Assistant Director

REPORTS TO:                   Director of Alumni Relations & Communications Strategy

SCHEDULE:                       Full-time, 12 months/year, minimum 40 hours/week.  Schedule may vary according to departmental and Academy needs.

Position Purpose

Advance the mission of Institutional Advancement: to engage the extended community in the Harkness values of PEA and to advance the mission of the Academy, by enhancing PEA’s ability to build, strengthen, and maintain lifelong relationships with its alumni.

Job Responsibilities

• Develops and directs regional and reunion alumni programs and implements existing programs that support the department’s mission.
  • Event management: Plans and executes events for alumni, and members of the PEA community, on campus and in select regional markets.
  • Volunteer management: Implements and oversees regional volunteer program(s) that promote lifelong affinity to and supports of PEA and its strategic institutional initiatives.
  • Affinity cultivation:  Under the direction of the Director of Alumni Relations, plans and executes in-person and web-based programming to engage select affinity groups, e.g., generational, ethnic, gender, professional, etc.
  • Communications: Partners with the Academy’s communications team to develop relevant content for all media, including Academy website, Alumni Directory, Alumni Newsletter, Exeter Bulletin and social media.
  • Alumni relationship management: Develops and steward relationships with alumni to strengthen their affinity with PEA.
• Develops and steward relationships with faculty and staff across campus to support the initiatives of alumni relations and the Office of Institutional Advancement.
• Develops and maintains evaluative tools to measure the impact of activities and programs and to identify relevant market trends.
• Develops and maintains program costs within departmental budgetary guidelines.
• Assists in the management, supervision, mentoring, and evaluation of AR staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships.
• Respect for diversity of identities and experiences, an orientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency in all aspects of Academy life.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills with emphasis on writing. Ability to communicate with officers, faculty, administrators and donors.  Ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling manner in writing and in person.  Ability to document meetings, write briefings, proposals and stewardship reports.
• Strategic high-level thinking coupled with the attention to detail necessary for successful planning and execution.
• Proven excellent client support skills with demonstrated evidence of strong business acumen.
• A passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality. Ability to coach support team in all aspects of work, but particularly with regard to preparation of written materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students by building trust and credibility.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills as well as a strong customer focus.
• A strict adherence to confidential policies is required.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

• Advanced proficiency with MS Office.  Proficiency with social media, including, but not limited to, Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed.
• High degree of organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and multi-task with accuracy.
• Ability to follow verbal and written directions, maintain a professional demeanor and restraint at all times, including stressful situations.
• Ability and willingness to travel (by car, air, train or bus) domestically as needed.

Direct/Indirect Reports

None.

Position Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required, or equivalent experience and education.

Experience

• Five years’ relevant experience in alumni relations, donor relations, sales and marketing, or related fields or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from individuals and private foundations and a demonstrated ability to establish long-term relationships with donors, faculty, and prospects.
• Successful experience in working with senior institutional leaders. Ability to effectively leverage the time of senior volunteers and academic and administrative staff in contacts with donors including strong preparation and good judgment about the extent to which cultivation can effectively be staff driven.
• Demonstrated success in working with volunteers and advisory boards to solicit alumni, parents and especially friends without a previous connection to Exeter.
• Initiative, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Additional Requirements

1. Successfully complete a criminal background check (reviewed every 5 years).
2. Clean Driving record (reviewed annually).