Boston University
VICE PRESIDENT, ALUMNI RELATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, Advancement
Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, us, 02298
Overview Boston University Advancement is seeking a Vice President, Alumni Relations, Communications and Engagement (ARCE). The VP-ARCE is a senior member of the Advancement leadership team who oversees critical areas within Boston University’s Advancement office. The VP-ARCE will provide strategic leadership for BU’s worldwide alumni body totaling over 400,000 and will lead in communications, outreach and engagement, including volunteerism to help BU achieve its bold aspirations. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Advancement, the VP-ARCE will directly manage central teams and partner with School and Unit advancement leaders to ensure these functions are leveraged optimally. BU seeks to significantly increase its reach, service to and engagement of its alumni and students, as well as its overall fundraising.
Experience, qualification, and soft skills, have you got everything required to succeed in this opportunity Find out below. Boston University Advancement has prioritized staff development and growth, recognizing that a skilled and motivated team is essential to its success. Through ongoing professional development opportunities, tailored training, mentorship programs, and a collaborative work environment, we foster continuous learning and career progression for our staff. This commitment to nurturing talent not only enhances our effectiveness but also ensures sustainable, long-term relationships that benefit the entire Boston University community. Essential Functions
Alumni Relations
- Alumni Relations have evolved significantly in the last decade, and BU seeks to be at the forefront of providing lifelong value to its 400,000 alumni. The new Vice President will establish a forward-thinking program that will appeal to alumni through their different stages of life through intellectual and emotional connections. The right leader will have a track record of implementing innovative programming and of taking a data-driven approach to program evaluation. Communications
- Communications has never been more important in higher education. The Vice President will lead the strategy to determine the message and most effective forms of communication to advance alumni relations and development messaging. Audiences include alumni, donors, and prospective philanthropists. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success communicating with these audiences and ensuring that communications align and complement the broader University messaging system. Communication will be across a variety of platforms, utilizing approaches that measurably increase engagement and improve brand perception. As BU prepares for a milestone philanthropic campaign, the Vice President and their team will develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that will include strategic events. Engagement
- BU has an opportunity to consider new and innovative ways of engaging its alumni and students and other important community members. The Vice President will be the architect for building engagement opportunities for BU’s alumni and other friends. BU also aspires to establish a strong volunteer infrastructure and to ensure that the volunteer experience is best in class across the University. This will require a new way of thinking about BU’s volunteer platform, which will be important in advance of a new campaign. Annual Giving and Alumni Participation
- Oversee an Annual Giving team as they utilize key data to formulate and execute an innovative, multi-year plan for annual giving that will increase overall giving and meets appropriate alumni participation rates; improve donor retention; and create a robust pipeline of major gift prospects; illustrate to donors the impact of their giving and recognize their support for the university. Team Leadership
- Collaborate with Advancement leaders to prepare for and implement the next campaign for Boston University. Manage budgets, strategic operations, and personnel issues for all direct reports and departments. Provide guidance and promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals for professional staff members and administrative support personnel; ensure staff members understand their work within the context of the university’s mission and strategic priorities. Recruit experienced advancement professionals; train and mentor committed and productive staff members who are well prepared and have the skills to meet the ongoing challenges and aspirations of Boston University and who may assume greater responsibilities and advance within the office. Foster a culture of achievement through mastery of best practices and implementation of new ideas in which effective teamwork, collaboration, accountability, and innovation are expected, recognized and rewarded; lead by example regarding professionalism, mutual respect, creativity, entrepreneurship, appropriate risk-taking, and cross-organizational cooperation. Ensure that staff members execute effective strategies that result in meaningful engagement with alumni; in partnership with staff members, continue to build a culture of philanthropy within the Boston University community. Provide professional development opportunities and encourage staff to pursue personal growth targets. Qualifications & Experience
A bold strategist with experience building effective communities with and for alumni, with and for donors, and with and for like-minded individuals who share BU’s values. Experience in creating momentum by building marketing campaigns that drive alumni engagement, philanthropic participation and transformational giving. A track record of creative and entrepreneurial staff leadership; the ability to build, lead, mentor, and motivate staff, and to encourage change and growth in both people and programs. Exemplary interpersonal and communications skills as well as a high degree of comfort and cultural sensitivity engaging alumni throughout the United States and around the world; the ability to serve as a primary face of the university to alumni. Effective presenter who can command, improvise and engage an audience ranging from an intimate venue to an arena of thousands. The intellectual depth, experience, and confidence to work with and command the respect and confidence of the president, alumni, students, faculty, senior administrators, and trustees. A problem solver with the ability to analyze information and think strategically, critically, and creatively. A collaborative leadership style that is well suited to management in a complex organizational setting; the ability to manage effectively in an environment with multiple constituencies. A keen understanding and appreciation for the role annual, unrestricted giving has on the overall fundraising success of an organization and the fiscal health of an institution. The ideal candidate will have personal success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, and the ability to inspire discerning individuals to volunteerism and volunteer leadership in alumni relations and development. Our values
Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here. Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another. Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results. Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team. Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter. EEO and Accommodation We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. If you require reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796. Details
Seniority level
- Executive Employment type
- Contract Job function
- Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing Industries
- Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Experience, qualification, and soft skills, have you got everything required to succeed in this opportunity Find out below. Boston University Advancement has prioritized staff development and growth, recognizing that a skilled and motivated team is essential to its success. Through ongoing professional development opportunities, tailored training, mentorship programs, and a collaborative work environment, we foster continuous learning and career progression for our staff. This commitment to nurturing talent not only enhances our effectiveness but also ensures sustainable, long-term relationships that benefit the entire Boston University community. Essential Functions
Alumni Relations
- Alumni Relations have evolved significantly in the last decade, and BU seeks to be at the forefront of providing lifelong value to its 400,000 alumni. The new Vice President will establish a forward-thinking program that will appeal to alumni through their different stages of life through intellectual and emotional connections. The right leader will have a track record of implementing innovative programming and of taking a data-driven approach to program evaluation. Communications
- Communications has never been more important in higher education. The Vice President will lead the strategy to determine the message and most effective forms of communication to advance alumni relations and development messaging. Audiences include alumni, donors, and prospective philanthropists. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success communicating with these audiences and ensuring that communications align and complement the broader University messaging system. Communication will be across a variety of platforms, utilizing approaches that measurably increase engagement and improve brand perception. As BU prepares for a milestone philanthropic campaign, the Vice President and their team will develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that will include strategic events. Engagement
- BU has an opportunity to consider new and innovative ways of engaging its alumni and students and other important community members. The Vice President will be the architect for building engagement opportunities for BU’s alumni and other friends. BU also aspires to establish a strong volunteer infrastructure and to ensure that the volunteer experience is best in class across the University. This will require a new way of thinking about BU’s volunteer platform, which will be important in advance of a new campaign. Annual Giving and Alumni Participation
- Oversee an Annual Giving team as they utilize key data to formulate and execute an innovative, multi-year plan for annual giving that will increase overall giving and meets appropriate alumni participation rates; improve donor retention; and create a robust pipeline of major gift prospects; illustrate to donors the impact of their giving and recognize their support for the university. Team Leadership
- Collaborate with Advancement leaders to prepare for and implement the next campaign for Boston University. Manage budgets, strategic operations, and personnel issues for all direct reports and departments. Provide guidance and promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals for professional staff members and administrative support personnel; ensure staff members understand their work within the context of the university’s mission and strategic priorities. Recruit experienced advancement professionals; train and mentor committed and productive staff members who are well prepared and have the skills to meet the ongoing challenges and aspirations of Boston University and who may assume greater responsibilities and advance within the office. Foster a culture of achievement through mastery of best practices and implementation of new ideas in which effective teamwork, collaboration, accountability, and innovation are expected, recognized and rewarded; lead by example regarding professionalism, mutual respect, creativity, entrepreneurship, appropriate risk-taking, and cross-organizational cooperation. Ensure that staff members execute effective strategies that result in meaningful engagement with alumni; in partnership with staff members, continue to build a culture of philanthropy within the Boston University community. Provide professional development opportunities and encourage staff to pursue personal growth targets. Qualifications & Experience
A bold strategist with experience building effective communities with and for alumni, with and for donors, and with and for like-minded individuals who share BU’s values. Experience in creating momentum by building marketing campaigns that drive alumni engagement, philanthropic participation and transformational giving. A track record of creative and entrepreneurial staff leadership; the ability to build, lead, mentor, and motivate staff, and to encourage change and growth in both people and programs. Exemplary interpersonal and communications skills as well as a high degree of comfort and cultural sensitivity engaging alumni throughout the United States and around the world; the ability to serve as a primary face of the university to alumni. Effective presenter who can command, improvise and engage an audience ranging from an intimate venue to an arena of thousands. The intellectual depth, experience, and confidence to work with and command the respect and confidence of the president, alumni, students, faculty, senior administrators, and trustees. A problem solver with the ability to analyze information and think strategically, critically, and creatively. A collaborative leadership style that is well suited to management in a complex organizational setting; the ability to manage effectively in an environment with multiple constituencies. A keen understanding and appreciation for the role annual, unrestricted giving has on the overall fundraising success of an organization and the fiscal health of an institution. The ideal candidate will have personal success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, and the ability to inspire discerning individuals to volunteerism and volunteer leadership in alumni relations and development. Our values
Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here. Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another. Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results. Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team. Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter. EEO and Accommodation We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. If you require reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796. Details
Seniority level
- Executive Employment type
- Contract Job function
- Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing Industries
- Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr