Executive Director, Alumni Engagement Greater Schenectady, NY Area

Summary

The Executive Director of Alumni Engagement leads a comprehensive program that strengthens alumni connections to Skidmore and advances the College’s engagement and philanthropic priorities. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Advancement Strategy, the Executive Director oversees the Alumni Engagement team, partners with the Alumni Association Board, and directs regional, campus, and volunteer engagement initiatives. The role collaborates across Advancement and the College to align alumni engagement with institutional and campaign priorities, using data and assessment to guide strategy and improve outcomes.

The Executive Director of Alumni Engagement works on campus and travels throughout the year as needed. Frequent regional travel and weekend work, as well as occasional national travel on behalf of the College, are required.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

1. In partnership with the Assistant Vice President for Advancement Strategy and key colleagues, develop and lead a comprehensive short- and long-term alumni engagement strategy aligned with Advancement and institutional priorities. Maintain awareness of emerging trends and recognized practices in alumni relations, volunteer management, constituent engagement, and higher-education advancement.
2. Establish annual and multi-year goals, key performance indicators, and measures of success for alumni, volunteer, student, family, and constituent engagement. Develop dashboards and regular reporting, and use quantitative and qualitative data, engagement scoring, constituent feedback, benchmarking, and program evaluation to guide resource allocation and continuous improvement.
3. Serve as Executive Director of the Skidmore College Alumni Association and staff liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors and its committees. Coordinate regular meetings and the work of nominating, awards, and other committees, and support long-range planning, policy development, leadership succession, and effective governance.
4. Work closely with alumni leaders, including the Alumni Association president, executive committee, Alumni Trustees, and other key volunteers. Identify, recruit, develop, and support diverse volunteer leadership and create meaningful pathways for alumni participation in the life of the College.
5. Lead the development and implementation of large- and small-scale programs, volunteer opportunities, affinity and regional initiatives, and campus and off-campus events that strengthen relationships among alumni, families, friends, students, and the College. Work with constituents and College partners to develop responsive, inclusive, and mission-aligned engagement opportunities.
6. Evaluate the strategic purpose, audience, outcomes, cost, and effectiveness of programs and events and adjust engagement strategies accordingly. Ensure effective planning, coordination, risk management, and contingency planning for major campus, regional, virtual, and hybrid programs.
7. Build strong, productive relationships between Alumni Engagement and fundraising, stewardship, strategic partnerships, advancement operations, prospect development, communications, and other Advancement teams. Collaborate with SSG leaders and other Advancement colleagues to ensure that alumni engagement priorities, programs, and resources support divisional strategy and institutional goals.
8. Partner with fundraising colleagues to create engagement opportunities that deepen relationships, surface constituent interests, support prospect development, and build pathways to philanthropy. Contribute alumni insight, engagement data, and volunteer perspectives to Advancement planning, campaign activity, and constituent strategy.
9. Provide strategic oversight for Alumni Engagement communications, including digital content, social media, web content, publications, program promotion, and volunteer communications. Lead and manage Alumni Engagement staff, budget, vendors, systems, and workflows to ensure resources are aligned with strategic priorities and the team operates with clarity, accountability, collaboration, and creativity.

Qualifications and Competencies

Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.

Experience: Seven or more years of progressively responsible, directly related or applicable experience, including significant leadership and management responsibility.

• Experience developing and leading a comprehensive constituent, alumni, membership, volunteer, or community engagement strategy.
• Strategic-planning expertise and the ability to align goals, tactics, people, programs, and resources with broader institutional and Advancement objectives.
• A sophisticated understanding of how alumni engagement contributes to relationship development, institutional affinity, volunteer involvement, prospect development, and philanthropy.
• Experience establishing meaningful metrics, evaluating programs, interpreting data and constituent feedback, and using findings to drive continuous improvement.
• Experience recruiting, developing, motivating, and supporting volunteers and volunteer leaders.
• Effective staff leadership, including supervision, coaching, performance management, team development, and organizational change.
• Experience managing complex budgets and making strategic resource-allocation decisions.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate persuasively with varied audiences.
• The presence and judgment to represent the College in a highly visible public role, lead meetings, speak at events, and interact effectively with senior leaders and key volunteers.
• A record of successful collaboration in a complex, fast-paced organization serving multiple stakeholders.
• The ability to build consensus, navigate sensitive matters with tact and humanity, and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Strong organization, initiative, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, make independent decisions, meet deadlines, and operate within budgetary guidelines.
• A commitment to inclusive engagement and to creating opportunities that reflect the diversity of Skidmore's alumni and constituent communities.
• Appreciation for the mission and traditions of a national liberal arts college and for the relationships among alumni engagement, Advancement, and the College's strategic priorities.

Salary Range: $97,000 - $115,000

Required documents needed to apply:

• On-line application
• Cover Letter
• Resume

Employment at Skidmore College is contingent upon an acceptable post-offer background check result.

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Skidmore College is committed to being an inclusive campus community and, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, familial status, dating violence, or stalking, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

CREATIVE THOUGHT MATTERS.