Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425-acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore Office of Advancement manages the College's relationship with its alumni, families, and friends to further Swarthmore's commitment to intellectual rigor and creativity, nurturing of student confidence and curiosity, production of new knowledge, and inclusive excellence, among other goals. Advancement works closely with the President, faculty, and senior colleagues to foster positive and productive relationships that not only accelerate the objectives of the College but also represent meaningful and beneficial engagement for the Swarthmore community.

The Office of Advancement manages and maintains alumni, family, and friend records; engages constituents in the life of the College in a variety of ways, contexts, and over time; provides and supports meaningful volunteering opportunities; and partners with the President and Board of Managers to share information about the College and raise critical philanthropic support for the College's priorities and new initiatives. Advancement ensures that alumni and donors are appropriately recognized and informed about the impact of their service and contributions, and manages all gift acceptance and stewardship.

The opportunity:

The Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement is a member of a team who design events and activities that engage alumni, parents, and friends with the College and its programs and that encourage participants to be actively supportive of the College’s goals and priorities. The Associate Director provides logistical direction to major events, including but not limited to Alumni Weekend and Garnet Weekend. The Associate Director helps manage the execution of all major event-related projects, including but not limited to such items as registration tools, reserving spaces, etc.

Essential Responsibilities

Directs logistics of major on campus alumni and parent events including but not limited to Alumni Weekend and Garnet Weekend.
Responsible for the creation and on-going management of the master event schedule for both Garnet and Alumni Weekend, and for coordinating meetings with on-and off-campus partners to review and align on the schedule.
Works with vendors, Advancement colleagues, and on-campus partners to insure event success.
Direct strategic project planning, creative direction, logistical support, customer service, and execution of Advancement Division events, including but not limited to volunteer meetings, fundraising and prospect events, donor relations and stewardship events, affinity and regional engagement events, networking events, reunion events and activities, and virtual programs.
Evaluates event success through data analysis, surveys, and individual feedback.
Tracks spending to assist in supervisors’ budget management.

Who you are:

Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee complex timelines, coordinate stakeholders, and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage logistics, scheduling, and event operations independently and collaboratively
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate institutional priorities and engage diverse audiences
Collaborative team player with the flexibility to support broader organizational initiatives and events as needed
Strong time management skills, including the ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
Willingness and ability to travel and work evenings/weekends to support events and institutional needs

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree.
A minimum of five (5) years working in institutional advancement, or equivalent professional experience.
Superior organizational abilities. Attention to detail and ability to handle multiple and varied tasks independently, while also working collaboratively.
Superior written and oral communication skills.
Skill in dealing with people, using tact and diplomacy, and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Strong customer service skills.
Ability to articulate the value of higher education.
Ability to use a variety of computer applications, including demonstrated skills in the use of word processing and spreadsheets (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs and Sheets), fundraising databases (e.g. Banner) and reporting software (e.g.
Argos), Web page development software (e.g. Drupal), and social media (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn).
Valid US driver’s license and ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree
Experience working in a college or university setting

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter by June 1, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $67,000-$76,000 per year, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

MVR Clearance Required by Position

Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2026 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.

Swarthmore College

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