Executive Director of Strategic Alumni Engagement

Posted on 07/03/2024

University of Wisconsin La Crosse

La Crosse, WI

The Executive Director of Strategic Engagement (EDSE) will report to the Vice Chancellor for Advancement and President of the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation. The Executive Director will serve as a member of the unit’s leadership team, collaborating and partnering with a group of high-functioning professionals in the areas of alumni, prospect, and donor engagement, donor stewardship, and scholarship awards management. The primary goal is to build a culture of engagement and philanthropy among UWL alumni and friends, as well as the campus community.
 
This role is designed to be a thought-partner and trusted colleague to the Vice Chancellor, leading strategies that result in measured and effective collaborations between academic partners, university leadership, and donors. The EDSE will work closely with the Executive Director of Development (EDD) to develop and implement a fundraising strategy that will generate transformational philanthropic support for the university. In addition, the EDSE will collaborate with the Community Engagement Coordinator to maximize the university’s presence in the community and the region.
 
In collaboration with the Strategic Engagement team, the EDSE will lead the advancement of the following:
  • A comprehensive local, regional, and national constituent engagement plan.
  • Programming that engages alumni, friends, and donors with the university resulting in strategic and measurable outcomes.
  • Donor stewardship efforts that celebrate donor generosity and serve as cultivation for increased and continued giving by the donor.
  • Scholarship management efforts that efficiently meet the needs of student applicants, review committees and donors.

Responsibilities:

Prospect & Donor Engagement

  • In collaboration with the EDD and the Vice Chancellor for Advancement/Foundation President, determine activities and programming that will build a forward-thinking, integrative prospect/donor engagement program.
  • Work with individual members of the development team to execute events, meetings and engagement opportunities that are philanthropically centered.
  • Lead the advancement team in developing a donor stewardship program that tracks donor engagement and appreciation while engaging campus partners throughout the process.
  • Oversee a scholarship program that accurately and efficiently awards scholarships to qualified students, engages scholarship recipients with their benefactors, and provides timely and correct information to donors.
  • Manage the committee meetings and activities of the Engagement & Philanthropy Committee of the UWL Alumni & Friends Board of Directors in partnership with the EDD.

Constituent Relations

  • Develop and maintain a strong partnership with University Communications, Community Engagement, Career Services, University Centers, Admissions, Athletics and Academic Affairs.
  • Work with University Communications to oversee all communication to UWL alumni & friends.
  • Involve a collaborative board of directors in the engagement and fundraising process through opportunities to host engagement events and participate in strategic travel on behalf of UWL.
  • Represent the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation at campus events, regional and national UWL Alumni & Friends engagement events, UW System events and other community activities.
  • Maintain university traditions including but not limited to the lighting of the “L” and Hanging of the Lantern.
  • Engage emeriti board members through planned and organized communication and events
  • Support officially chartered networks, specifically the Silver Eagles and Alumni Band, as well as all affinity partnership contracts (Liberty Mutual, NEAT).

Other Duties

  • Responsible for the Strategic Engagement 102 university budget.
  • Chair the University’s special degree program: Honorary, extraordinary, and posthumous degrees.
  • Supervise a professional team, including hiring, mentoring, professional development direction and holding the team accountable toward fulfillment of goals and metrics.
  • All other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree.
Experience:
  • Background in higher education, philanthropy, alumni relations, non-profits, event planning, marketing/communications, or comparable field.
Skills:
  • An ability to relate well to, and understand the needs and interests of, the entire UWL community to strengthen their engagement with the university.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, problem solving and reasoning skills, and an ability to communicate professional views and skills to colleagues and volunteers.
  • Ability to evaluate staff and program performance.
  • Strong organizational management skills.
  • Ability to understand diverse perspectives and build relationships with individuals from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge.
  • UWL alumnus
Experience:
  • Five years of non-profit or higher education development experience.

Proposed Salary:

  • $82,000 commensurate with experience

To apply for this job please visit employment.uwlax.edu.