Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Regional Engagement (Hybrid)

The University of Connecticut is a top-ranked national university and health-system with its flagship campus in idyllic Storrs. Designated a Carnegie Research 1 institution, UConn is the state land- and sea-grant university charged with education, research, and service to the state and nation. The University serves 32,000 students across seven campuses, 8600 first-in-family students, and boasts 25 national championships. UConn Health is a top-ranked health provider located in Farmington and delivers award-winning medical education, research, and hospital and clinical services to 1.3 million patients a year.

With record-applications, back-to-back Men's Basketball National Championships, and a strategic location equidistant from Boston and New York City, UConn is poised to continue its meteoric rise as New England's top public University guided by a new strategic plan.

To meet the strategic objectives of the University, UConn Foundation is embarking on a historic campaign to support the University's trajectory. With students at the forefront, the campaign will also elevate faculty, groundbreaking research, sustainability, and a thriving community on campus that fuels the state. We seek the top talent in the country to join Husky Nation and invite inquiries and applications. We are committed to a caring and inclusive work culture, professional and leadership development, and flexibility for high achievers with a passion for higher education.

The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We celebrate diverse perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that will value your unique experiences and identity. We recognize that a true commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requires ongoing education and action, and we strive for continued growth each and every day.

We're looking for dedicated professionals to drive success and excellence and exemplify our values of integrity, empathy, kindness, accountability, collaboration, transparency, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

POSITION SUMMARY

As the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, Regional Engagement, you will play a key role in developing and fostering relationships with UConn alumni and university stakeholders. You will serve as a liaison for select regional areas, engaging alumni and stakeholders in support of UConn in engagement and philanthropy, recruiting volunteers to support UConn's mission in their respective areas, and designing and implementing diverse programs and experiences in order to strengthen alumni connections with UConn and help enhance UConn's brand as a world leader in innovation, research, and Husky pride. You will regularly participate in alumni events and will interact with all areas of the UConn community.

In this role, you will:

• Assist the Director with developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy, in alignment with Foundation and University priorities, to increase alumni engagement through regional activity across the assigned networks. Partner with regional alumni volunteers to ensure a shared understanding of guidelines, provide any necessary training, oversee and support succession planning, communicate university priorities and news with regularity, and actively recruit new volunteers. Partner with key Foundation stakeholders to identify and build relationships with alumni for strategic engagement.
• Manage all aspects of event planning for assigned regional events and programs. Maintain a comprehensive calendar of events, provide event materials, write briefings, as well as create campaigns and event listings in the college's CRM (Blackbaud) to track attendance, as needed.
• Support efforts of the Alumni Relations team in helping to qualify unassigned alumni through planned 1:1 visits, communication and stewardship in follow up post-event, and outreach to encourage future engagement. Leverage this work to identify new alumni for potential speaking, hosting, or volunteer opportunities.
• Meet with regional volunteers to strategize, train, and identify new opportunities to strengthen alumni engagement in assigned regions. In concert with Director, manage budgets for the year based on programming and initiatives within each region.
• Manage assigned signature programing initiatives. Participate in aspects of department programming and operations (e.g. Homecoming and other events).
• Create and develop various digital and social media communications in concert with the Creative Digital Strategy team to aid in promoting engagement events and activities, recognizing alumni contributions, and creating awareness of college plans and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Engagement

Collaborate with your department and stakeholders to steward donors, engage with alumni, and support events specific to your unit.

Leadership

Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as department meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.

To be successful in this role, you should:

• Be a champion for inclusion and diversity both internally and externally.
• Have an appreciation for the mission of the University of Connecticut and the ability to articulate the value of Alumni Relations to alumni with clarity and passion.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills; strong written and verbal communication.
• Be able to forge partnerships across campus as well as develop and implement plans in a team environment with a shared-outcome philosophy.
• Be well organized and creative; Possess a high level of integrity, and the ability to work in a professional environment with a strong orientation to teamwork and a focus on outcomes/results.
• Be willing to work flexible hours (evenings and/or weekends).
• Possess a developing skillset that includes an ability to build productive, beneficial relationships with a broad range of constituencies. Developing interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy.
• Be able to lift up to 25 pounds, move equipment and a rolling cart.
• Must be able and willing to travel, including by air when necessary. Must have reliable personal transportation and a valid driver's license issued from the state in which employee resides. Employee must maintain, at their expense, automobile liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000 or a combination of umbrella and automobile liability insurance coverage of $500,000. Evidence of this coverage, in the form of a certificate of automobile insurance, must be provided to the Foundation at hire and annually thereafter.

Education and Experience

We provide a broad set of requirements to be inclusive of people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you think you have the skills for the position, we want to hear from you. Even if this is not the right role, we may know of opportunities elsewhere or have future opportunities that better match your skill set.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years in volunteer management, event planning, or public relations.
• Some experience in relationship building/relationship management. Preferably some experience in a higher education setting and working with volunteers.
• Proficient with MS Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams. Demonstrated ability to work in multiple system environments including databases and/or a CRM.

Salary:

The expected salary for this position is $58,000+. It will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also placing an emphasis on internal equity.

Benefits:

Benefits start from day one. We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.

In addition, there are a few other perks to being a UConn Foundation employee:

• We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b) retirement plan to help you plan for retirement.
• We place an emphasis on work/life balance. In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive thirteen paid holidays, five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, and additional sick time.
• We invest in your professional development. Aside from opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

Please inform a Human Resources Representative if you need any assistance completing any forms or participating in any part of the application process due to a disability.