Furman University

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Job Title:

Director Alumni and Parent Engagement

Job Family:

Management

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full time

Compensation Grade:

10S

Pay Type:

Salary

Department:

Development

Job Summary:

The Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement provides an important avenue in which alumni, parents and friends engage with Furman as key stakeholders in its future. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement will provide leadership and management for the development and implementation of programs that promote alumni and parent engagement and philanthropy to Furman. Responsible for the conceptualization, organization and implementation of a comprehensive and integrated alumni and parent program that encourages engagement with the institution through volunteerism and fundraising on and off the campus. The Director’s oversight includes all national and international programming, volunteer leadership, alumni board and councils, communications, and other activities designed to engage two of Furman’s most important constituencies, its alumni and parents of current and former students.

Job Description:

Typical Responsibilities Include:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan with metrics for alumni and parent engagement that includes annual goals to measure increased alumni and parent engagement as volunteers and through philanthropy to support the University’s objectives.
• Working closely with the Associate Vice President and the Director of Annual Giving, create a path for volunteerism that directly builds a broad pipeline of philanthropy.
• Approach the conceptualization, organization, and implementation of an integrated alumni engagement program through an assertive strategy of targeted, research-driven, and increasingly digital approaches that promotes volunteerism and philanthropy. Manage all aspects of the program with a disciplined, data-driven approach.
• Establish measurable goals and objectives for all programs and events within the department and ensure the successful completion of those goals. Manage and prioritize resource allocation for programs such as homecoming, reunions, regional events, career networking activities, online programs, alumni awards, and legacy events. Partner with other development colleagues to develop dashboards used to manage key performance metrics.
• Manage volunteer leadership groups with direct oversight of the Alumni Board and Black Alumni Council, as well as supporting the Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement as she/he provides oversight of the Young Alumni Council. Responsibility includes achieving 100% annual participation in giving, maintaining consistent communication with volunteer leaders, planning and coordinating meetings, and working with nominating committees, staff/faculty and the entire alumni base to identify and cultivate new members.
• Create a strategy to ensure representation, inclusion and active engagement of Furman’s diverse community of alumni and parents.
• Collaborate within the Development division and with other offices on campus (Academics, Career Center, Enrollment, Athletics) to align programming with fundraising, student recruitment, and The Furman Advantage including mentoring and career development objectives.
• Build and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty and campus departments whose involvement is helpful in effective outreach, engagement, cultivation and stewardship of alumni and parents.
• Represent the University on campus, to the Furman community and to the broader external community of Greenville, South Carolina and beyond. Be a strong leader and partner with the overall development team to build a robust pipeline of donors through identification, cultivation and stewardship.
• Develop and deliver clear and cohesive alumni and parent communications and messages in partnership with Development office colleagues and University marketing and communications including through the Furman magazine and other print vehicles, the website, and social media.
• Manage all resources for alumni and parent engagement operations including budgets, ongoing staff recruiting, and professional development (in conjunction with other Development initiatives).
• Lead, manage, mentor and support the Alumni and Parent Engagement staff.
• Maintain a small portfolio of alumni to support the processes and conversations regarding gift officer work and be a strategic partner to gift officers in the work with donors.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Vice President for Development and the Associate Vice President for Development. The intent of this job classification description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions in this classification and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically present in this description.

Relationships:

• Daily contact with members of own work unit, immediate supervisor, alumni, and volunteers to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information, and make suggestions related to mutual goals.
• Daily contact with members of other departments and students to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information, and make suggestions related to mutual goals.
• Frequent contact with support services on campus including dining services, admissions, facilities services, post office, and public safety to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information, and make suggestions related to mutual goals.
• Frequent contact with vendors and sponsors to influence, motivate or persuade parties to obtain desired results. 
• Frequent contact with professional peers at other institutions to exchange factual information and explanation of rules, regulations, practices or functions.

Responsibility for Final Decisions:

• Direct supervision of 3-10 employees and numerous volunteers.
• Reviews work to ensure compliance with procedures and deadlines.
• Spends time planning, scheduling, and assigning priorities of multiple ongoing assignments.
• Tasks involve interpretation of data and/or procedures to address problems or situations that are not clearly defined. Work involves non-routine/diverse work not defined by procedures.
• Errors may cause inaccuracies in reports, records or data resulting in dissemination of inaccurate or incomplete information. 

Reports To: Associate Vice President for Development.

• Work is performed independently except where the interpretation of law, policy, rule, complex procedure or request for exception is required.

Education/Skill Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree with 5+ years of experience in alumni relations, fundraising or related field. Graduate degree a plus.
• Furman alumnus preferred.
• Strategic planning skills, visionary thinker.
• Strong interpersonal skills including a service-oriented approach, ability to interact with all types of people, and the ability to manage the department.
• Experience managing staff and volunteers is required.
• Effective leadership skills with the ability to build and sustain a successful team environment.
• Experience planning, managing, and evaluating events.
• Working knowledge of the applications of social media and digital communication.
• Skilled communicator, whether speaking or writing.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple projects.
• High energy level and a sense of humor. Ability to work independently and as part of the overall Development effort.

Work Conditions:

• Work is performed under usual office conditions.
• Regular travel is required.

Education Requirements:

Certification Requirements:

Job Posting End Date (if date is blank, posting is open ended):