Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement for Shared Interest Programs

Williams College, London • Williamstown, MA

1d • $68,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Williams College seeks an Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement for Shared Interest Programs (SIP) to provide strategic leadership and engagement opportunities for communities of alumni expressly created around a shared interest or experience, outside of traditional class-based structures and beyond the scope of established alumni affinity networks. This includes shared interest developed through athletic teams, recognized student organizations/clubs, majors/departments, residential life, and more.

The Assistant Director will manage and collaborate deeply with alumni volunteers to organize gatherings, events, communications, and other moments of connection between and among alumni, as well as between alumni and students in groups that share these interests. Annually, this will take the form of ~20-25 large-scale campus gatherings, smaller regional gatherings, virtual SIP reunions, and alumni storytelling opportunities.

As such, this role involves considerable event planning, strategic thinking, program execution, marketing production, and deep collaboration with alumni, campus partners, faculty and academic departments, and external vendors. A creative, energetic, and empathic team, Alumni Engagement is looking for candidates with strong communication and tech skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities, and demonstrated professional experience in volunteer management, program management, event coordination, or comparable field of endeavor.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of relevant experience in volunteer management, program management, event coordination, or comparable field of endeavor; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to cultivate relationships with broadly diverse groups of alumni, faculty, staff, students, vendors, etc. Demonstrated interest in working with volunteers and undergraduate students, and skills to support that work.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and execute a high volume of events through all phases of planning and delivery, including reporting on program and event outcomes.
• Independent professional judgment to accomplish program and event goals, particularly in solving last-minute challenges that may arise.
• Comfort in an environment where most work is done electronically, with demonstrated interest in learning new systems and platforms. Experience with financial reconciliation systems, or demonstrated willingness to learn.
• Organizational and problem solving skills with an ability to prioritize and execute multiple competing projects and tasks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proactive collaboration across a range of campus partners as a fundamental priority. Demonstrated ability and interest in producing email campaigns, event invitations, newsletters, print collateral, and web pages.
• Ability to navigate campus and to travel in order to meet with alumni and produce events.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and execute ~20-25 Shared Interest Program (SIP) events and reunions each year, actively managing large numbers of SIP volunteers and college partners throughout the event planning process.
• Cultivate lifelong affinity across alumni cohorts, focusing specifically on young alumni and under-engaged populations most likely to connect through shared interest, while facilitating student-alumni interactions as opportunities arise.
• Proactively track milestone years for major student groups, teams, and activities, intentionally cultivating groups of volunteer leaders to serve as thought and execution partners.
• Design and manage marketing collateral (emails, invitations, print, web pages) and establish communication channels (listservs, dynamic lists) that support connection.
• Partner directly with coaches, athletic staff, and team alumni networks to plan, coordinate, and execute athletic gatherings, alumni-athlete games, team milestone events, and other stewardship opportunities.
• Collect reflections and stories from alumni that commemorate key milestones and faculty/staff retirements.
• Co-manage a comprehensive Reunion Ranger program of 60+ student employees.
• Provide continuous feedback and insights to colleagues, actively contributing to a team culture of learning, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Hybrid on-site/remote work arrangements may be available for up to 2 days of remote work per week for employees based in MA, NY, CT, or VT, following a fully in-person onboarding period.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level