Director of Alumni Engagement
The Director of Alumni Engagement provides strategic leadership for cultivating lifelong, meaningful relationships between Goshen
College and its alumni. Guided by the college鈥檚 mission and values, the director designs and advances an inclusive, story-centered
alumni engagement strategy that fosters belonging, purpose, and shared stewardship through meaningful programming, volunteer
leadership, and communications, in partnership with campus colleagues.
Alumni are essential partners in Goshen College鈥檚 mission
and future. This role exists to cultivate alumni engagement that is relational, purposeful and enduring rather than episodic
or transactional鈥攕trengthening the college and its community for generations to come. It serves as the strategic hub for alumni
engagement鈥攄eveloping pathways for alumni involvement, activating alumni leaders and volunteers, and partnering closely with campus
partners to ensure alumni engagement strengthens institutional priorities while protecting alumni trust.
In particular, the
director will facilitate the organization of reunion programs, regional and affinity groups, special alumni events or gatherings on or
off campus, the Alumni Council and other alumni volunteer/leadership opportunities. The director does not execute all programs or
events, but instead orchestrates engagement by aligning people, stories and opportunities across the institution.
Essential
Functions: (Core Job Responsibilities)
- Strategic Leadership & Vision
- Lead the implementation of Goshen
College鈥檚 alumni engagement vision, guiding principles and engagement pathways - Translate institutional mission and strategy into
clear alumni engagement priorities - Regularly assess alumni engagement efforts and recommend where to invest, adapt, pause or
stop
- Lead the implementation of Goshen
- Alumni Relationship & Pathway Development
- Design and steward multiple alumni engagement pathways
(belonging, learning and vocation, connection and mentoring, leadership and service, stewardship and advocacy) - Ensure engagement
opportunities are inclusive of diverse identities, life stages (ie. young career professionals, mid-career professionals and families,
retirees and grandparents) and geographies (ie. regional volunteer leaders, alumni-hosted gatherings and Goshen-on-the-road
opportunities). - Supervise the development of special programming to introduce current students and young alumni to the opportunities
afforded to them as alumni of the college. - Identify potential vehicles and activities for the engagement of alumni, including
programming for affinity and advisory groups. - Seek ways to involve alumni in the intellectual life of the college
- Build
trust-based relationships with alumni leaders and key constituencies
- Design and steward multiple alumni engagement pathways
- Story-Centered Engagement
- Use
storytelling as a primary engagement tool鈥攍istening to alumni experiences and inviting alumni to share their stories - Partner with
Communications & Marketing to ensure alumni stories are reflected authentically across platforms (social media, email, magazine,
etc.) - Ensure alumni stories inform engagement strategy, not just communications outputs
- Develop, recommend and implement
strategies for marketing and promoting alumni activities, programs and services to promote alumni involvement and
participation
- Use
- Alumni Leadership & Volunteer Activation
- Provide strategic leadership for a vibrant five-year
reunion program and Homecoming Weekend, partnering with campus colleagues and alumni volunteers to ensure these experiences advance
engagement pathways and alumni leadership development. - Identify, invite and support alumni leaders, hosts, mentors and advisors.
Cultivate leadership within regional chapters, affinity groups and advisory bodies. - Provide leadership and support for the convening
of and programming of the Alumni Council. Partner with Alumni Council and other alumni advisory groups to support institutional
priorities. - Empower alumni to co-create engagement experiences and represent Goshen College in their communities
- Provide
clear roles, training, communication and stewardship for volunteer leaders.
- Provide strategic leadership for a vibrant five-year
- Cross-Campus Partnership
- Serve
as a primary liaison between alumni and campus partners. Work with the campus community to build communication and to clarify the benefits
offered to alumni and strengthen personal contact. - Ensure alumni engagement strengthens student belonging, leadership, vocational
discernment and preparation for lifelong connection to Goshen College. Partner with Student Life and Academic Affairs to create intentional
transition experiences that help graduating seniors understand their evolving identity as alumni. - Collaborate closely
with:- Communications & Marketing on storytelling and amplification
- Development on stewardship pathways and relationship
handoffs, ensuring that alumni engagement builds trust and connection that may lead to generosity over time - Enrollment on
values-aligned alumni involvement that supports recruitment and yield - Measurement & Continuous Improvement
- Define and track
meaningful alumni engagement metrics, including relationship depth, volunteer activation, pathway participation and long-term alumni
movement - Use qualitative and quantitative insights to refine strategy and demonstrate impact
- Develop and manage departmental
budgets, track events, alumni correspondence, and inquiries
- Serve
- Other
- Support departmental and
institutional activities that overlap with the college鈥檚 alumni population, including donor events, Giving Tuesday, Connect Goshen Day,
Mennonite Church USA Convention, choir tour
- Support departmental and
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor鈥檚 degree required,
master鈥檚 degree preferred - At least five years of progressive experience required in alumni engagement, development, higher
education, nonprofit leadership, communications, marketing, sales, public relations or a related field. Preferred: Experience in a
mission-driven or faith-based organization, a liberal arts college and working with volunteers or advisory groups.
Skills
and Competencies:
Required:
- Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships across diverse religious, cultural
and generational constituencies - Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving and organizational judgment
- Excellent listening,
facilitation and communication skills (both oral and written) - Comfort working collaboratively across teams and navigating
ambiguity - Superior management, organization and planning skills.
Preferred:
- Fluency with
storytelling as a relational and strategic tool - Experience successfully leveraging AI and digital tools to expand reach, analyze
data, support communication and create efficiencies - Demonstrated ability to influence across departments without direct supervisory
authority - Bilingual
Note: The Director of Alumni Engagement does not need to be an alum, but they must be
someone who can enter this unique community with humility, learn its story and help many others see themselves in it.
Special
Requirements:
Position requires some travel and a commitment to working some evenings and weekends.
Physical
Demands:
- Ability to lift light loads (up to 25 pounds)
- Prolonged sitting and use of keyboard
- Ability to
complete primary tasks by viewing computer screen(s) for the majority of any given work day (extensive use of computer
technology) - Considerable phone use and operation of the copier and other standard office equipment
Work
Environment/Environmental Conditions:
- Work will primarily take place in a standard indoor office environment
- Some
travel for alumni gatherings in a variety of environments (indoor/outdoor, private/public spaces) - Reasonable accommodations will be
made as needed
All of the essential job functions are subject to reasonable accommodation. All listed job requirements indicate
the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be
construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform
other
job-related instructions as requested by the supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive
and may be modified at the supervisor's discretion. Any major change will result in the position being reviewed for reclassification.