The Buckley School is a dynamic, nurturing learning community committed to equity and inclusion, and as such, seeks to hire talented employees with diverse backgrounds.

Director of Alumni Engagement

The Director of Alumni Engagement is responsible for deepening Buckley’s relationship with alumni and parents of alumni. As the primary fundraiser for these key constituencies, the incumbent is responsible for increasing philanthropic support of the school through one-on-one meetings, effective volunteer management, strategic programming initiatives and events, and compelling communications. This individual is part of the school’s advancement team and involved with all development-related activities, including the Annual Fund, campaigns, the Parents’ Association, and annual school events.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage a portfolio of alumni, parent of alumni, and alumni parent donors and prospects.
• Manage the Alumni Engagement Board to strategically engage the alumni community and ensure the Board’s day-to-day activities are executed with expected levels of excellence.
• Assist in the planning and execution of the Alumni Giving Challenge and other annual fund activities.
• Develop and launch a class gift campaign for reunion-year classes.
• Design and implement a strategy for regional alumni engagement.
• Help coordinate and produce alumni events, including annual reunion, Founder’s Day, Alumni Sports Day, Fall musical and spring drama alumni previews, Alumni Speakers Series and more.
• Establish relationship with admissions to coordinate and plan events for local alumni with young children.
• Work collaboratively with admissions when alumni families are the in admissions process.
• Work with internal stakeholders to drive attendance at alumni activities and events.
• Oversee Associate for Advancement and Community Engagement in implementing alumni communications across all mediums, including the Buckley Insider alumni newsletter, email, website and event promotion.
• Assist in evolving the Alumni social media strategy and contribute content to various channels, including but not limited to Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Photostream.
• Collaborate with upper school administrators to develop programming and relationships with Upper School students to instill understanding of the significance of becoming alumni.
• Develop programs to connect alumni with current students.
• Recruit alumni volunteers for fundraising.
• Lead alumni content creation for Buckley’s Community magazine.
• Recruit on-campus speakers for symposia, assemblies, clubs and other events as requested.
• With Director of Advancement, help develop and manage alumni recruitment and involvement in the new student internship program.
• Maintain photo archives.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES/TASKS

• Actively manage a portfolio of 75-90 annual fund and major gift prospects.
• Manage day-to-day activities of Alumni Engagement Board.
• Interact with alumni and parents of alumni on behalf of the Buckley School.
• Plan, organize, and implement alumni events, both locally and regionally.
• Create and publish communications to strengthen alumni ties to the school and each other.
• Identify, recruit and support alumni volunteers.
• Maintain and expand current alumni contact information and constituent tracking in Raiser’s Edge.
• Work with Associate Director of Advancement and the Director of Advancement to increase alumni financial support of the School.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree (Masters preferred).
• 5-10 years of alumni engagement and/or development experience, preferably in a non-profit and/or educational environment. Working with independent school alumni constituencies preferred
• A working understanding of the independent school environment and working with faculty
• Proven fundraising experience and ability to close four and five figure gifts
• Demonstrated cultural competency skills and leadership in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion
• The candidate must have familiarity with annual giving, endowments, capital campaigns, and planned giving
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a donor portfolio
• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills
• Models the highest standards of professionalism and creates warm, uplifting, and trusting environment and working relationships marked by humor, positivity, humility, empathy, excellent emotional intelligence, extraordinary interpersonal skills, and collaboration
• Demonstrates personal integrity, initiative, self-awareness, commitment to growth, and the ability to receive and apply feedback
• Possesses a passion for education, particularly in an independent school environment, conveyed by a solid understanding of educational practice and philosophy grounded in DEI
• Knowledge of and willingness to learn new technology, databases, learning management systems, and communication platforms
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations, including students, parents, and faculty
• Flexibility to occasionally work long hours, including attendance at weekend and evening events
• Demonstrates great individual integrity, initiative, self-awareness, commitment to personal and professional growth, and the ability to receive and apply feedback
• Maintains confidentiality, particularly due to sensitive natural of information circulated in the role and in the department
• Models a growth mindset and continuous learning and believes in the capacity for adult growth
• Basic working knowledge of budget management practices
• Able to apply technology solutions to improve efficiency of business office function. Demonstrated skill in configuring, installing, maintaining, using, and troubleshooting various technologies and applications, and the ability to learn new and evolving systems and products. Proficient with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet searches
• Strong ability to process paperwork timely, maintain effective electronic filing systems, etc.
• Able to proactively initiate, participate in, and follow through on strategic planning matters and on work assignments. Positive attitude and teamwork perspective is essential

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this role is $80,000 - $110,000 depending on experience.

The base salary is separate from fringe benefits, such as retirement contributions, daily lunch, on-site parking, contributions to medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D plans, our generous time off policy, or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Our pay ranges are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at The Buckley School, your actual base salary will be determined by your education, experience, and schedule.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should visit: https://buckley.isolvedhire.com/jobs/

In a cover letter please explain how you have included diversity, equity, and inclusion in your work with students or colleagues.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The Buckley School proudly carries on the mission of its founder, Dr. Isabelle Buckley, who in 1933 set out to provide students with an education characterized not only by academic excellence, but also a sense of self-esteem, responsibility, and character. An independent, all-gender day school for students in kindergarten through grade 12, providing students with a program based on critical thinking, creative self-expression through arts, physical development, and moral education lies at the heart of Buckley’s ethos.

At The Buckley School, faculty and staff believe in their students, see their capacity for growth, and nurture their ability to create and evaluate. Students are honored for their diverse backgrounds and admired for their ability to lead with empathy and courage. Inspired by its mission, the Portrait of a Graduate, Dr. Buckley’s Four-Fold Plan — education with equal emphasis on Academics, the Arts, Athletics, and Moral Education — and the Buckley Commitment of Honesty, Loyalty, Respect, Kindness, Self-Reliance, and Self-Discipline, faculty uplift students, partner with parents, and build community every day.