POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE:
Associate Director, Alumni Engagement
REPORTS TO:
Director, The Piper Center for Vocation and Career
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
The Associate Director will identify and cultivate key alumni and parent relationships in order to
help students discern their vocation and explore careers. The successful candidate will be
charged with developing, supporting and maintaining high quality student-alumni networking
programs across campus and nationally on behalf of the Piper Center. The Associate Director is
responsible for administering on- and off-campus programming, and collaborates frequently with
the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, the Office of Development, and faculty departments
to execute programming.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
1. Design and implement the Connections Program three times annually (Fall, Interim,
Spring breaks), taking 25 students to each city to explore a range of career fields. Meet
with students beforehand to discern interest level, maturity, and commitment to the
program. Convene cross functional teams within the Piper Center and in collaboration
with the Offices of Alumni and Parent Relations and Development to identify and
cultivate alumni and parent participation. Develop strong alumni and parent interest in
the Connections Program in the following cities: Chicago, Denver, New York, San
Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. Promote opportunities to students, and coordinate the
selection process in collaboration with fellow Piper Center coaches.
2. Manage the Alumni in Residence program. Cultivate alumni of interest and work with
faculty to identify alumni visiting classrooms. Create dedicated programming designed to
help students learn from career paths forged by alumni.
3. Consult with Piper Center coaches on their individual program needs related to studentalumni engagement. Research and recommend relevant alumni that can serve the
program’s needs.
4. Collaborate with Senior Associate Director to create and manage an innovative career
mentoring program. The program will allow students to connect with alumni and parents
throughout the world, with the goal of forming lasting mentoring relationships.
5. Maintain positive working relationships with alumni already engaged with the Piper
Center, including donors supporting programming through current use gifts and
endowments. Attend national St. Olaf on the Road events to cultivate new alumni and
parent interest, and to develop new Connections Programs in new cities where we have a
critical mass of alumni.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None
AUDIENCE:
St. Olaf alumni and parents; students; faculty;
Office of Alumni and Parent Relations; Office of
Development
EDUCATION:
Required:
Master’s degree (M.A., M.Ed., other)
EXPERIENCE:
Required:
Higher education experience in career development;
experience working with student and alumni
populations.
Preferred:
Experience working with undergraduate students;
familiarity with student-alumni mentoring best
practices; specialized knowledge of off-campus
event planning/student travel.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:
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Knowledge of career development/counseling theories and methods.
Knowledge of alumni engagement models related to student mentoring.
Exceptional writing and public presentation skills required.
Team player with solid interpersonal skills.
Knowledge of the academic environment and experiential learning best practices.
Ability to work with alumni, parents, students, faculty, and employers.
Event planning and production skills.
PREREQUISITE(S):
Must have own transportation
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Ability and means to travel and meet with alumni,
parents, employers.
TRAVEL:
Regular local and domestic travel.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Office environment.
WORK SCHEDULE:
FTE: .67
Term: Regular
Start date: June 1, 2013
Shift: M, W, Th, 8:00am – 5:00pm. Occasional
weekend and evening hours as necessary.
APPROVAL:
Branden Grimmett
DATE:
June 2013