunities in the classroom and with connections to faculty

Annual Giving Strategic Alignment

• Collaborates with Annual Giving staff to translate engagement data into personalized follow-up, utilizing event touchpoints to demonstrate the tangible impact of donor support.
• Cultivates relationships that align alumni passions with specific campus needs, partnering with Annual Giving colleagues to transition those connections into philanthropic commitments.
• Participates in joint strategy sessions with the Annual Giving team to ensure engagement activities are synchronized with the broader fundraising calendar and donor-segmentation goals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education, Experience and Knowledge:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (such as Communications, Marketing, or Event Management)
• Two to five years of higher education experience

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments
• Proven proficiency in managing a number of projects simultaneously, within a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with alumni engagement strategies and best practices
• Skill to develop and execute a project independently and creatively
• Proficiency in using relevant software and tools (Microsoft Office, CRM systems, Google suite, Hustle etc.).
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends during events, as needed

Please provide cover letter, resume and contact information for three references.


Lafayette is deeply committed to creating a diverse community, one that is responsive inclusive and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the college community share in the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the college's commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (deai) initiatives, and lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.