Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

Position Title:

Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

Department:
Alumni Relations and Annual Fund/Institutional Advancement

Reports To:

Director of Annual Fund and Alumni Relations

Lees-McRae is a small, four-year, liberal arts college serving Appalachia and the Southeastern United States. The College is located in the town of Banner Elk in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina. Banner Elk is nestled between two popular ski areas and is within a short drive of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian Trail. The area is popular to outdoor enthusiasts: skiing, cycling, hiking, climbing and fly fishing are among the many attractions.

The college also owns and maintains the Elk Valley Preserve and Field Station and the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Please visit our website .edu.

Benefits Lees-McRae College offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical plans with wellness incentives, Aetna dental coverage with orthodontia for children, and a voluntary vision plan for all employees. Life and long-term disability insurance are employer-paid, with optional voluntary life coverage available. Employees can take advantage of flexible spending accounts, a retirement plan with up to 5% employer match after one year, and generous paid time off including vacation, sick, personal, holiday, and college-closed days.

Tuition waiver benefits are available for employees and dependents, along with access to a national tuition exchange program. Additional perks include free monthly dining, discounted meal plans, and required direct deposit for payroll.

Job Summary/Objective The Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund supports the College's efforts to build meaningful, lifelong relationships with alumni and strengthen broad-based philanthropic support through the Annual Fund, helping build constituent relationships to optimal engagement and higher levels of support. The role provides critical operational, administrative, and constituent support for the Office of Institutional Advancement. This position ensures that advancement activities—including alumni and donor engagement, events, communications, cultivation, stewardship, and data management—are executed accurately, efficiently, and professionally.

Working closely with all members of the Advancement team, the Assistant Director serves as a highly organized and dependable partner who anticipates needs, coordinates details, and ensures responsibilities and projects move from planning through successful completion.

Essential Functions

• Coordinates, supports, or leads constituent engagement programs, events, communications, volunteer activities, and annual giving initiatives, as guided by the Director and in collaboration with other members of the Advancement team.
• Creates positive and consistent experiences for alumni and donors while increasing participation, engagement, and philanthropic support for Lees-McRae College.
• Assists with the planning, coordination, execution, and follow-up of all Alumni and Advancement events and programs (including event logistics, invitations, registration, guest lists, nametags, materials, décor and set up, vendors, volunteers, and post-event follow-up).
• Supports the Alumni Board and its ad-hoc committees, ONE Lees-McRae Chapters, and Affinity Groups through meeting preparation, communications, follow-up, and project coordination.
• Assists in the development and execution of annual giving campaigns, including direct mail, email, social media, and other communication channels.
• Oversees and leads student philanthropy and engagement programs, including Students Today, Alumni…