Job Details

Director of Alumni Relations
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Position Number: 5981756
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Position Type: Alumni Associations and Services

Director of Alumni Relations

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Director of Alumni Relations

Job Profile Title
Alumni Officer C

Job Description Summary
Serving as a key member of the Associate Dean's Management Team, the Director will devise creative approaches to alumni engagement, alumni initiatives and events, local and national initiatives and events, alumni recognition initiatives, alumni volunteer leadership, planning and execution of homecoming and Alumni weekend, and more. They will work with colleagues across Penn Vet, Central DAR, and the University to feature alumni achievements and assist in highlighting the impact the school has on the Penn Community and beyond. The Director will partner with the AVD and other colleagues to assess programming that would be of interest to alumni, including Penn Vet activities and University-wide initiatives that would have broad appeal. They will be creative, strategic, and collaborative in their approach to constituency engagement, and will create and maintain pathways for alumni participation that advance the goals of Penn Vet. Additionally, the director will serve as a key fundraiser within the alumni community and partner with Vet and Advancement colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward alumni giving. The Director manages the Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Events.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Development and Alumni Relations, the Director of Alumni Relations is responsible for the strategy, design, implementation and growth of a comprehensive alumni program, developing and managing initiatives that engage alumni, nationally and globally and helping to strengthen their connection and philanthropic relationship with the school.

Serving as a key member of the Associate Dean's Management Team, the Director will devise creative approaches to alumni engagement, local and national initiatives and events, alumni recognition initiatives, alumni volunteer leadership, planning and execution of homecoming and Alumni weekend and more. They will work with colleagues across Penn Vet, Central DAR and the university to feature alumni achievements and assist in highlighting the impact the school has on the Penn Community and beyond. The Director will partner with the AVD and other colleagues to assess programming that would be of interest to alumni, including Penn Vet activities and university-wide initiatives that would have broad appeal. They will be creative, strategic, and collaborative in their approach to constituency engagement, and will create and maintain pathways for alumni participation that advance the goals of Penn Vet. Additionally, the director will serve as a key fundraiser within the alumni community and partner with Vet and Advancement colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward alumni giving.

Job responsibilities include:

Develop vision and oversee implementation of a strategic alumni engagement plan for the School, including creating new, programmatic initiatives, as well as having responsibility for ongoing programs and participating in campaign planning.
Develop and lead a comprehensive strategy and implementation for initiatives to support Department, Center, and Program alumni outreach, in close partnership with faculty leadership. Lead strategy for School department/center/program volunteer engagement including management of the Penn Vet Alumni Board.
Provide oversight and management for key alumni engagement events and programming, both on-campus and regionally, including signature programs, Salon gatherings, Homecoming and Alumni weekend events, and the Penn Annual Conference. As part of this effort, staff school and university academic leadership, faculty, Vet board members, and other volunteers as needed.
Work closely with the Penn Vet Office of Development and Alumni Relations leadership, MGOs, DAR colleagues, and data analytics teams, to establish a systematic and ongoing approach to best utilize our constituent data to identify and evaluate alumni & volunteers. Bolster pipeline for new and unfilled volunteer needs, developing engagement plans, and creating strategic metrics and reporting tools.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic support from the alumni board and constituency and partner with other Penn Vet and Dar development officers to maximize an individual's philanthropy.
Supervise the Associate Director of Alumni Relations & Events.

Qualifications:

BA/BS with 5-7 years of experience in a related field/s or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must have demonstrated ability in managing, mentoring, and motivating staff. Experience in a complex higher education institution is preferred.
Interpersonal savvy and diplomacy to navigate relationships with the cultural fluency, interpersonal, and networking skills necessary to build relationships with external (donors, prospects, board members, volunteers, friends) and internal constituents (deans, faculty, staff, colleagues).
Experience developing strategic plans and vision for initiatives, goal setting, and developing metrics and evaluation tools.
Proactively collaborative approach that takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen internal and external relationships.
Proven success in events, project, and/or conference management and knowledge of fundraising principles.
Enthusiasm, ability to take risks, intelligence, insight, initiative, resilience, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Tact, sensitivity, and mature judgment. Ability to manage ambiguity and change.
Proficient in SalesForce, Marketing Cloud, Smartsheet, or similar relationship management systems. Familiarity with web-based communications tools.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Highly detailed-oriented and well-organized.
Ability to work effectively in a large, complex institutional setting.
Successful candidates will also reflect the core operating values of Penn Vet and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, which include commitment to excellence; professionalism, creativity, and adaptability; respect for the roles and responsibilities of individual members of the Penn Vet DAR team; a collaborative and collegial style, and transparency in communications.
Ability to travel domestically and internationally, and work evenings and weekends as needed. A valid driver's license is required.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
School of Veterinary Medicine

Pay Range
$61,046.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/FMC-Tower-Development/Director-of-Alumni-Relations_JR00102652-1