Job Description
Department:
Engagement - Advancement
Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Employee Type:
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement, the associate director of engagement is an essential member of the Alumni and Donor Engagement team in College Advancement. The primary focus of the Engagement team is to increase alumni engagement with Colby through investments of time, talent, and ultimately, philanthropic support for the College.
As part of an overall portfolio of work focused on engagement efforts with our Colby community, the associate director will develop a comprehensive understanding of the many ways in which alumni, families, and friends rely upon and can contribute to the College and use that knowledge to build upon an already successful suite of engagement strategies and tactics (encompassing events, communications, volunteer management, and participation in annual giving).
Specific focus areas for the position will include, but may not be limited to, working closely with regional alumni volunteers to revitalize Colby’s regional alumni clubs network and activities through volunteer management, program planning, and event execution, as well as managing Advancement-driven programs for alumni, families, and donors on Colby’s Island Campus through program planning and event execution.
Additional responsibilities may include, but not be limited to, developing affinity cohorts and programming; liaising with on-campus centers, institutes, and labs; and working with colleagues in Advancement and across campus to produce virtual engagement content.
Essential Functions
To perform successfully in this position, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily as well as possess education/experience, employ the knowledge, skills, and abilities as listed in representative fashion. Colby College actively supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative; other duties may be assigned.
Contribute to an overarching engagement strategy and subsequently execute events, communications, volunteer management, and other projects in support of that strategy and engagement goals.
Recruit and manage volunteers, establish volunteer structures, promote awareness and attendance through peer and other outreach efforts, and create clear pathways for alumni to participate in volunteer and leadership activities.
Support the Colby Alumni Council and its subcommittees by attending meetings, partnering with Council members on projects, taking minutes, and other related activities.
Help develop new and engaging experiences aligned with alumni interests and their affinity for the College, as well as fundraising priorities.
Coordinate and attend alumni, family, and friends event programming (virtual and in-person, on-campus and off-campus), including Homecoming, regional events, and Reunion. May include event planning, RSVP management, and event marketing materials; will always include collaboration with the Advancement Events and Marketing/Communications teams.
Develop, often in partnership with the Advancement Marketing and Communications team, cohort-based communications, updates to content on the Advancement website, etc.
Routinely gather and analyze data to assess program and communications effectiveness at increasing engagement and, ultimately, support of the Colby Fund.
Manage an assigned portfolio of engagement prospects through ongoing communication, as well as in-person and virtual meetings, with an expectation that those prospects, when appropriate, also get solicited for the Colby Fund each year.
Assist with participation-level giving campaigns to drive support for the Colby Fund through management of the assigned portfolio and outreach to unassigned prospects.
Serve as a visible, accessible representative of alumni engagement on campus and as a point of contact for alumni inquiries as needed.
Develop supportive partnerships with staff and faculty across campus as needed, including the Campus Events, Facilities, Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, DavisConnects Career Center, Department of Athletics, and Office of Campus Life; enhance opportunities for alumni to advance the goals and aspirations of these departments and the students they serve.
Maintain highly professional standards and procedures for engagement programming, in keeping with the College's image and reputation.
Position Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Valid Driver’s license required, and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy Requirements.
Must be available and willing to travel occasionally for work (approx. 5–8 times a year), and to work hours outside the typical work day (i.e., nights and weekends)
Strong, self-motivated work ethic; flexibility; and proven capability to work both independently and collaboratively; has a results-driven philosophy with the ability to problem-solve.
Customer-service oriented mindset
Candidates must thrive in a fast-paced office environment; candidates must have an entrepreneurial spirit and a positive attitude.
Education and/or experience:
Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience
Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of volunteer and/or program/event management experience or transferable skills.
High level of digital fluency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and database management. Ability to quickly learn and integrate new technical platforms into daily operations.
Preferred Qualifications or Skills:
Proficiency with fundraising/constituent relations databases and technology is preferred
Experience with a customer relationship management (CRM) system and email marketing software is a plus.
Ability to inspire and motivate individuals and groups in support of broader mission and goals
Physical/Mental Demands
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
To successfully perform the essential functions of this position, an employee must be able to maintain appropriate confidentiality with regard to employee data, documents, issues, etc., and respect the privacy needs of employees and past employees with regard to the same.
The ability to comply with firm deadlines is required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position; there will be multiple occurrences of sudden, urgent task completion required.
There may be occurrences of employees, past employees, members of the general public, and others who express opinions, may exhibit strong emotions, which will require the employee to interact professionally, diplomatically, and appropriately in such situations.
While performing the essential duties of this position, an employee would frequently be required to move around the office space as well as within hallways, meeting rooms, and other parts of the campus facilities.
There may be multiple/daily instances of prolonged personal computer use, which would include keyboard and/or mouse usage as well as viewing a computer monitor.
An employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds to perform essential position functions.
Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
The overall work environment requires the mental ability to shift focus quickly due to interruptions; an employee must be able to mentally track multiple projects and tasks as well.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, there may be unexpected instances of somewhat loud sounds.
To Apply:
Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website. Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application.
