Senior Director for Yale College Classes

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The Yale Alumni Association (YAA) is responsible for university-wide alumni relations and for events, programs, initiatives, and other opportunities to strengthen alumni relationships with Yale. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on YAA’s senior leadership team, the Senior Director directs alumni programs and activities for Yale College Classes including Yale College Reunions and manages the staff team’s relationships with volunteer leadership of the class organizations, with the goal of developing and strengthening undergraduate alumni ties to the university.

• Provide strategic direction for the Yale College Class alumni program. Initiate and lead long-term planning to identify new programs and improve existing ones, in alignment with YAA’s overall strategic plan. Engage team in identifying gaps, improving volunteer tools and processes, and tracking engagement trends. Assess team and individual outcomes relative to YAA’s annual goals and university priorities.
• Supervise Yale College classes staff team (8 FTEs) and set goals for staff performance. Develop standards for volunteer management, program development and execution, data strategy, and other staff functions. Provide mentoring and development opportunities.
• Provide strategic oversight to the Director for Reunions regarding the Yale College Reunions program (approx. $4M in expenditures and 7,500 attendees annually), including year-over-year goal-setting and final decisions regarding staff portfolios and any special project assignments related to reunion planning. Play an active role in maintaining key campus partnerships such as Yale Hospitality, Public Safety, and Facilities.
• Oversee development and creation of models, guidelines, policies, and training materials for class-based programs that reflect alumni relations objectives and best practices for volunteer organizations. Develop strategy for managing class volunteer expectations regarding staff support.
• Direct volunteer management for class leaders, including providing guidance and toolkits/resources on a) class organization and development, b) planning non-reunion in-person and online events (over 1,500 participants annually), c) class leadership recruitment and succession planning, and d) maximizing classmate engagement generally.
• Oversee, in conjunction with the YAA Finance and Operations Manager, financial management of class treasuries (accounts held at Yale with 501(c)(3) status and approximately $2M annual income), including dues solicitation and class expenditures; quarterly reporting to class treasurers; account reconciliation after events and annually; and ensuring compliance with fiduciary requirements and university policies.
• Collaborate with colleagues to advance YAA priorities, to increase impact of class programming, and to encourage partnerships among classes and other groups, such as regional clubs and shared interest group chapters, including the sharing of best practices for data analytics, event management, and volunteer training and management.
• Participate in and staff YAA and other campus activities such as the YAA Assembly, including evenings and weekends as necessary.

The information provided in Principal Responsibilities below is generic in nature may not be applicable; prospective applicants will find the information in the Overview to be most relevant.

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