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Alumnae Director - Saint Mary's School

Employer
Saint Mary's School
Location
North Carolina, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
Nov 3, 2020

Position Profile

Alumnae Director                                                                 

Raleigh, North Carolina 

Saint Mary’s School, an all-girl, independent, college-preparatory, Episcopal, boarding and day school serving girls in grades 9-12, seeks an engaging and innovative relationship builder as its Alumnae Director. 

About Saint Mary’s School 

Mission: Saint Mary’s School, a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement, prepares young women for college and life. To accomplish our mission, Saint Mary’s School

  • Challenges each young woman to embrace the habits of an intellectual life, engages her with the past and the emerging future, and empowers her to serve and shape her world
  • Fosters in each young woman a spirit of connection to others, guides her in developing her spiritual and ethical integrity, and prepares her to take responsibility for herself and her future

 Founded in 1842 in the Episcopal tradition, Saint Mary’s is an independent high school, enrolling 302 girls in grades 9-12. The school, which formerly included a two-year college program, transitioned to a four-year high school in 1998. Girls come to Saint Mary’s from 14 states and 6 countries with approximately 52% boarding students and 48% day students. Saint Mary’s celebrates nearly 10,000 alumnae. 

Led by a Board of 23 Directors and 90 faculty and staff members, Saint Mary's School inspires girls to step outside their comfort zones, engage their minds, amplify their voices, and discover who they are and who they want to become. 

Located on a 23-acre campus in the heart of North Carolina's vibrant capital city of Raleigh, Saint Mary’s is a beautiful, historic oasis securely nestled within walking distance to downtown, Cameron Village, and NC State University.  

For more information about Saint Mary’s School, please visit https://www.sms.edu/ 

The Opportunity 

Reporting directly to and working in partnership with the Director of Development (DOD), the Alumnae Director brings strategic leadership to alumnae programs, events, and fundraising within the context of the overall development plan. After 26 years in service to Saint Mary’s, Margaret McGlohon '81C will retire as Alumnae Director in 2021. It is anticipated that there will be a crossover period between Margaret and the new Director. 

The new Alumnae Director will be entrusted with the following key responsibilities: 

Engagement -  Recognizing that every alumna shares a common bond with her classmates, her teachers, and her institution, the primary focus of the Alumnae Director is to continually strengthen those bonds through events, programs, and volunteer opportunities that provide meaningful ways for alumnae to stay connected to the people and the school they love. Therefore, the Alumnae Director has responsibility for the planning and execution for the following engagement opportunities listed below. In addition, the Director will be expected to continually innovate existing programs or offer new programs to engage alumnae more deeply.

  • Alumnae Council – In partnership with the DOD manages the membership, activities, and strategic work of the Council
  • Young Alumnae Advisory Board – In partnership with the DOD, manages the membership, activities, and strategic work of the Advisory Board
  • Granddaughters Club – Serves as advisor and oversees all activities of the Club including communication with and stewardship of the alumnae grandmothers and mothers
  • Reunion Weekend – manages logistics, publicity, recruitment, and fundraising for this annual weekend honoring multiple high school and college alumnae classes
  • Regional Alumnae Program – Directs and manages in partnership with the DOD a vibrant program in five major cities
  • Collegiate Club - schedules, plans, communicates, and executes collegiate club events
  • On-Campus/Off-campus events - communicates with and encourages alumnae to participate in School events (such as alumnae regional events, athletics, visual and performing arts, special events)
  • Attend funerals, celebrations, and special events for alumnae (or families) as schedule allows 

Fundraising – As a member of the development team, the Alumnae Director is expected to cultivate, solicit, and steward alumnae donors and their families.

  • Manages a portfolio of 50-75 annual fund donors and prospects using moves management metrics and recording them in Veracross
  • Guides the Alumnae Council and the Young Alumnae Advisory Board in their roles as donors, ambassadors, and solicitors for the Annual Fund, Heritage Society, and special campaigns
  • Travels locally, regionally, and nationally to secure gifts and steward donors
  • Makes a personal financial investment annually and in special campaigns 

General Development – Engages in the day to day work of the Development Office, supporting team members as needed, and advocating for development programs among the faculty, staff, and greater School community.

  • Develops and edits alumnae communications
  • Maintains personal communication with former alumnae leaders at least quarterly
  • Intentionally updates alumnae records in Veracross following every interaction or correspondence, and after all engagement opportunities. Ensures Granddaughters Club and legacies are connected in the database and regularly updates births, weddings, deaths and any alumnae or donor information
  • Responds to alumnae requests via phone calls and e-mails within 24 hours
  • Analyzes data to inform strategies related to alumnae communications, events, and fundraising
  • Contributes to the preparation and distribution of accurate Development reports for the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and school-related agencies 

School Leadership – Serving as the link between future, current, and former students, the Alumnae Director is a vital ambassador for Saint Mary’s.

  • Admission – welcomes alumnae and daughters to campus, corresponds with Admission prospects, attends Admission events and works with Admissions to create an effective travel program.
  • Shares the history of the School and engagement of alumnae with students, faculty, and staff at appropriate times
  • Performs weekend and night responsibilities to support the life of the residential community and the academic program as required by your position or requested by your manager/supervisor. 

Qualifications

  • Firm commitment to the mission and values of Saint Mary’s School and the confidential nature of alumnae development work
  • Exceptional attention to detail with an ability to pivot graciously when plans are interrupted
  • Creative strategist, honoring tradition with a commitment to innovation
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with a high social and emotional IQ
  • Proven experience in fundraising and an appreciation for the importance of alumnae giving
  • High energy, deep integrity, and a universally approachable listener who acts with unparalleled follow through
  • Inspiring public speaker with extraordinary oral and written communication skills
  • Demonstrated success in managing volunteers of various ages
  • A career highlighted by increasing levels of responsibility
  • Confidence with the use of technology in presentations, virtual meetings, and social media
  • A sense of humor
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • A valid driver’s license 

Application Process

To apply, upload a cover letter specific to the opportunity, resume, references, and salary requirements to www.armstrongmcguire.com/apply. Email shannon@armstrongmcguire.com in case of technical problems. No phone calls please. Applications will not be accepted by email or third-party sites. Preferred application deadline October 30, 2020. 

Saint Mary’s School is a drug-free workplace.  A background check satisfactory to the school is required.

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