Director of Alumnae/i Relations

School Description

Santa Catalina School is a vibrant, independent, Catholic school offering student-centered co-education to PreK through grade 8 and an all-girls’ boarding and day college preparatory upper school serving grades 9 through 12. Santa Catalina exists to develop in each student a striving for excellence, a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values, a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion. With the cornerstones of excellence, spirituality, service, and responsibility, the school is committed to providing a supportive learning community for each student to grow in their intellectual, personal, and spiritual life, making Santa Catalina a transformational educational experience for its students.

Position Summary

Santa Catalina School, a nationally recognized PreK-12 independent Catholic school in Monterey, California, is currently seeking a full-time, experienced, passionate, enthusiastic, and dedicated Director of Alumnae/i Relations to join the development office and partner with the team in developing and supporting relationships and fostering a culture of philanthropy amongst the alumnae/i community.

Santa Catalina School, under the leadership of new Head of School Dr. Barbara Ostos, is thriving and experiencing robust community engagement. In 2022-23, close to 300 alumnae returned to campus for Reunion 2023 and to attend theater productions and sporting events. The Director of Alumnae/i Relations will oversee the development and coordination of comprehensive programs to engage, involve, solicit, and steward Santa Catalina School’s more than 5,000 alumnae/i and our parents of alumnae/i to further alumnae/i engagement. Reporting to the Director of Development, the director will work with various internal and external stakeholders invested in the alumnae/i network and collaborate with the development office team to develop marketing strategies in meaningful ways to foster and sustain lifelong connections.

Description

The Director of Alumnae/i Relations plays a pivotal role in maintaining and nurturing the bond between Santa Catalina School and its former students and their families. This position’s responsibilities encompass alumnae/i engagement, effective communication, and database management. The position collaborates in organizing events and activities, fostering a sense of community among graduates. This role is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to solicit alumnae/i financial contributions to support Santa Catalina School’s endowment of over $50 million. Last year’s annual fund exceeded its goal, with our alumnae/i giving 40% of the dollar goal. By measuring program success and collaborating with other departments, the Director of Alumnae/i Relations ensures that Santa Catalina School benefits from strong alumnae/i connections, creating a vibrant and supportive network for past and present students.

Santa Catalina School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Essential Responsibilities

• Be an active and supportive member of this high functioning collaborative development team
• Develop strong relationships with alumnae/i to help advance the mission of Santa Catalina School and foster engagement between alumnae/i and parents of alumnae/i, students, faculty, and staff
• Oversee alumnae/i fundraising and directly solicit alumnae/i to increase participation and engagement
• Collaborate on all aspects of alumnae/i programming
• Administer the Santa Catalina Alumnae Council, a group of about 20 alumnae committed to supporting the school’s goals and mission to increase alumnae/i engagement with the school
• Organize meetings, assist the Alumnae Council president to develop strategies for council engagement, and serve as the point of contact between council members and the school
• Liaise with the Alumnae Council’s Santa Catalina Fund committee, which provides input and executes the Director of Alumnae/i Relation’s vision for alumnae/i fundraising
• Develop an annual work plan, budget, and calendar of alumnae/i events and programs and keep council members updated
• Collaborate in developing content and expanding communication initiatives, including the school magazine, giving reports, invitations, monthly email newsletter, website, and social media opportunities
• Identify, recruit, and manage new alumnae/i and parents of alumnae/i volunteers
• Collaborate in the implementation of the annual reunion celebration, including reunion class giving, with a goal of measurably increasing alumnae/i participation
• Meet regularly with student interns to involve them in Alumnae Council activities and events to cultivate involvement beyond graduation

Other Responsibilities

• Perform all other responsibilities and projects as assigned by the Director of Development

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of five (5) years of fundraising, event management, marketing, communications, and/or related experience; experience in alumni relations preferred
• Experience with event management and knowledge of best practices in developing and implementing new engagement programs
• Demonstrated success leading collaborative efforts; strategic thinker; results-oriented; a history of successful project management and budget management
• Experience utilizing social media to support marketing, branding, and engagement efforts
• Familiarity with principles and practices of annual giving
• Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office; proficiency with Raiser’s Edge a plus
• Sense of humor and a positive “can do” attitude is a must!
• A commitment to the mission and identity of Santa Catalina School
• A desire to participate fully in the Santa Catalina community
• Successful completion of a LiveScan criminal background check as required by law

Competencies

• Demonstrated evaluative and facilitative skills
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Approachable and welcoming demeanor
• Cultural competence and enthusiasm for working with a diverse and dynamic community
• Strong interpersonal skills, including good listening, humor, tact, intuition, and confidentiality
• Excellent writing, communication, and public speaking skills
• Ability to create responsive, caring, and appropriate relationships with students, families, and colleagues
• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills and digital literacy
• Understanding of the dynamics of a school community
• Ability to assess and respond to the needs of the school and act as a representative of the school
• Commitment to professional growth and education
• Ability to function well under stress

Supervisory Responsibilities (if any)

• Volunteer management only

Working Conditions and Compensation

• Work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time
• Travel is required
• Ability to access buildings and facilities throughout a 36-acre campus, with reasonable accommodations, in order to meet with students and faculty
• Work in a school environment with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and people
• Additional time is required beyond a normal day or week for evening and weekend meetings to attend school events and represent the school in the community
• Santa Catalina School offers competitive insurance and retirement benefits
• Salary range: $68,000–$85,000 depending on direct fundraising experience

Equal Employment Opportunity

Santa Catalina School is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment at Santa Catalina School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, disability, marital status, or any other category protected by the law.

To Apply

Interested candidates should visit our website to complete and submit an application, resume, and cover letter:

https://www.santacatalina.org/employment

Electronic submission of candidate papers in .pdf format is preferred.

Santa Catalina provides reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities. Applicants who need accommodations to participate in the application process should contact employment@santacatalina.org