Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan

Job Description:

Title: Assistant Vice President, Alumni Engagement

Employee Classification: AP - Administrative Professional

Pay Grade: AP 9

Division: Advancement

Department: VP Advancement

Campus Location: Main Campus

General Summary

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Alumni Engagement will provide vision and leadership for alumni programs (both university-wide and school/college-specific) and related initiatives offered under the E-Alumni brand. The AVP will be responsible for the strategic planning, creation, delivery, and maintenance of a comprehensive suite of alumni programs, all advancement communications, and volunteer opportunities meant to increase alumni connection, engagement, and philanthropic support.

Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement & Executive Director of the EMU Foundation (EMUF), the AVP is a member of the EMUF leadership team and must have excellent collaboration and communication skills to develop and maintain partnerships with advancement staff, frontline fundraisers and other EMU colleagues. The AVP is also a highly visible leader across the broader university community. The AVP will work to establish and grow effective partnerships with college deans, school leaders, and other key university partners. The AVP will also strengthen a critical strategic partnership with the EMU Division of Communications. Additionally, they will work alongside Executive Officers, including the Offices of the President and Provost, Intercollegiate Athletics, Chief Diversity Officer, and Enrollment Management, to help support all institutional priorities through effective alumni engagement.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide vision, direction, and leadership for the Alumni Engagement team.

• Manage the strategic planning process for alumni engagement and measure programmatic progress and alumni engagement.

• Establish organizational plans to meet engagement and philanthropy goals and oversee a comprehensive program that focuses on continued growth, innovation, and engagement.

• Responsible for the design, planning, and implementation of programs, communications, services, and volunteer opportunities meant to increase alumni loyalty and engagement with the university.

• Apply specific strategies for varying alumni populations, including affinity & identity groups, recent alumni, future alumni, and alumni volunteers.

• Provide strategic guidance and support for other alumni volunteer groups, including the school/college alumni councils, affinity groups, and alumni chapters.

• Collaborate with colleagues in the Advancement division to enhance cultivation and stewardship strategies through personal alumni outreach and visits.

• Oversee the development and implementation of marketing communication plans to increase alumni participation by identifying segmented target groups and creating innovative communication campaigns.

• Provide oversight of the design, planning, direction, and implementation of division communications, electronic newsletters, mailings, targeted email campaigns, social media, giving day, and other communications meant to build and enhance engagement, ensuring consistency in brand, themes, and messaging with development and university communications.

• Closely collaborate with the EMU Division of Communications to enhance efficiencies and broaden the impact of communications.

• Maintain a partnership with the E-Alumni Advisory Board President and the members of the Board.

• Supervise a diverse staff, effectively managing performance to meet individual and team initiatives; foster a collegial and highly productive work environment.

• Recruit, hire, train, coach, evaluate, and mentor staff. Establish and communicate performance expectations in a manner that motivates and empowers staff to fulfill job duties.

• Encourage, support, and ensure employee participation in training and development programs.

• Develop goals and set operational standards for the Alumni Engagement and Advancement Communications team. Conduct periodic reviews, assess the department's performance, and implement strategic changes/enhancements as needed.

• Execute and evaluate alumni engagement programs, communications campaigns, and events. Evaluate the success and effectiveness of annual engagement efforts through statistical and qualitative analysis.

• Manage an annual budget. Develop revenue and expense projections, approve expenditures at team level, and monitor transactions for compliance with university policies and procedures.

• Establish priorities and determine operating budgets of affiliated alumni volunteer councils and affinity groups; oversee related expenditures.

• Network with outside professional groups and organizations to keep abreast of current industry trends and best practices related to alumni engagement and advancement communications.

• Represent EMUF at industry or community meetings at the request of division leaders.

Minimum Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• A Bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

• A minimum of seven years of experience in the planning, development, and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures in a complex higher education environment.

• A minimum of five years of experience managing personnel, preferably in an advancement, higher education, or nonprofit environment.

• Professional understanding of and interest in advancement of best practices and general operations.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Proven success in leading alumni engagement programs and fundraising with demonstrated effectiveness in working with high-level volunteers, donors, and senior leaders.

• Demonstrated success in building partnerships within an organization. Positive and collaborative professional philosophy, recognizing that this position is integral to the achievement of the goals and objectives of EMUF.

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.

• A disposition to listen and circulate widely; outstanding interpersonal skills.

• Exceptional reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills, including an ability to translate ideas and concepts into clear, actionable steps.

• Superb organizational skills and the ability to multitask.

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with team members.

• Some travel, nights, and weekends required.

Additional Information:

This position is classified as Hybrid. The candidate is expected to be on-site at least three days per week and resides within commutable distance of EMU's campus.

The EMU Foundation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that is strongly committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The Foundation actively encourages applications from women, persons of color, and applicants with disabilities, veterans, and members of other underrepresented groups.

Special Instructions:

Please upload a resume and cover letter.

For questions, please contact Maher Salah at msalah3@emich.edu.

Appointment Percentage:

100%

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

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