Community Engagement Manager (Alumni and Development)

Position summary

The Community Engagement Manager (Alumni and Development) plays an instrumental role in delivering the College’s community engagement program, connecting our network of alumni, parents, donors, and other external stakeholders.  This role works closely with the Community Engagement Manager (Marketing, Events and Communications) and the Principal.  Together, they play a key role in the development and delivery of a 60^thAnniversary Strategy designed to build a sense of connection among our alumni and help the college fulfil its philanthropic and friend-raising goals. The role will seek to leverage off the 60^th Anniversary to build an embedded and ongoing culture of friend and fund raising across our community.

You will develop and execute a comprehensive events schedule, communications, networking, and mentoring program that ensures that St Hilda’s is a source of lifelong benefit and a vehicle for making a difference. These activities will serve to add value to our current students and create a community of advocates who contribute positively to the College’s future through support in time, expertise, resources, or funds.

This role works closely with the Principal to coordinate core fundraising activities including major gifts, gifts in wills (bequests and planned gifts), annual giving, donor relations, and research and prospective donor management.

You are warm, enjoy relationships and connections, and are a born salesperson.  You are also able to use a database and mine it for information.  You are a natural collaborator, able to work with colleagues and students to create a culture that values alumni engagement and weaves alumni within the fabric of College activities across the student lifecycle.

You are passionate about the power of higher education to transform lives and will play an important role in making a real difference to the lives of members of our community.

Responsibilities

• With the Principal and Community Engagement Manager (Marketing, Events and Communications), deliver a holistic Community Engagement Strategy that supports the St Hilda’s College strategic plan and ensures that prospective students, alumni, parents, donors and other external community members are motivated to be connected to the College.
• Deliver a suite of activities and events that help ensure alumni, parents, donors and other external community members remain connected to the College.
• Develop and publish The Chronicle, Streoneshalh (alumni magazine) and an Annual Fundraising Impact Report year on year alongside the Community Engagement Manager (Marketing, Events and Communications).
• Develop relevant content of interest to alumni and friends of the College on our website and social media.
• Generate innovative ideas and deliver campaigns that engage alumni and donors in support of philanthropic and community engagement goals.
• With the Principal, lead the development and execution of 60^th Anniversary events and engagement activities, maximising the opportunity to re-engage and maintain a genuine and consistent connection with alumni and friends of the College.
• Engage extensively with alumni, friends of the College and parents and encourage support of the College among these individuals and their circles of influence.
• Deliver an innovative annual events program including alumni reunions, parent events, orations and speaker programs, and networking events.
• In collaboration with the Community Engagement Manager (Marketing, Events and Communications), develop and deliver a multi-channel communications plan that supports the overall engagement strategy.
• Support the delivery of the College’s alumni mentoring program, engaging alumni to participate and support our students and each other.
• Support the donor stewardship and recognition strategy through delivery of events and communications aligned with the philanthropic goals of the College.
• Create stories that increase awareness and understanding of the College and its priorities within alumni, parent, donor, and external communities.
• Work collaboratively with the Alumni committee and Year Ambassadors, acting as staff representative on the committee, as well as coordinating meetings
• Develop and utilise ThankQ as the business system that will deliver the College Community Engagement Plan.
• Proactively seek opportunities for the college to develop collaborative relationships with industry or community partners in providing students opportunities for scholarships, internships, work experience or mentorship.

Selection Criteria

• Strong track record in developing and maintaining strong mutually beneficial relationships.
• Demonstrated success in delivering premium events in a complex stakeholder environment.
• Experience in professional writing with an ability to develop copy for alumni and donor communications, event promotions and websites.
• Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines, with a proven capacity to work on multiple projects simultaneously and with multiple stakeholders.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with an ability to collaborate with colleagues across organisations to achieve collective success.
• An analytical mindset, ability to manage customer relationship management (CRM) platforms and proven organisational ability to plan, work to deadlines, and manage workload.
• A desire to be engaged in all aspects of College life, including attendance at out-of-hours events and student activities.

Qualifications and experience

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in an educational setting where communications and people have been at the forefront
• Bachelor’s degree or relevant qualification
• Experience in fundraising is desirable but not essential

Benefits

• Competitive salary, dependent on qualifications and experience
• Daily meals in the College Dining Hall when open and onsite parking
• 10% Superannuation (10.5% from mid-year)
• Flexible work environment

Further Information

• Applicants must be Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents or hold a valid work permit or visa. If called for interview, evidence of status will be required
• Applicants will be required to bring originals or certified copies of academic and other qualifications if called for interview where applicable
• The successful applicant must secure, or be able to obtain, a Working with Children approval.