The University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director of Alumni Relations. The Executive Director of Alumni Relations sets the strategic direction for engaging the university’s 355,000 living alumni across the world. Production, collaboration, innovation, and purpose will guide this advancement leader.

The Executive Director of Alumni Relations serves as a key member of the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) senior leadership team and through close partnerships with university and volunteer leadership is responsible for developing strategic objectives for constituent programs, services, and activities to ensure successful engagement and participation among students, alumni, donors and friends of the university. The Executive Director of Alumni Relations reports directly to the Senior Executive Director of Development and will maintain close working relationships with the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations and other leaders in the division, the UGA Alumni Board of Directors, the University of Georgia Foundation, the President’s Office, the deans of UGA schools and colleges, unit directors, the UGA Athletic Association, alumni committees, and key volunteers in the support of a cohesive and coordinated approach to programming, services and activities.

The Executive Director will lead and direct a staff of professionals in creating forward-thinking programs and work collaboratively with the team to increase commitment among alumni, setting the operational and strategic plan, identifying key metrics, and managing the budget for the UGA Alumni Board and the department of Alumni Relations. The Executive Director will provide guidance and assist with the efforts of schools, colleges, and other units in developing and enhancing strategic programming and constituent engagement while promoting opportunities for financial support of the university. The Executive Director of Alumni Relations will also serve as liaison to the UGA Alumni Board of Directors and work closely with the Board and volunteers in implementing strategies to increase engagement of alumni, students, donors and friends of the University of Georgia. More information can be found at the following websites: https://give.uga.edu/, https://dar.uga.edu/ and https://alumni.uga.edu/.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Leadership: Internal Partnerships (55%)

Alumni Relations Team

• Build and lead results-focused teams with a leadership style that encourages confidence and promotes an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit among the team and shareholders.
• Lead a strategic and financial annual review and development process for the Alumni Relations team. This includes close collaboration with leadership across DAR and development of a plan that provides guidance and mentorship to the Alumni team for their annual priorities and activities in support of the mission goals of the Division.
• Structure, appoint, establish, communicate, and reinforce staff assignments, accountabilities, performance expectations, and goals for staff reporting to this position.
• Ensure representation of the Alumni Relations team in the planning and execution of DAR signature programs, including strategic planning, engagement, and event execution.
• Collaborate with DAR leadership on strategy to set goals, annual plans, and metrics to measure engagement and alumni programming in connection to fundraising and other DAR priorities.

Campus Partners

• Establish and nurture strong relationships and promote engagement with academic leaders, senior staff, and DAR colleagues across campus to strengthen alumni programming and align the work of the Alumni Relations team with the strategic goals and priorities of DAR.
• Provide guidance and assist with the efforts of the schools, colleges, and other units in developing and enhancing alumni programming and engagement and promoting opportunities for financial support of the university.

Strategy and Leadership: External Partnerships (45%)

Engagement of alumni, donors, and friends of the university

• Provide the architecture for engagement between UGA and its alumni, friends, and constituents.
• Lead and create strategies and programs that drive personal connection, affinity, and investment in UGA pursuing, always, the best constituent experience.
• Grow the pipeline of engaged alumni, parents, friends, and constituents to support fundraising priorities and advance the mission of UGA.
• Develop strong relationships with UGA alumni and community to support strategic objectives for the alumni programs, services, and activities to ensure successful outcomes. Ensure that programming and engagement are connected to opportunities for financial support of the university.
• Lead the strategy for engagement of alumni in geographic markets in collaboration with the priorities of DAR.
• Manage internal teams responsible for programing to external audiences.
• Deliver speeches and present information that promotes the mission of the Office of Alumni Relations, encourages constituent engagement, alumni giving and participation, and accomplishes other objectives pertinent to the role.

Strategic Leadership of the UGA Alumni Board and Volunteer Leaders

• Lead the direction of the UGA Alumni Board, prioritizing the recruitment, selection, any training of effective alumni board members.
• Create and sustain an effective volunteer alumni board strategic plan that enables DAR and the University of Georgia to achieve their mission.
• Coordinate alumni board assignments and goals to enhance the collaborative goals of the priorities of DAR.
• Confer with board members, organize board leaders, and staff liaisons to carry out the priorities of DAR.

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations or a related field.

Relevant/Preferred Education and Experience

• A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations or a related field.
• At least five years of senior level management experience in resource development, strategic planning, public relations/communications.
• At least 12 years of related higher education experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience related to marketing, development, business administration, higher education, project management, or relationship management.
• At least five years of experience working with and managing volunteer boards.
• Proven track record of fundraising success in higher education.
• Proven track record with comprehensive campaigns.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and/or Competencies:

• Strong people management skills and time management skills.
• Ability to cultivate and solicit private gifts from high-level prospects.
• Knowledge of private funding landscape in higher education.
• Knowledge of IRS rules and regulations regarding charitable gifts and non-profit organizations.
• Self-starter and highly motivated.
• Collaborative style combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment.
• Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail and confident, strong verbal communication.
• Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible.
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations.
• Ability to establish the trust of colleagues and build strong relationships with key faculty/staff.
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects.
• Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines.
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities.
• Ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university business and confidential donor and prospect information.
• Skilled using Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Creative thinker with ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas.
• Ability to respond to donors needs and concerns in a kind and professional way.
• Ability to travel in and out of state.
• Willingness and flexibility to work nights and weekends if necessary.
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence.
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening.
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task.