Director of Alumni Volunteer Engagement

DIR, Alumni Relations

The Director of Alumni Volunteer Engagement serves on the Alumni Relations leadership team and provides oversight and management of special and signature events for the UF Alumni Association. Reporting to the Executive Director of Alumni Relations/Interim Executive Director of the UF Alumni Association, the director will provide leadership and strategic direction annually for the Association's regional volunteer network, to include alumni Gator Clubs® and Affiliate Groups. They will execute strategies and tactics to expand the level of engagement to the entire Gator Nation and inspire our volunteer groups to support the University’s initiatives and expand the brand of the University of Florida and University of Florida Alumni Association. 

Volunteer Engagement

• Provide leadership, support, training, and stewardship for the National Gator Club® program and Affiliate Groups, including 650+ leaders representing nearly 500,000 alumni in 10 regional territories.


• Support and evaluate Gator Club & Affiliate Group activities and engagement opportunities update and implement metrics ensure alignment with Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE) alumni engagement metric standards, and ensure return on investment.


• Travel to regional areas to engage alumni volunteers and seek stewardship opportunities; consistently benchmark methods, strategies, resources and engagement efforts against SEC, national and aspirational peers.


• Provide leadership for the planning, organization, execution, and assessment of the annual Gator Club and Affiliates volunteer leaders’ conference and award and recognition program to steward volunteers and inspire further engagement.


• Support the strategy of Affiliate Group reunions and ongoing regional programming.


• Analyze, implement and oversee the international Gator Club community, including the development of resources, support, financial, communication and engagement protocols. 


• Evaluate the current affiliate group resources to gauge feasibility of the addition of new groups; assess the top student organizations and already formed alumni groups to identify who would benefit from an official affiliate alumni group and have a significant impact on membership.


• Create projected budget expenses and work within established budgetary guidelines for each event; ensure budget management by tracking events progress to frequently assess and analyze financial expectations.

Strategic Leadership

• Participate in the development and implementation of strategies and tactics to increase regional alumni engagement, including the planning and execution of outreach programs and key campus activities; assist with leveraging faculty visits and college/unit and campus partnerships to expand regional engagement opportunities. 


• Create strategic dashboards to showcase the impact of alumni volunteer networks and showcase partnerships opportunities for internal and external stakeholders.


• Assess, create and implement data and technology resources to support alumni volunteer leaders’ strategies, engagement opportunities and pipeline development


• Serve as strategic leader for the alumni volunteer Regional Directors Committee on the UF Alumni Association Board of Directors to ensure proper management and support of alumni leaders within clubs/groups.


• Support UFAA signature programs including but not limited to Gator100, 40 Gators Under 40, Grand Guard (50^th Reunion), Gator Day at the Capital, Gator Nation Tailgates, etc. to help deploy programmatic opportunities while determining integration with alumni volunteers.


• In partnership with Talent Management, create a best-in-class program to recruit top talent and develop and retain employees.


• Responsible for managing employees to include recruitment and hiring; training and development; scheduling; certifying time and attendance; performance appraisals, goal setting and performance action plans.


• Evaluate staff and develop a strong sense of teamwork, and establish an environment of mentoring and support.


• Coach the team and bring cohesion to the department.


• Manage team using talent management best practices in alignment with UF Advancement's Vision and our Values of Excellence, Discovery & Innovation, Inclusion, Freedom & Civility, Community, and Stewardship; ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files, and record keeping; ensures effective use of strategic tools and resources


• Build collaborative, productive relationships with stakeholders and campus partners.

Solicitation and Cultivation

• Assist in the identification and cultivation of major gift prospects and in the development of the donor pipeline by providing opportunities for stewardship through volunteer committees and events. 


• Work with Development staff to identify prospects in regional areas.

$80,000 - $85,000; commensurate with education and experience. The University of Florida offers a competitive benefits package including health, retirement, paid time off, discount programs, professional development and work life support. Learn more. 

Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in alumni affairs or related field; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and five years of appropriate experience in alumni affairs or related field.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Five to seven years of relevant experience preferred.


• A history of successful higher education program leadership in alumni relations, development, volunteer management or marketing/communications is strongly preferred.


• Experience with event planning, and with community management and/or customer service.


• A proven track record with project management, and preferably with vendor management.


• Detail-oriented and the ability to communicate well verbally and in written form and able to build relationships effectively with a diverse community of alumni and a variety of campus partners.


• Experience in data analysis and reporting: data query, segmentation, statistical analysis, writing/presentation of findings, communication of results; proficient in Microsoft Office products, including the creative visual display of information; proficiency with databases, integration of data across sources, and analytical software packages.


• Must have interpersonal skills; and the ability to work collegially and interact effectively with a broad constituency.


• Public speaking experience is preferred.


• Proven success working with stakeholders; organizational skills; and the ability to lead, influence and motivate others are required.


• Accuracy, a customer service-oriented attitude; and the ability to work in a complex organization are necessary for success in this position. 


• The ability and willingness to travel are necessary.  A valid driver license and good driving record are essential.*  

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume and three references. Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This requisition has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply.