Associate Director of Alumnae Engagement

About the Role

As Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women prepares for its Centennial celebration and enters a comprehensive philanthropic campaign, the Associate Director of Alumnae Engagement will serve a pivotal role in deepening relationships with alumnae, enhancing strategic volunteer engagement, and supporting a culture of philanthropy. This position is designed to focus less on event logistics and more on strategic relationship building and alumnae discovery, with clear and measurable goals that propel institutional advancement priorities forward.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct 30–40 alumnae discovery and stewardship visits annually to identify philanthropic potential and build deeper constituent understanding
• Identify and qualify 20+ alumnae annually as potential campaign donors and/or Centennial year celebration volunteers
• Steward alumnae through intentional, personalized outreach and ongoing follow-up
• Manage alumnae recognition and awards
• Recruit and manage class agents with a goal of engaging at least two per milestone reunion year; support peer-to-peer outreach initiatives in alignment with campaign and Centennial year fundraising goals
• Chair the Centennial Steering Committee, build a pipeline of alumnae leaders who could continue beyond the Centennial through a formal Alumnae Council or similar leadership body
• Re-establish and manage the Mercy Alumnae Board
• Collaborate with current reunion volunteers and parents to foster broader engagement and giving
• Plan and execute 7–10 strategic events per year with high engagement potential and clear ROI, including Reunion, Regional Gatherings, and Career Exploration Day
• Serve on the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee as a representative of the Development Team
• Review and assess the value of events to determine viability and return on investment
• Coordinate with Institutional Advancement team on campaign event planning and donor engagement opportunities
• Develop a monthly alumnae e-newsletter and support the creation of stories that highlight alumnae impact, align with campaign messaging, and reinforce the value of a Mercy education
• Collaborate with the Marketing Office to share alumnae achievements and school updates across platforms
• Participate in producing the annual alumnae magazine, Angles
• Develop strategies to engage current and past Mercy parents as volunteers and donors, recognizing their critical role in supporting the school community
• Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of constituents to achieve school advancement goals
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Effective organizational skills and proven ability to successfully manage and prioritize multiple projects and/or tasks to achieve goals and meet timelines
• Knowledge of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
• Commitment to the Our Lady of Mercy mission and its core values
• Willingness to travel and work some weekends and evenings

Key Performance Indicators

• 30–40 alumnae visits per year
• Identification of 20+ qualified alumnae prospects annually
• Recruit and retain two class agents per milestone class
• +15% engagement increase at key alumnae events

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• 3+ years in alumni relations, advancement, or campaign preparation preferred
• Proven ability to build relationships and engage volunteers
• Excellent communication and project management skills
• Mission alignment with Mercy education and the advancement of women's leadership