Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events

JOB TITLE: Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events

DEPARTMENT:  Advancement

REPORTS TO:  Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Relations

Summary: This position is responsible for the strategic development of programs fostering an active alumni community, increasing membership in and engagement with the UArts Alumni Network, and building a strong pipeline for major gifts.  The Senior Director is also responsible overseeing a comprehensive events strategy for the University.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Plans, implements, and evaluates an alumni relations strategy to increase meaningful engagement and participation of UArts alumni.  
  • Plans, implements, and evaluates an events strategy for the University, which includes goal setting; coordination, segmenting, writing and mailing of all invitations, social media campaigns, email solicitations, board/staff personalized asks, and volunteer coordination and engagement.
  • Develops a comprehensive communications plan and schedule of alumni events, oversee the Alumni committees, identify alumni major gift prospects and streamline alumni functions into annual fund activities and major gift pipeline when possible.
  • Plans, implements and evaluates a strategy for the UArts Alumni Network, including goal setting, membership targets, increased participation.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent; they do not purport to describe all functions.  Incumbent may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may change from time to time as necessary.

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5-7 years of experience with increasing responsibility in non-profit fundraising roles, preferably in higher education, with particular focus on the management of special events and/or alumni relations programs.
  • Experience in engaging constituencies, and working with volunteers.
  • Record of developing and implementing effective engagement plans, and achieving metric-driven goals.
  • Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for a diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and networking skills are essential.
  • Ability to maintain a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
  • Ability to initiate and build relationships with prospective donors and campus partners, interacting in person as well as by telephone and other electronic means.
  • Arts literacy, and some familiarity with the Philadelphia arts/university funding community, is preferred.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple unique projects at once. 
  • May be trained to use data management tools.
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, Google applications, Zoom.
  • Ability to budget and manage university purchasing card.
  • Must be able to work evenings and weekends as warranted.

About The University:

University of the Arts’ mission is simple: to advance human creativity. Established in 1876, UArts believes creativity is the most essential skill for success in today’s society and has educated generations of groundbreaking artists, performers, designers and creative leaders for more than 141 years.  After being granted university status in 1987, University of the Arts became the largest institution of its kind in the nation, offering programs in design, fine arts, media arts, crafts, music, dance, theater and writing. It now features 30 undergraduate arts majors, 15 graduate programs and the nation’s first PhD program in Creativity. UArts is also home to innovative centers across disciplines, including the Center for Immersive Media, Lightbox Film Center, Philadelphia Art Alliance and Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery. Learn more about UArts.

TO APPLY: Interested, qualified applicants should submit letters of application and resumes to the Human Resources Department via email to jobs@uarts.edu. Please ensure job title is in the Subject line.

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, The University of the Arts publishes its Annual Safety Report at the following link for your reference:

http://www.uarts.edu/about/campus-crime-fire-reports.

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Title IX Statement: The University of the Arts prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its programs and activities, including admission and employment, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Title IX Coordinator and Diversity Administrator is responsible for overseeing compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. To contact the Title IX Coordinator, e-mail titleix@uarts.edu,, or visit The University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, Room 260, or call 215-717-6366. To learn more about the University's Title IX policy and response to sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, please visit www.uarts.edu/titleix. Inquiries may also be directed to the Federal agency responsible for enforcing Title IX, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

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