Clark College Foundation, in direct support of Clark College and its mission, is currently accepting applications for a full time, exempt Director of Alumni Relations & Community Engagement (Director). Reporting to the Chief Executive Office, the Director will use an equity mindset to lead, plan, organize, direct and review the alumni relations and community engagement activities of the foundation. The Director works collaboratively with the foundation team, as well as all members of Clark College’s community; and will serve as a member of the foundation’s management team.

The Director should be an exceptional, creative and strategic communicator, as well as a collaborative and inclusive leader noting a strong need to navigate many stakeholders while setting clear goals and metrics for success.

The Director develops and implements the alumni relations program for Clark College Foundation, supported by a group of volunteer leaders referred to as the Clark College Alumni Board. The alumni relations program supports the strategic priorities of Clark College. Under the direction of foundation leadership, the Director works with Clark College leadership and key academic, faculty and staff leaders, as well as alumni volunteers to engage Clark College alumni.

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator who will help Clark College’s community achieve its goals of increasing student success, ensuring financial stability, maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive college environment, and broadening strategic partnerships.

The position is a full-time role. The position requires flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends and altered schedules to accommodate project deadlines, donors/alumni needs, and meetings/events that occur outside of usual business hours.

At Clark College Foundation, we value equity, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to growing, learning and supporting our employees.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate must be willing to bring their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as expertise and creativity to effectively communicate and engage with stakeholders. Specifically, the position will:

• Collaborate with the foundation leadership and the Clark College Alumni Board to strategically develop and manage a rigorous and ongoing alumni relations program, including maintaining regular communications between the college and alumni; educating alumni about college priority programs and projects and engaging them in these priorities; connecting alumni with each other, providing lifelong college benefits, and supporting annual giving and major gift fundraising efforts.
• Partner with foundation team members to help create, manage and monitor an annual work plan and budget for the alumni relations program, always ensuring efficient and effective use of foundation resources.
• Promote diversity, inclusion and equity in processes including, but not limited to outreach efforts, communication, projects and fundraising efforts.
• Responsible for devising and executing strategies to help support the Office of Student Services’ efforts to recruit and retain diverse student populations, provide mentoring to students and graduates, and help as much as possible to identify quality employment opportunities for graduates through alumni contacts.
• Create and coordinate effective online networking for alumni stakeholders using various social media platforms, online resources and creative engagement mediums. This may include fostering effective alumni web engagement and presence, thus a knowledge or understanding of web functionality is preferred.
• Cooperate with foundation team members to create and distribute communication materials to keep alumni informed about developments and activities at Clark. Communication channels may include those produced at the foundation and/or college, but also those centers and community programs that best facilitate dynamic, equitable engagement (e.g., NAACP, LGBTQ Center, etc.)
• Effectively document all contacts with alumni to report and retrieve data and analyze the effectiveness of strategies and programs. The Director and team will utilize The Raiser’s Edge and designated data systems as the sole tools for planning executing and recording all strategic alumni relations activities.
• Collaborate with events and donor relations staff to create and manage all alumni relations special events, including graduation, alumni awards activities, career fairs, alumni reunions, receptions, etc.
• Partner with foundation team members to recruit and manage an active board of volunteers (alumni board) to assist the foundation and college in carrying out programs supporting institutional priorities.
• Manage team members as assigned.

In addition, the Director of Alumni Relations & Community Engagement will perform other responsibilities that affect the cultivation and stewardship of assigned major gift opportunities. Those duties include strategically creating, coordinating and attending special events; working with alumni-related programs and activities; thanking donors; entering appropriate contact information into The Raiser’s Edge system to document interactions with donors and potential donors; working with Clark College administrative and academic leaders in support of development activities; reporting/monitoring activities and productivity; and other related responsibilities as required.

Note: The responsibilities listed above may not include all duties performed by this position. Clark College Foundation reserves the right to assign other appropriate work as may be required to support the needs and purposes of the nonprofit organization.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and seven to 10 years of relevant professional experience of increasing scope in an organization
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Vaccination requirement: As of September 2022, the foundation policies regarding vaccine status follow those of Clark College. Per Washington State Proclamation 21-14.1: college employees must be fully vaccinated. Your COVID-19 vaccine status must be validated by Clark College Foundation’s Human Resources office prior to the commencement of work. Requesting a disability or religious exemption would be done after a job offer has been made.

Application Process:

Email or mail a cover letter, résumé and three professional references in ONE PDF document, with subject “Director” to Linda Ward ([email protected]). No phone calls please. Final candidates will be asked to complete and sign a formal application form. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled.