The Associate Vice-President (AVP) Alumni and Strategic Engagement provides leadership and vision to engage an enthusiastic community of University of Saskatchewan (USask) alumni worldwide. As a creative, experienced, collaborative professional, you provide strategic direction for the university’s alumni relations program in partnership with the University Relations senior leadership team and in collaboration with the Alumni Association. The AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement serves as Executive Director of the USask Alumni Association and is the key ambassador for the global network of alumni which currently consists of over 175,000 living individuals. Additionally, you provide leadership and implement strategies to grow and sustain successful legacy giving and annual giving programs within the organization.

Reporting to the Vice President University Relations, the AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement is a member of the senior leadership team in University Relations, and as such operates collaboratively with colleagues to ensure University Relations’ reaches the highest standards as it advances the university toward its institutional goals.

As the key strategist for alumni and engagement for USask, you will research, create and implement a fulsome strategic plan designed to engage and mobilize alumni over their lifecycle. Engagement, stakeholder relations and building alumni relationships geared toward transformational giving will be paramount.

The AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement will oversee the alumni relations office in planning and executing programs, events, activities, and other initiatives to build meaningful relationships with and between alumni, and to keep alumni connected with the university as it grows and changes. The office is the primary point of contact for University of Saskatchewan alumni, providing products and services, information and engagement, access to programs and events, and opportunities to volunteer and stay connected with the university and with each other. You will provide visionary leadership to a diverse dynamic team of professionals dedicated to boosting pride among alumni, enhancing awareness and building reputation, while supporting the university in achieving its goals.

As the university’s key ambassador for alumni, you will work closely with other senior university administrators, including deans, executive directors, vice-presidents, and associate vice-presidents across the university, to develop and oversee institutional alumni relations strategic planning and engagement initiatives. You are the primary liaison between the university and alumni worldwide and will ensure coordination and execution of mutually beneficial relationship-building activities to purposefully maximize long-term relationships and engagement, in alignment with institutional goals.

The AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement will have demonstrable success in envisioning, designing, and implementing successful alumni relations strategies that have led to significant increases in alumni engagement and participation. You will understand the critical importance of the university’s alumni engagement strategy to its overall success, particularly related to profile, reputation and philanthropic support. You will understand both the theory and the application of engagement and its essential components. Aligned with this, you will clearly articulate necessary changes and will apply appropriate measures of success to initiatives and outcomes.

The AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement provides leadership and direction in the areas of legacy and annual giving that will contribute to annual fundraising goals. You will develop and implement comprehensive strategies for legacy and annual giving programming at USask. Additionally, you will provide leadership to members of the USask community on how to achieve their engagement goals and successfully host externally-facing university activities, programming, and events that are aligned with university strategy and consistent with a high-quality, relationship-focused service.

A collaborative, inspirational leader, the AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement will have proven success in leading a complex organization through effective relationship-building as well as innovative use of new methods and technologies related to engagement. You will be effective in engaging and motivating diverse groups of stakeholders and will have a keen interest in escalating a creative, contemporary, best-in-class alumni relations program in line with the university’s vision and in keeping with a U15 institution.

Candidate Profile
An experienced, collaborative leader with proven professional experience in alumni or stakeholder engagement, or similar professional experience building and promoting deep, collaborative, strategic relationships. A deep knowledge of the high level of motivation and potential support of alumni groups, as well as the essential professional experience to lead effective engagement programs, including regional programming, alumni support and advocacy, student and alumni traditions, lifelong learning, and effective communications and marketing. An understanding of fundraising and the philanthropic process is required.

The AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement will have a level of education commensurate with this senior administrative role, along with:

· A minimum of ten years progressively responsible experience, with direct management of programs, budget and volunteer boards in a complex organization;

· Familiarity with the post-secondary environment or public sector organizations at a decision-making level, especially in educational advancement, not-for-profit administration, marketing, or other client-centered fields with experience in policy development and implementation;

· Strong leadership, people management, and coaching/mentoring skills with the ability to provide work direction and expectations, performance feedback and recognition, and support staff with development.

· A high degree of comfort working across Canada and internationally with cultural sensitivity and an optimistic approach to work, supported by a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a warm personal style;

· Effectiveness and a high level of comfort in public speaking;

· The maturity, perspective and credibility necessary to work effectively with senior leadership and key alumni volunteers;

· A strong affinity for the university, in order to be able to be a champion for the university and its mission;

· Demonstrated and measurable success in senior leadership roles;

· A friendly, collaborative leadership style well-suited to a diverse and complex environment.

USask’s vision is to be an outstanding institution of research, learning, knowledge-keeping, reconciliation, and inclusion with and by Indigenous peoples and communities. The AVP Alumni and Strategic Engagement is an active leader in the growth of a more diverse and inclusive campus community and in advancing the university’s Indigenous and EDI strategies.

University Relations, University of Saskatchewan

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Associate Vice-President, Alumni and Strategic Engagement