Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

We are a team of talented relationship builders with the shared mission of connecting, engaging, and supporting our Swarthmore College alumni and families.

We are committed to the following:

• Creating opportunities in everything we do that connect Swarthmore alumni, students, and the wider Swarthmore community;
• Developing programs valued by our alumni, families, and students who will become our future alumni;
• Building enduring and mutually beneficial relationships that inspire conversational, experiential, volunteer, and philanthropic engagement;
• Taking risks and championing new and creative ideas; and
• Strengthening the College’s reputation and advancing its mission.

The opportunity:

The Associate Director, Alumni and Family Communities, plays an integral role in developing and growing Swarthmore’s affinity-, regional-, and reunion-based alumni and family engagement programs. A builder and effective project manager, the Associate Director brings their experience managing and developing volunteers and programs to grow engagement with the thriving academic culture of this liberal arts undergraduate community. In addition, the Associate Director is responsible for increasing the volunteer and experiential offerings of the Alumni and Family Programs department, specifically increasing constituent engagement through managing select regional communities, affinity communities representing alumni of color, and select reunion committees.

Swarthmore values intentional community building by creating spaces for dialogue that foster intellectual curiosity and meaningful connections. The Alumni and Family Programs team contributes to this ethos and the educational mission of the College by engaging alumni, parents, and friends in the life of the College. To this end, the Associate Director, Alumni and Family Communities, will be a part of a team that engages and manages volunteers who support campus programs and departments.

In partnership with and reporting to the Director, Alumni and Family Communities, the Associate Director will anticipate constituent needs, use insights to craft responsive offerings, and consistently deliver positive and meaningful community connections.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to prioritize and support the shared goals of families, alumni, and the College within an integrated Advancement framework.
• Develop, staff, and engage the Swarthmore Black Alumni Network and other key affinity groups.
• In collaboration with the Director, Alumni and Family Communities, take the initial lead on creating a plan that seamlessly transitions students to alumni.
• Develop, staff, and engage select regional groups.
• In collaboration with reunion fundraising committee managers and the Advancement Events team, recruit staff, and engage select reunion classes in year-round reunion activity planning, including virtual and in-person programs.
• Engage virtually and travel for volunteer recruitment, engagement, training, and committee meetings.
• Use technology to communicate with alumni and constituents and understand key data guiding strategy setting.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Donor Relations team on the direction and implementation of digital and print communication initiatives, events planning, and volunteer stewardship.
• Actively engage in the College community, attending and supporting appropriate alumni and family engagement events related to assigned responsibilities.
• Communicate the vital role of philanthropy and volunteerism at Swarthmore College. Contribute to the development and implementation of institutional messages for broad-based constituencies.

Who you are:

• Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build alumni and family programs and implement coordinated affinity activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment.
• High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills; personal solicitation experience is valued.
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of database research and maintenance.
• Ability to work with students, as well as volunteers of all ages.
• Must be able to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years working in institutional advancement, higher education, volunteer management, non-profit, or equivalent professional and educational experience.
• Exceptional communication (written, oral, and interpersonal) skills with special emphasis on ability to connect and engage with a broad constituency in both written and oral communications.
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build alumni and family programs and implement coordinated affinity activities, along with a talent for motivating a team and volunteers.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment.
• High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
• Mature judgment and the ability to act independently to plan and accomplish goals.
• Strong organizational skills, and in particular, the abilities to manage multiple projects, pay close attention to detail and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Strong skill in dealing with people, using tact and diplomacy, and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to use a variety of computer applications proficiently, including demonstrated skills in the use of word processing and spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs and Sheets), and fundraising databases and reporting software.
• Ability to work with students, as well as volunteers of all ages.
• Ability to initiate and complete tasks with minimal supervision, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, or as needed to complete projects or meet heavy demand.
• Must be able to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Valid US driver’s license and ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Experience working in a college or university setting, especially in a comprehensive fund-raising environment.
• Personal solicitation experience.
• Strong skill in articulating the value of higher education.
• Understanding of how data is used to inform decision making.
• Proficiency with G Suite (especially Google Docs and Sheets), PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world’s most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Come join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications including resume and cover letter with pay expectations by August 21, 2023.

Review the Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook, we offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)*

Holiday Schedule

*Note: You cannot take paid leave for the first 3 months of employment, leave accruals cannot go into a negative balance. 

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.