Position Detail - Associate Director, Classes & Reunions

Position Type: Staff Full-Time (Hybrid)

Hours per week: 37.5   

Weeks per year: 52

Work Schedule: Possibility of some remote work for the position; full or significant on-campus presence required during the spring semester 

Department Summary & Job Purpose:

The Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College (MHC) is an alum-led organization that uplifts Mount Holyoke alums, builds a community that fosters lifelong learning, and empowers impactful connections amongst and with the College.

MHC’s purpose is to grow engagement, fostering multigenerational connections while building early understanding among students of the value of the alum network and nurturing relationships with recent alums through the design and delivery of high-impact events and programs. This role leverages significant volunteer participation, and the incumbent trains, motivates, and manages volunteer leaders involved in these initiatives. Achieving strategic goals includes a high degree of collaboration with College partners — particularly those responsible for the Mount Holyoke Fund — and coordination across the alum engagement team to support exceptional management of team members’ class portfolios.

Core Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Develop and implement clear annual plans that progressively increase alum and student engagement, delivering on the strategic priorities of the Alumnae Association and Mount Holyoke College
• Design and implement creative, compelling programs that foster connection and a sense of belonging, particularly among students, recent alums, and under-engaged constituents
• Oversee high-profile events and programs, including Reunion, and contribute to creative reimaging of traditional offerings for best alignment with strategic priorities
• Lead orchestration of shared class programming, enabling broader audiences and multigenerational connection
• Grow strong partnerships across the campus, including with communications, development, and student life, to ensure joint planning, close coordination, and high visibility of strategic initiatives
• Collaborate with and lead alum volunteers, students, faculty, and staff on key initiatives
• Actively manage a portfolio of 24 class boards (approximately 250 alum and student leaders), build relationships with future leaders toward new and increased engagement, and liaise with relevant volunteer and leadership groups
• Develop role-specific volunteer resources and deliver volunteer training appropriate to class engagement
• Ensure that program delivery and outcomes embody the Association and College’s core commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Collect and use data to guide programmatic decisions for the most significant impact
• Partner with Association staff on key initiatives and opportunities that arise to further the Association’s mission and priorities
• Ensure coordination amongst staff with class portfolios
• Manage student ambassadors and workers and support the development of the reunion student ambassador program

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 7 years of experience in event and volunteer management
• Demonstrated experience in management of highly complex projects and events (certification in Agile, Lean Six Sigma project management is a plus)
• Outstanding public speaking and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals from diverse communities
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with diverse constituents in this external-facing role
• Vital strategic planning and implementation skills and must be able to lead efforts in setting priorities and meeting goals
• Effective volunteer manager with the ability to recruit, train, engage, and lead volunteers toward meeting shared goals
• Detail-oriented, efficient, and able to handle diversified tasks concurrently
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access) and database management
• Ability to work with highly confidential information
• Some evening and weekend hours are involved (typically 3 to 4 weekends per year), and the ability to occasionally travel is required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preferred experience in alum relations or higher education
• Experience working with virtual communities is a plus
• US Driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle

License/Certifications:

• US Driver’s license and ability to operate motor vehicle preferred

Compliance Requirements: 

Physical Demands: 

• Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas using the spoken word. Those activities in which employees must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Sufficient clarity of speech required includes those which permit the employee to discern verbal instructions and communicate effectively in person and by telephone.
• Employee talks in front of large groups regularly.
• Employee communicates with alums, students, and faculty by telephone, e-mail, or in person daily.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction.
• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and make the discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• The employee must have close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, view a computer terminal, and read extensively.
• Employee operates office equipment and computers to perform essential duties and
  Responsibilities.
• Employee is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles.

Working Conditions: 

• Occasional evening and weekend work (minimum three weekends per year)
• Occasional travel (less than 25%)
    

Background Checks:

At Mount Holyoke College, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our community members. To ensure this, we require all new hires, affiliates, and others to undergo comprehensive background checks before joining our institution. Our Office of Human Resources manages and conducts these checks, including screenings for CORI, SORI, credit history, and driver credentials. Additionally, the Five College Office of Compliance and Risk Management works to coordinate and facilitate these checks in accordance with our policies.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Apply online; application materials must include:

1. A cover letter summarizing interests and qualifications
2. A complete resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
3. Contact information for three professional references

Mount Holyoke College is a college that prioritizes gender diversity and welcomes students of all genders. The college is devoted to ensuring that all its employees and students have equal access to opportunities in education and employment. As per state and federal law, Mount Holyoke College does not discriminate against individuals based on their race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status. Furthermore, the college does not discriminate based on gender when selecting students for its graduate program.

Mount Holyoke College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.