Career Center

Employment Opportunity: Friends School of Baltimore seeks a dynamic and energetic individual for the position of Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement, available immediately. Reporting directly to the Director of Development, this full time, 12 month, salaried position serves as an integral member of the Development Office leadership team, engaging alumni and parents, designing, implementing, and evaluating engagement programs, communications and events, and building a long-term base of support for the School. The Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement leads a comprehensive engagement program, including serving as liaison to the Alumni Association Board; the Parents Association, producing written and electronic communications; communicating through social networking media; producing an annual calendar of events; overseeing the planning and execution of special events; and actively participating in fundraising and gift efforts. Conceptually, this position is comprised of three categories of responsibility: 50% programming (which includes volunteer management and communications), 25% events planning and 25% fundraising and donor engagement.

This position is ideally suited for a self-motivated candidate with experience in higher or secondary school education who is entrepreneurial in nature and has demonstrated a record of fundraising and friend-raising successes. 

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for developing, executing, evaluating and refining a strategic plan for all alumni and parent programming to increase and promote engagement and philanthropy (Primary responsibility.)
• Foster positive relationships with alumni, parents and friends by initiating events and programs that provide education opportunities and social interaction among School supporters and between supporters and the School. Identify and cultivate alumni, parents and friends in key positions to build support for the School and its mission.
• Develop strategies to engage constituents both in-person and online and to identify giving prospects, working in partnership with development office program directors.
• Serve as the primary contact and liaison for all alumni outreach and engagement opportunities, establishing and building relationships with a wide range of alumni -- locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Plan and execute events and manage alumni events calendar, including Scarlet & Gray Weekend, Alumni Reunion Weekend, on campus events, regional events across the county, Senior Class programs, young alumni programs, and lectures, etc…
• Provide leadership and manage the strategic vision of the Alumni Association Board, the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and other alumni committees/groups.
• Create and maintain a communications program for alumni engagement via direct contact, email blasts, social media, alumni web pages, and print publications. Oversee the alumni portal through Blackbaud’s NetCommunity. Collaborate with colleagues in other offices including but not limited to Admission, Development and academics for peak efficiency and clear communication.
• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospective donors for identification, qualification, engagement, solicitation and stewardship. Assist with cultivation and solicitation of annual gifts, manage assigned gift efforts and help identify and cultivate leadership donor prospects.
• Ensure accurate and complete database records; capture contact, biographical and career information, via social media, correspondence, website, postal returns, etc. Assist with fulfillment of alumni transcript requests and help maintain the School’s archives.
• Assist with Development Office events including but not limited to fundraising events, major donor dinners, employee functions and constituent receptions. Assist with phonathons and phonathon recruitment as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Development.

Essential Qualifications:

• A demonstrated interest in Friends School’s mission.
• A Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years of professional experience in fundraising/development, alumni relations, marketing, management, and/or special events planning.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of fundraising and constituent relations.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated track record as a self-starter, a creative-thinker and an action-oriented fundraiser with a sense of urgency and passion for implementing strategies and tactics.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc…), Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and other software and online programs.
• Ability to learn quickly and be able to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated experience with volunteer management.
• Experience with strategic and annual planning, project management and process improvement efforts is essential.
• Understanding of database management, exports, and processes.
• Eagerness and ability to work both traditional and non-traditional business hours. Night and weekend work and travel are required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree and/or fundraising certifications.
• Demonstrated experience in various aspects of development, such as prospect identification and qualification, face-to-face solicitation; annual giving program management, event planning, and data analysis and metrics.
• Experience in drafting and implementing strategic “change” plans, with clear objectives, goals, tactics and benchmarks.

• Track record in managing and motivating volunteers in a non-profit and/or educational environment.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge and FinalSite products preferred.
• Experience with moves management and/or comprehensive campaigns.
• Analytic and data mining skills are preferred, including an understanding of segmentation and new media marketing.

Friends School of Baltimore actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in all programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, and hiring. To form a community that strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.  Friends School of Baltimore is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of color and members of other underrepresented groups who might enrich and diversify the school community are strongly encouraged to apply.