Associate Director, Regional Engagement & Alumni Programs

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* 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., Give Campus, 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…