Alumni Relations Manager

Alumni Relations Manager

 

Department: Office of Institutional Advancement         

 

Reports To: Executive Director of Institutional Advancement 

 

Date:  August 2023

 

Job Summary:

 

The Alumni Relations Manager is responsible for cultivating and maintaining good relations with the Saint Viator and Sacred Heart of Mary alumni community.  Reporting to the Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and working closely with the entire Saint Viator Office of Institutional Advancement, Alumni Association Board and Development Committee, the Alumni Relations Manager provides vision, leadership and guidance to ensure the vitality of Saint Viator High School's alumni program serving over 15,000 alumni from Saint Viator and Sacred Heart of Mary high schools.  This individual is responsible for the development and effective implementation of the annual alumni strategic goals and objectives, leading the Alumni Association Board in their plans and execution, participation in fundraising/alumni events, helping to manage social media (content and graphic design) and co-management of the alumni database.  The Alumni Relations Manager possesses a deep understanding of what it takes to build successful engagement initiatives.
 

 

Primary Responsibilities 

 

• Foster a highly connected and engaged community of alumni to advance the mission of Saint Viator High School.  This includes a special focus on developing Saint Viator High School's young alumni (those out ten years or less).  

• Develop and implement the Saint Viator High School alumni annual strategic plan initiatives, leveraging best practices of other private high schools and non-profit alumni engagement models.

• Continue to monitor alumni goal attainment progress to the school's five-year strategic plan with goals and activities to increase the alumni engagement rate to equal or exceed national benchmarks and to sufficiently support the financial needs of Saint Viator High School.  This includes, but not limited to, participation in Viator Foundation annual giving, Night of the Lion and Million Dollar Classic.

• Oversee the school Fall Reunion program and Homecoming weekend.  The Alumni Relations Manager is the key point person for all reunion and homecoming activities - working closely with the respective reunion class committees.  These activities will be assisted by the Manager of Advancement Operations.

• Recruit alumni leadership necessary to actively advance the mission of Saint Viator High School.  This includes the Alumni Association Board, Reunion leadership, and volunteer mentors for student-based programming (IncubatorEDU, Career Days,etc).

• Working in conjunction with the Marketing and Communications department, develop an annual integrated marketing plan for alumni and advancement activities and events (including a calendar for web, print, email, advertising, PR and social media communications and development of graphics, logos, and invitations as needed).

 

• Support the content management for advancement-related feature stories, articles, videos, and social media posts to include maintaining a spreadsheet of possible alumni stories, and researching, writing, and working with Advancement colleagues on a regular basis.

• Ensure effective messaging and adhere to deadlines to meet primary alumni/advancement marketing and communications objectives.

 

• Working with the Chair of the Alumni Association Board, develop a meeting schedule, agenda for each respective meeting, and expectations of involvement for the Alumni Association Board that is geared toward increasing Alumni engagement with Saint Viator High School initiatives.

• In close collaboration with the Alumni Association Board, manage the annual Mahoney Classic Golf Outing.

• Oversee the Alumni Memorial Mass each Fall.

• Assist the Advancement team with the continued growth of the Distinguished Alumni Recognition Program, including serving as a member of the Distinguished Alumni selection committee.

• Working with the Athletic Department, help oversee the Athletic Hall of Fame committee and bi-annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

• Continue to oversee the structured programs for Saint Viator alumni to connect with current students and the associated activities involving alumni mentorship.

• Assist the Manager of Advancement Operations in maintaining the alumni database(s) as needed, and serve as lead in the management and oversight of AlumniConnect. 

 

Additional Job Functions

 

• Activities assigned by the school President or Executive Director of Institutional Advancement as situations require.

• Assist and attend major Saint Viator Advancement Special Event functions to help in the areas of planning and on-site support. This includes, but not limited to Night of the Lion, Million Dollar Classic, President's Reception, and Open House.

 

Essential Skills and Experience 

 

• Bachelor's degree preferred, and/or with organizational, management and marketing experience in the educational environment.

• Ideally, three years of experience in alumni leadership, development, or similar occupation with a record of measurable success.

• Strategic plan development and annual goal/objective implementation/execution.

• Understanding of marketing, web and email communications, persuasive writing, advertising, and social media management, as well as a strong commitment to setting and meeting key deadlines.  

• Strong affinity for effective events creation, implementation and management.

• Confident personality with effective presentation skills, able to represent school at multiple functions.

• Capable of developing creative and effective approaches to meeting the job objectives.

• Solid computer proficiency and experience including MS Office.

• Comprehensive knowledge of database management essential.

• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge or similar constituent management software is a plus. 

• Experience with creating and executing budgets.

• Ability to manage several multifaceted projects simultaneously and independently.

• Willingness to evaluate and pursue new opportunities in Alumni Relations and adapt to a changing environment as required. 

• Ability to coordinate activities with other members of the Advancement Team and to create an efficient and successful team environment.  Collaboration with the entire team is a key to success in this role.

• Graduate of Saint Viator or Sacred Heart of Mary High School is strongly preferred.
   
• ?Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for respective events (i.e. Reunions, President's Reception, Night of the Lion)

 

To apply, please submit a resume to alumni@saintviator.com.