Virtual Friend Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Posting Details
Posting Details
Posting Number:
0601311
Position Title:
Director of Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement
FLSA:
Exempt
Job Type:
Full-Time
Staff Term:
12 Months
Staff Work Schedule (hours/dates):
8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday
Academic Year Schedule (dates):
Faculty Term:
Position Type:
Staff
Department:
Alumnae/I Relations
Job Summary/Basic Function:
Strategic Planning and Implementation, Governance, and Advancement Integration
The Director of Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement is responsible for creating and sustaining lifelong relationships between alumni and their alma mater through planning and implementing programs that strategically engage alumni in strengthening their connection to Wheaton College. The Director provides strategic leadership for alumni programs, events, and volunteers that complement and support the mission of the College and the Advancement Division's goals and objectives. The Director is responsible for overall management and administration of programs including strategic, planning, fiscal management, staffing, and program development. The position strengthens relationships between alumni and the programs for which they have an affinity.
KEY RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Set and drive the overall alumni engagement strategy aligned with institutional and advancement priorities including defining priorities across:
  • Fall Fest/Reunion
  • Regional engagement (5 top markets)
  • Alumni leadership pathways
• Manage top-tier alumni volunteers and key institutional relationships
• Act as the bridge to Annual Fund and Major Gifts:
  • Align engagement activity with donor pipeline development
  • Partner on leadership annual giving and volunteer solicitation strategy
• Serve as primary staff lead for the Alumni Board of Directors (in partnership with support staff for logistics)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides leadership for the Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement staff, establishing performance goals, measures of success, and standards of excellence to ensure optimal programming and engagement results as well as quality service to alumni and volunteers.
• Serves as a strategic and thought partner to the Vice President for Advancement in matters pertaining to friend-raising, fundraising, engagement, stewardship, and events; leads key departments responsible for helping division achieve short- and long-term goals and objectives.
• Oversees the Alumni Board of Directors
• Serves as one of the key leadership liaisons between alumni leadership and major donors and the college
• Oversees ongoing assessment of all alumni programs and seeks to be innovative, introducing new concepts and program features; leverages program metrics to develop engagement strategies to appeal to diverse audience segments and increase engagement overall.
• Assists Advancement Marketing and Communications to develop and implement an alumni communications strategy, to include social media applications, the design and development of consistent branding to be reflected in marketing, promotional materials, and alumni web pages.
• Collaborates with college leadership including the President, Vice President for Advancement, Vice President of Admissions, Vice President of Student Affairs, Provost, AVP of Life and Career Design and AVP of Individual Giving to spearhead outreach and networking opportunities for matriculating students and alumni.
• Administers the advancement and college policies; oversees budgets of Alumni Relations and Strategic Engagement
• Represents the college at alumni functions and the alumni at official college program both on and off campus
• Travels to local, regional, and national engagements, often with the President, Alumni Board of Director's President, selected other trustees and senior administrators

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:

• A minimum 5-7 years of demonstrated leadership/managerial experience and development of strategic plans and implementing programs, preferably in higher education within Advancement and/or alumni relations.
• Proven managerial track record in building an efficient and effective team, ability to train and mentor staff, as well as have a proven ability to motivate, engage, and work with varied audiences including but not limited to alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff.
• Highly a motivated self-starter with strong leadership, volunteer management, project development, fundraising knowledge, strategic planning, and relationship/client management skills and experience
• Prior experience developing innovative programming, managing alumni events, and managing and developing volunteer leaders.
• Prior experience in developing strategies for implementing virtual programs, as well as have the ability to use technology to further alumni relations programming including a strong grasp of alumni/development information and program platforms and an understanding of processes related to those systems.
• Strategic, well-organized and goal-oriented and possess an outgoing and positive personality, strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative work-style.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse groups internal and external to Wheaton College.
• Excellent writing and oral and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to travel and work evenings and weekends as required.

Preferred Qualifications:
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to nurture and cultivate donors and volunteers of various backgrounds.
• Evidence of initiative and organization ability.
• Ability to generate and maintain good interpersonal relationships with professional colleague and alumni and the community in general.
• Unique ability to recognize the needs and interests of students and alumni and the experience and ability to develop programs and services designed to meet those needs.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel and database systems, with a preference for Blackbaud RE/NXT
• Demonstrated ability to use computers, Internet, email and contemporary computer software.
• Ability to work cooperatively with various constituencies including alumni, faculty, staff, Alumni Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and college administrators.

Compensation and Benefits
To attract and retain the most talented individuals, Wheaton College maintains a flexible and competitive staff compensation and benefits program.
When determining and establishing hiring rates or recruitment ranges for a position, the College considers a number of factors including the budget for the position, the range of the grade, the external market for the position or similar positions, level and scope of responsibilities, required education, skills and relevant experience as well as internal equity. All salary offers must have the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.
The anticipated hiring or recruitment range for this position is $100-$130K. The actual salary offered will be commensurate with the qualifications, education and experience of the candidate hired.
Physical Demands
Sitting, repetitive hand motion (such as typing), hearing, listening, talking and standing. Office environment/no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands.
ADA Statement:
Individuals must possess these knowledges, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
Eeo Statement
Wheaton College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich an intellectually diverse learning environment, the Department and the College actively encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented groups.
Wheaton's core belief is that valuing diversity is pivotal to personal development, intellectual expansion, and societal equity. Our community is united by a shared dedication to equity and access that is essential to providing a transformative education in the Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Posting Date:
08/10/2026
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled
Yes
Contact(s):
Office of Human Resources
Contact Phone/Extension:
508-286-8206
Contact Email:
careers@wheatoncollege.edu