Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY, United States
Bellarmine University is a dynamic, growing university with a strong liberal arts focus in the Catholic higher education tradition and a bold vision for the future. Bellarmine has undergraduate and graduate enrollment of approximately 3,200 students and continues to add new academic programs while maintaining small class sizes and personal attention to students. Bellarmine is listed in the Princeton Review's Best 387 Colleges and is recognized as a top U.S. university in rankings published by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes. In a survey by The Princeton Review, students praised Bellarmine as a place that is "welcoming to every single person and makes an effort to include everyone." Bellarmine students, faculty and staff engage in more than 25,000 cumulative hours of service each year, in Louisville and around the nation and world.
SmartAsset ranked Louisville among the top 25 U.S. cities for best work-life balance, while workplace insights platform kununu.com named Louisville one of the top five U.S. cities for happy employees. Glassdoor recently recognized Louisville as one of the top 15 cities for jobs, based on hiring opportunity, cost of living and job satisfaction. ZipRecruiter calls Louisville a top 10 city for job seekers, thanks in part to its central location and low unemployment. Louisville is within a day's drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population.
Deeply embedded in the heart of Louisville, Bellarmine is an engaged partner expanding learning opportunities, enhancing career networks and economic growth, and advancing equity and quality of life for its neighboring communities. By connecting the campus, the community, and the curriculum through engaged scholarship and action, we enhance social and civic engagement, including faculty, staff, and student-led, asset-based initiatives.
Bellarmine is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants with diverse backgrounds to apply.
Job Description Bellarmine University seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven professional to serve as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. This position plays a vital role in strengthening alumni engagement and philanthropic participation by overseeing alumni association events, volunteer leadership initiatives, and strategic communications that advance the University’s mission.
The Assistant will lead the planning and execution of alumni fundraising events and traditional engagement programs, manage volunteer partnerships particularly with the Alumni Board Events Committee and support CRM strategy, marketing, and social media outreach. This role requires occasional evening and weekend work to support events and alumni programming.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead strategy, planning, and execution of alumni fundraising events and signature engagement programs.
Collaborate with development colleagues to align events with annual giving and campaign priorities.
Partner with colleagues for the creation of small custom and bespoke events.
Develop sponsorship opportunities and partner with development officers to maximize philanthropic outcomes.
Manage event budgets, timelines, logistics, and post-event analysis.
Serve as primary staff liaison to the Alumni Board Events Committee.
Recruit, train, and steward alumni volunteers to support engagement and fundraising goals.
CRM & Data Management
Maintain accurate records of alumni engagement, volunteer activity, and event participation within the CRM system.
Generate reports and analyze engagement metrics to inform strategy.
Ensure data integrity and compliance with institutional policies.
Marketing & Communications
Collaborate with university partners to promote alumni programs and fundraising initiatives.
Develop targeted email campaigns, digital communications, and social media content.
Monitor and assess engagement across digital platforms.
Support storytelling initiatives that highlight alumni impact and philanthropic outcomes.
Partner with academic units, athletics, student affairs, and other campus departments to enhance alumni engagement opportunities.
Represent Alumni Relations at campus events and meetings.
Support cross-functional initiatives within the Office of Advancement.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required
3+ years of related work experience in areas such as alumni relations, development, event management, or related field
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in digital marketing and social media platforms.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree preferred.
Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar).
Demonstrated experience partnering volunteers and boards.
Physical and Working Conditions Physical Requirements
Frequent interaction with students, visitors, and staff.
Ability to remain in a stationary position or move about campus as needed.
May require light lifting (up to 20 pounds) of supplies, event materials, or files.
Must be able to communicate clearly and professionally in person and via phone/email.
Working Conditions
Fast-paced and customer-focused environment.
May require working evenings or weekends during events or peak times.
Occasional travel between campus buildings or community locations.
Moderate noise levels and frequent interruptions are typical.
Additional Information Disclaimer This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may be assigned other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
Application Instructions Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.
Please note: Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.
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SmartAsset ranked Louisville among the top 25 U.S. cities for best work-life balance, while workplace insights platform kununu.com named Louisville one of the top five U.S. cities for happy employees. Glassdoor recently recognized Louisville as one of the top 15 cities for jobs, based on hiring opportunity, cost of living and job satisfaction. ZipRecruiter calls Louisville a top 10 city for job seekers, thanks in part to its central location and low unemployment. Louisville is within a day's drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population.
Deeply embedded in the heart of Louisville, Bellarmine is an engaged partner expanding learning opportunities, enhancing career networks and economic growth, and advancing equity and quality of life for its neighboring communities. By connecting the campus, the community, and the curriculum through engaged scholarship and action, we enhance social and civic engagement, including faculty, staff, and student-led, asset-based initiatives.
Bellarmine is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants with diverse backgrounds to apply.
Job Description Bellarmine University seeks a dynamic, relationship-driven professional to serve as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations. This position plays a vital role in strengthening alumni engagement and philanthropic participation by overseeing alumni association events, volunteer leadership initiatives, and strategic communications that advance the University’s mission.
The Assistant will lead the planning and execution of alumni fundraising events and traditional engagement programs, manage volunteer partnerships particularly with the Alumni Board Events Committee and support CRM strategy, marketing, and social media outreach. This role requires occasional evening and weekend work to support events and alumni programming.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead strategy, planning, and execution of alumni fundraising events and signature engagement programs.
Collaborate with development colleagues to align events with annual giving and campaign priorities.
Partner with colleagues for the creation of small custom and bespoke events.
Develop sponsorship opportunities and partner with development officers to maximize philanthropic outcomes.
Manage event budgets, timelines, logistics, and post-event analysis.
Serve as primary staff liaison to the Alumni Board Events Committee.
Recruit, train, and steward alumni volunteers to support engagement and fundraising goals.
CRM & Data Management
Maintain accurate records of alumni engagement, volunteer activity, and event participation within the CRM system.
Generate reports and analyze engagement metrics to inform strategy.
Ensure data integrity and compliance with institutional policies.
Marketing & Communications
Collaborate with university partners to promote alumni programs and fundraising initiatives.
Develop targeted email campaigns, digital communications, and social media content.
Monitor and assess engagement across digital platforms.
Support storytelling initiatives that highlight alumni impact and philanthropic outcomes.
Partner with academic units, athletics, student affairs, and other campus departments to enhance alumni engagement opportunities.
Represent Alumni Relations at campus events and meetings.
Support cross-functional initiatives within the Office of Advancement.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required
3+ years of related work experience in areas such as alumni relations, development, event management, or related field
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in digital marketing and social media platforms.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree preferred.
Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar).
Demonstrated experience partnering volunteers and boards.
Physical and Working Conditions Physical Requirements
Frequent interaction with students, visitors, and staff.
Ability to remain in a stationary position or move about campus as needed.
May require light lifting (up to 20 pounds) of supplies, event materials, or files.
Must be able to communicate clearly and professionally in person and via phone/email.
Working Conditions
Fast-paced and customer-focused environment.
May require working evenings or weekends during events or peak times.
Occasional travel between campus buildings or community locations.
Moderate noise levels and frequent interruptions are typical.
Additional Information Disclaimer This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may be assigned other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
Application Instructions Please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.
Please note: Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.
#J-18808-Ljbffr