Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations and Executive Director of Alumni Association
As a direct report to the Senior Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations and member of the Executive Team for Development and Alumni Relations, the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations and Executive Director for the Alumni Association (AVP/ED) will lead all alumni relations strategy and programming for the Johns Hopkins University. They will be the voice of alumni relations at the most senior levels of the University and be responsible for cross-functional leadership within Development and Alumni Relations.
The AVP/ED will be a change-maker in the space of alumni engagement and the role it plays in advancing the mission and impact of the University. They will establish strategic direction and provide organizational leadership for programs and projects that seek to engage alumni from across the University, including the significant numbers of alumni from the professional schools and centers and around the world in a mutually beneficial lifelong connection to each other, their school, and the University. As an expert facilitator and community builder, this leader will activate alumni engagement with the University by modernizing JHU’s outreach and value proposition to alumni. Alumni from the professional schools make up more than two-
thirds of JHU’s alumni community. The AVP/ED will be responsible for advancing strategies in this unique environment that engage a diverse set of alumni identities, affinities, and communities. They will be an industry expert in the effective and purposeful engagement of alumni of graduate programs. The AVP/ED will act as the liaison and staff strategist for the Alumni Council, oversee a team of 25-plus staff members, and be responsible for managing a significant events and programming budget.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
- Align and advocate for a robust alumni engagement strategy across the institution.
- Regularly collaborate with leaders across campus to position the alumni perspective, realize opportunities for leveraging alumni advocacy, and open new doors for engaging JHU’s alumni.
- Sit on the Senior Leadership Team and DAR Leadership Team as a key perspective for the division.
- Advance and advocate for cross-organizational efficiency.
- Collaborate with leaders in other administrative offices (e.g., Career Services, Admissions, and Student Affairs) and the schools to create and maintain pathways for alumni participation that advance the goals of the University.
- Set strategic direction for the alumni programs and lead the Alumni Relations function in building and managing the University’s relationships with alumni of all academic divisions and programs.
- Develop, deploy, and promote alumni programs that support the University’s strategic plan as well as the goals of Development and Alumni Relations and the academic divisions.
- Oversee and set the direction for plans that engage students and young alumni and create lifelong commitment and support for alumni programs.
- Create ways for integrating University faculty and staff into alumni activities. Position the University as the intellectual home of its alumni and help foster the idea of lifelong learning.
- Drive personal and organizational accountability to the stated objectives each fiscal year. Ensure each program is moving towards growth and multi-year success.
- Build and manage a high-performing service organization within Alumni Relations. Set overarching goals and manage organizational performance relative to those goals.
- Actively engage in campaign planning and alignment with the JHU Sesquicentennial in conjunction with all areas of alumni engagement and work closely with fellow Leadership Team members.
- Leverage existing structures and resources to support strategies for engaging and positioning alumni in the campaign.
- Drive success and maturation in JHU’s approach and definition of alumni engagement, including fostering partnerships with development for a comprehensive strategy of alumni giving and participation rates.
- Collaborate closely with Development colleagues in increasing support from alumni as a pillar of the campaign. Participate with development colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumni donors.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with a wide range of alumni — locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
- Serve as the lead representative for the institution on the Johns Hopkins Association’s Alumni Council and its working committees. Act as the liaison between the Alumni Council and the University’s academic and administrative leadership to enrich the alumni experience and foster beneficial relationships across the Johns Hopkins community.
- Foster a global network of alumni volunteers providing intellectual, cultural, professional, and social events and networking opportunities.
- Ensure that direct reports feel welcome in the workplace. Be proactive to ensure that individuals of all backgrounds and identities feel welcome and included across the organization.
- Actively work to maintain an equitable and inclusive work environment. Promote a professional workplace culture of mutual respect, collegiality, and collaboration for all members and affiliates of the institution.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Communications or closely related field required. Advanced degree preferred.
- Ten or more years of progressively responsible alumni relations experience with large, complex institutions. Translatable experience of leadership and external engagement in a complex institution will be considered.
- Proven ability to manage a team, including experience in managing budgets and supervising managers.
- Proven skills as a leader and manager along with demonstrated ability to motivate, influence, and persuade.
- Demonstrated accomplishment in fostering productive relationships with volunteers and developing volunteer leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to strategize, build, and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
- Ability to organize and complete multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, some involving alumni volunteers.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, together with the ability to work collaboratively with University colleagues, alumni, other constituents, and the public.
- Proven ability to work successfully in a large, complex, sometimes ambiguous environment.
- Ability to interact, communicate, and work effectively with individuals, recognizing and respecting the many and varied identities of each person.
- Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Ability to travel frequently and work evenings and weekends.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in annual giving, communications, and direct marketing, particularly directed at alumni audiences.
- Experience and credentials in engaging diverse audiences and organizing programming for individuals in distinct identity groups and communities.
- Knowledge of and history with communication technologies and trends in the alumni relations space.
- Commitment to use of information technology and the management and understanding of data systems.
All applicants are expected to uphold the University’s core values, which includes diversity and inclusion. All staff treat people with dignity and respect by being fair and consistent. We demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people regardless of their race, gender, age, national origin, religion, ethnicity, disability status, or other characteristics. We show respect for the beliefs and traditions of others; encourage and promote practices that support cultural diversity; and discourage behaviors or practices that may be perceived as unfair, biased, or critical toward people with certain backgrounds.
Total Rewards
Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career, and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/. The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity, and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
Classified Title: Associate Vice President-MGM
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations and Executive Director of Alumni Association
Role/Level/Range: ADMOFF/01/EX
Starting Salary Range: Commensurate with experience
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:30 am -5:00 pm
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Mount Washington Campus
Department name: Sr. VP Development & Alumni Relations
Personnel area: University Administration