Associate Director of Affinity Engagement

ABOUT SIMMONS Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success.

You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace. As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under‑represented groups. Simmons is a committed equal‑opportunity employer and continues to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Alumnae/i and Volunteer Engagement and Individual Giving, the Associate Director of Affinity Engagement (“Associate Director”) will serve as an integral member of the Office of Advancement and Alumnae/i Relations (“Advancement”) team. The Associate Director will lead the strategy, development, and execution of programs, activities, and communications that engage alumnae/i across shared affinities and strengthen their connection to Simmons and our global community of more than 50,000 graduates.

Through the development and refinement of an integrated affinity strategy, relying heavily on volunteer recruitment and management, as well as cross‑campus collaborations, the Associate Director will develop a robust culture of philanthropy amongst alumni groups with shared interests and connections.

• Create and expand a diverse affinity‑based volunteer network to build toward increasing alumnae/i participation against organizational goals, with a focus on leadership development across regional, professional, identity‑based, and shared‑interest groups such as, but limited to, the African American Alumnae/i, athletics, and school‑based alumnae/i communities.
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteer leaders and committees with clear expectations tied to engagement outcomes, including participation growth and affinity community‑building.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Alumnae/i and Volunteer Engagement to align this with overall volunteer management.
• Develop and implement structured cultivation and stewardship strategies to increase volunteer retention and progression into leadership roles and referrals for philanthropic opportunities.
• Equip volunteers with tools, training, and data to serve as effective ambassadors, driving peer engagement, Simmons Network participation, mentorship, and event attendance.

• Design and partner with the Advancement Events Manager to execute affinity‑based and integrated programming (virtual and in‑person) that supports event goals (attendance, recruitment, growth, cultivation, etc.) and advances alumnate engagement and participation.
• Partner with campus stakeholders and volunteers to deliver innovative, inclusive experiences aligned with institutional priorities, including the reimagined Reunion model that expands beyond class years to affinity and professional network and leads to philanthropic support and affinity participation in programs like Giving Day.
• Evaluate program effectiveness using defined metrics (attendance, repeat participation, audience growth, satisfaction) and apply insights to continuously refine strategy and increase impact.

• Develop and execute targeted,…