Department
ARD Alumni Communities & Volunteer Engagement
About the Department
Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional, and social activities on campus, around the world, and online. ARD raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University.
This position leverages best practices and knowledge in Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, leading a program designed to increase volunteerism, improve the volunteer experience, deepen engagement across the alumni volunteer community, and advance the objectives of UChicago Alumni and the broader University worldwide. Researches, executes, and implements best practices in alumni and volunteer relationship management. Partners across teams to research, create, and implement guidelines and processes in support of the growth and well-being of the UChicago Alumni volunteer leadership ecosystem.
Job Summary
This position uses best practices and knowledge within Alumni Relations and leads a program designed to engage the alumni community worldwide, increase participation, and advance the objectives of the Alumni Association and the broader University. Researches, executes, and implements best practices in alumni relationship management. Works with the Alumni Board of Governors to create and implement guidelines to govern shared interest groups.
Responsibilities
- Develops and leads strategies that amplify the impact of UChicago Alumni volunteer programs, with specific and measurable annual and multi-year goals aligned with the University's alumni engagement strategic priorities.
- Increases consistency and cohesion across UChicago Alumni volunteer programs. Maximizes volunteer engagement by developing an infrastructure for strategic engagement touchpoints that elevate experience, retention, satisfaction, and impact.
- Establishes organization-wide recommendations to strengthen volunteer organizations and leadership pipelines. Partners with team leads to assess, align, and implement volunteer recruitment, training, support, and stewardship practices.
- Collaborates with key stakeholders in planning and executing volunteer recognition events, experiences, and communications.
- Formalizes and facilitates training program for volunteer managers across the division to standardize best practices, resources, and leadership development opportunities.
- Assesses and reimagines signature UChicago Alumni volunteer leadership programs.
- In partnership with volunteer managers and alumni leaders, identifies and integrates practices that increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across volunteer programs and experiences. Develops strategies to meaningfully and sustainably diversify the leadership pipeline, voices amplified through UChicago Alumni channels, and communities engaged.
- May manage a portfolio of engaged or previously engaged alumni with a focus on stewardship and identifying opportunities to deepen engagement.
- Facilitates proactive data pulls, reports, and lists. Completes proactive analyses of events. Assesses trends and presents findings. Tracks survey data and analyzes results. Makes recommendations based on these analyses. Maintains records and files, and updates database regularly.
- Maintains accurate and detailed records, timelines, and process documents when coordinating events. Archives event details.
- Builds a culture of philanthropy across volunteer communities and organizations. Drives new initiatives and supports existing efforts to leverage volunteer roles and channels to drive giving. Solicits annual gifts as assigned.
- Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance, including building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
- Assists in leading and coordinating the planning, organization, and management of events, programs, and services designed to cultivate and maintain ties between the University of Chicago and key constituent groups. May assist in or individually create a marketing plan to maximize participation and engagement of alumni, parents, and friends.
- Builds strong working relationships with staff in the College, professional schools, units, and in other departments across campus. May help develop performance standards for the alumni relations staff within a unit. Sets activity goals for the team and maintains the annual operating budget for constituent relations programs.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
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Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Advanced degree.
Experience:
- Professional experience in any of the following: higher education, international strategy, DEI initiatives, alumni engagement, advancement, nonprofit management, or relevant roles.
- Prior experience managing volunteers, alumni or similar constituents.
- Working knowledge leading a project team or managing staff.
- Background developing and monitoring budgets.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, including Griffin (the University's Donor Relationship Management System).
- Proficient in Microsoft Windows computer environment, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
Preferred Competencies
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write effectively.
- Skilled at organizing, partnering with, and championing diverse communities.
- Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
- Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
- Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
- Self-motivated and take initiative.
- Prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail.
Working Conditions
- This position has a hybrid work schedule which includes weekly in-office presence.
- Standard office environment.
- Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for University business.
- Work evenings and weekends as needed.
- This position is located in Hyde Park at 5235 South Harper Court.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter, addressed to Hiring Committee (preferred)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Alumni Relations & Development
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
FLSA Status
Exempt
Pay Frequency
Monthly
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.
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