Associate Director of Affinity Engagement

JOB SUMMARY

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 a alumnae/i 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, data‑informed, multi‑channel communication strategies for affinity audiences that drive engagement and achieve key metrics (e.g., email performance, platform growth, and user retention), in alignment with Advancement priorities.
• Contribute to and support a 12‑18 month communications plan that elevates Simmons’ legacy, signature programs, and institutional initiatives across affinity groups.
• Create and manage affiliation‑based content—including writing and light design—for digital, email, and social channels; collaborate with Advancement, cross‑campus and external partners to amplify messaging, share impact stories, and optimize reach through analytics.

Other duties as assigned.

• A Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience.
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience, or equivalent or transferable skills and experience; experience in higher education, alumni relations, and/or development preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in constituent engagement and/or volunteer management.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to be aware of, coordinate, instruct, negotiate with, and be in service to others.
• Strong time‑management skills and attention to detail, organizational, oral, and written communication skills.
• Ability to envision, propose, and develop new initiatives that support Advancement’s goals, specifically around…