Associate Director of Affinity Engagement

Simmons College Company•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director of Alumnae/i and Volunteer Engagement and Individual Giving, the Associate Director of Affinity Engagement (“Associate Director”) will serve as an integral member of the Office of Advancement and Alumnae/i Relations (“Advancement”) team. The Associate Director will lead the strategy, development, and execution of programs, activities, and communications that engage alumnae/i across shared affinities and strengthen their connection to Simmons and our global community of more than 50,000 graduates. Through the development and refinement of an integrated affinity strategy, relying heavily on volunteer recruitment and management, as well as cross-campus collaborations, the Associate Director will develop a robust culture of philanthropy amongst alumni groups with shared interests and connections.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience.
A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience, or equivalent or transferable skills and experience; experience in higher education, alumni relations, and/or development preferred.
Demonstrated experience in constituent engagement and/or volunteer management.
Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to be aware of, coordinate, instruct, negotiate with, and be in service to others.
Strong time management skills and attention to detail, organizational, oral, and written communication skills.
Ability to envision, propose, and develop new initiatives that support Advancement’s goals, specifically around donor participation and engagement.
Must be able to handle sensitive information confidentially.
Some evening and weekend work is required, including staffing/attending specific events throughout the year.
Knowledge of annual giving processes, metrics, and systems.
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms. And other office procedures and terminology.
Knowledge of communication and dissemination techniques and methods, including alternative techniques and methods.
Knowledge of and skill with navigating and utilizing spreadsheets, presentations, word processing, databases, the internet, and other key computer and technical applications and related software.
Strong communications skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively communicate and understand information and ideas across multiple stakeholders and constituencies, demonstrating active listening and learning.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to look at data and draw conclusions to inform strategies.
Demonstrated ability to work with individuals across different identities, backgrounds, and abilities.
Strong ability to work effectively in an outcomes-focused, team environment, with demonstrated ability to take responsibility for assigned tasks and take initiative.
Ability to recognize and identify problems of varying complexity and develop, implement, and evaluate creative solutions as appropriate.
Ability to manage oneself and others as appropriate.
The ideal candidate will be positive, extremely service-oriented, and have a demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships with a variety of different individuals and groups.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of and skill with navigating and utilizing customer relations management applications (Raiser’s Edge/NXT in particular) a plus.

Responsibilities

Volunteer Management Create and expand a diverse affinity-based volunteer network to build toward increasing alumnae/i participation against organizational goals, with a focus on leadership development across regional, professional, identity-based, and shared-interest groups such as, but limited to, the African American Alumnae/i, athletics, and school-based alumnae/i communities. This will include both deepening the engagement within historic affinity groups and discovering new affinity opportunities.
Recruit, train, and manage volunteer leaders and committees with clear expectations tied to engagement outcomes, including participation growth and affinity community-building. Collaborate with the Associate Director of Alumnae/i and Volunteer Engagement to align this with overall volunteer management.
Develop and implement structured cultivation and stewardship strategies to increase volunteer retention and progression into leadership roles and referrals for philanthropic opportunities.
Equip volunteers with tools, training, and data to serve as effective ambassadors, driving peer engagement, Simmons Network participation, mentorship, and event attendance.
Events Design and partner with the Advancement Events Manager to execute affinity-based and integrated programming (virtual and in-person) that supports event goals (attendance,recruitment, growth, cultivation, etc.) and advances a alumnae/i engagement and participation.
Partner with campus stakeholders and volunteers to deliver innovative, inclusive experiences aligned with institutional priorities, including the reimagined Reunion model that expands beyond class years to affinity and professional network and leads to philanthropic support and affinity participation in programs like Giving Day.
Evaluate program effectiveness using defined metrics (attendance, repeat participation, audience growth, satisfaction) and apply insights to continuously refine strategy and increase impact.
Communications Develop and execute targeted, data-informed, multi-channel communication strategies for affinity audiences that drive engagement and achieve key metrics (e.g., email performance, platform growth, and user retention), in alignment with Advancement priorities.
Contribute to and support a 12–18 month communications plan that elevates Simmons’ legacy, signature programs, and institutional initiatives across affinity groups.
Create and manage affinity-based content—including writing and light design—for digital, email, and social channels; collaborate with Advancement, cross-campus and external partners to amplify messaging, share impact stories, and optimize reach through analytics.