Job Description:
DIVISION: University Advancement
DEPARTMENT: Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving
REPORTS TO: Director, Alumni Engagement Strategic Planning & Operations
UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS:
Frequent evening and weekend work required in support of alumni programs and events. Occasional travel required. Must be able to lift a minimum of 20 pounds for event setups.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED:
3-5 years of experience in alumni engagement, advancement, higher education administration, event management, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple timelines and priorities simultaneously.
High level of attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
Clear written and verbal communication skills.
Comfort working collaboratively across teams and departments.
Ability to lead initiatives and influence outcomes without formal authority.
Preferred
Experience working with alumni volunteers or regional engagement programs.
Experience managing large-scale or multi-day alumni programs.
Familiarity with alumni engagement platforms or event systems (e.g., GiveCampus, Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge tools).
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree required
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Director, Regional Engagement & Alumni Programs is an individual contributor responsible for advancing Fairfield University's alumni engagement strategy through regional volunteer activation, signature program leadership, and high-quality program execution.
Reporting to the Director of Alumni Engagement Strategic Planning & Operations, this role serves as a key partner in translating engagement strategy into action. The Associate Director helps strengthen Fairfield's alumni communities across priority and emerging regions by identifying, supporting, and activating alumni volunteers who serve as local ambassadors for the University. Working in collaboration with colleagues across University Advancement and other departments within Fairfield University, this position supports the development, coordination, and assessment of regional engagement opportunities that connect alumni to Fairfield and to one another.
The Associate Director also serves as the primary project manager for select signature alumni engagement programs-including Reunion Weekend and Golden Stags programming-ensuring that these milestone experiences reflect Fairfield's commitment to meaningful lifelong engagement. Through thoughtful planning, cross-campus collaboration, and strong operational leadership, this role helps create consistent, high-quality alumni experiences while contributing to the continued evolution of Fairfield's regional engagement strategy.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Regional Engagement Strategy & Volunteer Activation
Partner with the Director of Alumni Engagement Strategic Planning & Operations to refine and operationalize Fairfield's regional engagement strategy.
Identify, cultivate, and support regional alumni volunteers who assist with promoting events, serving as local hosts or connectors, and strengthening attendance in priority markets.
Support the development of scalable regional engagement models that align with institutional priorities and alumni interests.
Collaborate with AEAG colleagues to ensure regional activity aligns with broader alumni engagement goals and programming efforts.
Serve as primary manager, trainer and oversight for Volunteer Management Systems.
Signature Alumni Program Management
Serve as the primary project manager for Fairfield University's signature alumni engagement programs, including:
Reunion Weekend (programmatic and operational elements)
Golden Stags programming and engagement
Additional central alumni engagement events as assigned
Responsibilities include:
Developing and managing comprehensive project timelines, task plans, and execution schedules.
Coordinating internal planning efforts across AEAG, campus partners, and vendors to ensure alignment with engagement goals and timelines.
Supporting on-site execution and post-event evaluation to ensure consistent, high-quality alumni experiences.
Event Logistics & Execution
Serve as logistics lead for assigned alumni engagement programs, complementing centralized event planning and intake processes.
Manage event logistics, including vendor coordination, catering, audiovisual services, and run-of-show execution as needed.
Support event-related budget tracking and expense reconciliation in coordination with the Director of Alumni Engagement Strategic Planning & Operations.
Act as a key on-site lead for major alumni programs, ensuring issues are addressed quickly and professionally.
Program Coordination & Internal Partnership
Collaborate closely with AEAG and Advancement colleagues to ensure alignment across regional engagement, signature programming, and event operations.
Serve as a reliable point of contact for campus partners supporting alumni engagement events.
Maintain shared planning documents, timelines, and internal resources to support consistency and continuity year over year.
Assessment & Continuous Improvement
Track participation and engagement outcomes for assigned regional and signature alumni programs.
Contribute insights and recommendations to improve program design, volunteer activation, and operational workflows.
Assist in documenting best practices to support long-term sustainability of alumni engagement initiatives.
Responsible for achieving individual goals within the Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving team, as well as contributing to Advancement and overall University goals.
Promoting safe and secure working conditions
Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.
This position is based at Fairfield University's Fairfield, CT campus and is not eligible for immigration assistance.
*Disclaimer
The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain, and should not be interpreted as containing, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.
Category:
Advancement - Admin
Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.
*Disclaimer
The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
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