Reporting to the Director of Volunteer & Strategic Engagement, the Assistant Director of Reunion & Affinity Engagement is a front-facing engagement and fundraising role responsible for engaging Seton Hall alumni and volunteers, with particular focus on reunion class alumni, affinity groups, and campus partners. The Assistant Director helps build and manage volunteer engagement pipelines, cultivates alumni relationships, raises upper-level annual gifts, and supports meaningful involvement across class-year, identity-based, and career-based communities. The position also collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to deepen engagement, support philanthropy and our upcoming fundraising campaign, and deliver impactful programs.
The Assistant Director will be responsible for qualifying and engaging both new and existing alumni and donors, with an emphasis on deepening philanthropic relationships and identifying future major gift capacity. This individual will play a key role in building a strong engagement and annual giving pipeline by managing volunteer committees within milestone reunion classes, particularly Golden Pirates and other five-year cohorts. The Assistant Director will recruit class ambassadors, guide volunteer-driven outreach, and implement engagement strategies to increase attendance and philanthropic participation in the annual Alumni Weekend reunion celebration. While not responsible for event planning logistics, the Assistant Director will serve as the lead relationship manager for reunion volunteers and class engagement efforts. Occasional travel and regular evening/weekend event participation is required.
The role will be involved in all aspects of Alumni Engagement, including communication, digital, experiential, philanthropic, leadership giving, and volunteer engagement by working collaboratively in a fully integrated engagement team. Experience in Higher Education is preferred.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1) Manage outreach and engagement of alumni in reunion years and affinity groups. Build and steward a portfolio of alumni donors and volunteers. Support engagement and philanthropic participation through personal outreach, event involvement, and volunteer coordination. Provide strategic direction and logistical support for Reunion Weekend and related class-based activities. Responsible for the identification and personal solicitations of upper-level annual giving ($1,000+), with special attention to building Seton Hall University's Reunion Program and Bayley Society, by managing a portfolio. The individual will deliver high-volume, personalized outreach to hundreds of alumni and donors, and potential donors using an outreach cadence designed to maximize completed contacts. Track alumni, donor, and volunteer engagement through Raiser’s Edge and other platforms. Document outreach, event attendance, and volunteer and donor activity to support departmental metrics, strategic planning, and comprehensive campaign.
2) Collaborate with the Director of Volunteer & Strategic Engagement and Assistant Director of Affinity & Volunteer Engagement to grow, support, and communicate with affinity-based alumni groups (e.g., professional, identity, or mission-based). Identify opportunities to connect alumni through shared experiences or causes. Partner with departments such as the Career Center, Campus Ministry, and academic units to connect alumni with student programming and academic initiatives. Serve as a liaison for collaborative engagement with campus partners.
3) Support university-wide initiatives including Giving Day, Homecoming, and Alumni Weekend. Attend, represent, and support events as a front-facing ambassador of the University. The role will be involved in all aspects of Alumni Engagement, including communication, digital, experiential, philanthropic, leadership giving, and volunteer engagement by working collaboratively in a fully integrated engagement team. Experience in Higher Education is preferred.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree and 1+ years of experience in fundraising, cold-calling marketing/sales, campaigning and or relevant transferrable skills. Valid drivers license required for work related travel.
Desired Qualifications:
Refined communication skills, comfortable guiding a conversation along with individuals who are unknown; must have the ability to be persuasive. A terrific collaborator and motivator of people, team player. Trustworthy and respectable. Experience and knowledge of annual engagement and philanthropy
Salary Range:
$46,800 - $64,350
Exempt/Nonexempt: Exempt
Physical Demands: General Office Environment
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please provide names and contact information for at least three professional references.
Benefits Information:
Full Time Benefits
Life today is complex. That’s why Seton Hall University offers a comprehensive package of benefits and programs to help you simplify and enrich your life.
These benefits are important elements of your total university compensation package. Benefits include but are not limited to bundled medical, prescription, and vision insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance, and retirement plan. More information is available at https://www.shu.edu/human-resources/benefits.html.
Seton Hall University is committed to programs of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the principles of affirmative action.
