Director of Alumni Relations

Director of Alumni Relations

Holy Family University’s Office of Advancement is undergoing exciting changes under the leadership of the new Vice President for Advancement. The new organizational structure aligns with the strategic plan and will build upon prior successes, creating an advancement program focused on nurturing lifelong relationships with Holy Family alumni and friends and developing rewarding partnerships that result in increased philanthropic giving for the University. 

We are seeking a Director of Alumni Relations (DAR), providing leadership and oversight for developing and executing a comprehensive engagement program for over 22,000 alumni to foster loyalty, lifelong relationships, commitment, and community among all alumni, future alumni, and friends in support of the initiatives of University Advancement.

 The DAR reports to the Assistant Vice President for University Advancement and is a strategic partner in building a sustainable culture of alumni engagement and philanthropy. The DAR leads and manages all alumni communications, programs and events (in-person, virtual, and hybrid), advisory groups and volunteers. The Director co-chairs the University’s annual Homecoming celebration and connects alumni and friends to other campus events and initiatives. The DAR facilitates the activities of Holy Family’s Alumni Association and Board, and actively recruits and manages specific groups of alumni, including Reunion classes, the Golden Alumni Society, Affinity groups, Class Representatives, and Young Alumni. The Director supports all University giving initiatives, including identifying prospects for the Advancement pipeline, encouraging alumni giving, and fostering lifelong loyalty to Holy Family University.

Employees must understand the mission of Catholic Higher education and be committed to the core values, mission, goals, and objectives of Holy Family University.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish and build strong relationships with a wide range of alumni (locally, regionally, nationally and internationally) with the goal of increasing overall engagement, giving, volunteering, and lifelong loyalty.

•  Lead and strategize regular communications with alumni via a multi-platform approach. This includes working with University’s marketing and communications team on the HFU Magazine and other University communications, as well as independently composing, designing, planning, and distributing content and messages via social media, direct mail, the monthly Alumni eNewsletter, dedicated emails, the University website, and other mediums.

• Develop, promote, and execute a comprehensive offering of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events for alumni and friends each year, including, but not limited to Homecoming, Reunion, fundraisers, networking opportunities, and receptions for segmented groups (Golden Alumni Society, Recent Grads, etc.). The Director, with support from the Advancement team and various volunteer groups, will attend and host all alumni events where appropriate. 

• Create and implement non-event engagement opportunities, such as service activities, ‘fun’ social media posts, birthday and holiday eCards, alumni spotlights, alumni library access and other alumni benefits. 

• Recruit for campus-wide alumni volunteer opportunities (advisory boards, admissions representatives, career and experiential learning partners, etc.) and manage all alumni volunteer groups, including the Alumni Board, class representatives and Reunion Committees, etc. Plan and host all established volunteer meetings (mostly outside of working hours), create and share agendas, bylaws and goals. 

• Manage and regularly report on all Alumni Relations finances, including maintaining an annual budget, maximizing non-event revenue opportunities and partnerships, and tracking event expenses and ROI, where appropriate. 

• Work with colleagues in operations and research to ensure that alumni records are updated in Raiser’s Edge, including contact information, business information, class notes, event attendance, awards, personal and professional news, relationships between HFU constituents, etc. 

• Collaborate closely with colleagues to increase alumni giving and support; routinely identify new donors and candidates for the prospect management pipeline; communicate giving programs and initiatives and represent Alumni at events. 

• Contribute to a culture of best practices in Advancement and building a robust culture of alumni engagement and philanthropy at Holy Family University.

 Minimum recruiting standards:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 - 4 years of experience in alumni relations, non-profit development, volunteer management, and/or related experience in marketing, communications, or business.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge about best practices in alumni engagement and fundraising.
• Knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Raiser’s Edge, Social Media, and other industry-standard communications programs (Constant Contact and Canva). Graphic Design and Photography skills are a plus.
• Effective leadership, organizational, time-management, multi-tasking, and communication skills (interpersonal, oral, written and web-based.)
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the campus community with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to foster and display teamwork
• Commitment to the mission and core values of Holy Family University.

Review of resumes will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  To apply, submit resume and cover letter to careers@holyfamily.edu. A cover letter is required for consideration.

Holy Family University seeks to foster an inclusive and healthy educational and work environment based on respect, the dignity of each person and the oneness of the human family. The University prohibits harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and bias incidents in any form, including, but not limited to, those based upon race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies and practices, financial aid programs, athletic programs, and other school-administered activities and rights and privileges generally accorded or made available to employees and students at the University. Holy Family University complies with Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. Holy Family University is dedicated to ensuring an environment free of discrimination or harassment of any kind, and promotes equal opportunity and inclusion in its education programs.  Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation to the application, and/or interview process should notify Human Resources at hr@holyfamily.edu.