The Manager of Alumni Relations, in consultation with the Director of Advancement, Associate Director of Advancement, and Director of the Annual Fund, is responsible for managing the development, implementation, and evaluation of a multi-faceted engagement program for alumni constituencies. Reporting to the Associate Director of Advancement, the Manager of Alumni Relations will operate in a collaborative environment and will work closely with the entire Advancement team, as well as the Head of School, faculty/staff, the Board of Trustees, and key volunteers.
Duties and Responsibilities Major functions and responsibilities : Work with the Advancement team to articulate a compelling vision for WIS alumni engagement. Work with the Director of Advancement and Associate Director of Advancement to develop strategies and metrics for advancing and evaluating the School's goals vis-à-vis alumni. Collaborate with the Director of Advancement and Associate Director of Advancement to identify and engage potential alumni donors for cultivation and solicitation by the Head of School, Director of Advancement, and/or other WIS stakeholders, as appropriate. Steer strategy for targeted alumni events and ensure their alignment with broader team and school goals. Work with the Director of Advancement and WIS administration to support Alumni Leadership Council (ALC) operations, including the creation of programmatic goals and strategies for the ALC/alumni community; drafting materials and communications; and organizing, attending, and recording regular Council meetings. Organize and manage volunteers, including alumni speakers, mentors, class agents, regional event volunteers, and service project organizers. The position also involves occasional engagement with other constituencies, e.g., current and past parents, students, faculty and staff, etc. In consultation with the Advancement and Communications teams, develop a communications plan for alumni-related content for WIS print and electronic publications, the school website, and social media. Create consistent and meaningful avenues for alumni and parents of alumni participation at WIS. Perform other duties as assigned. Specific responsibilities include : Event Planning and Engagement Create and implement an event strategy to engage the alumni community. Identify and organize travel opportunities for the Head of School (or other stakeholders, as appropriate) to meet with alumni domestically and abroad. Promote alumni participation and engagement in various volunteer activities, including speaking in classrooms, assemblies, and at community events; participating in mentorship programs; and promoting participation in long-standing traditions like Winter Gathering and Alumni Reunion/Weekend. Recruit participants for WIS's annual Career Day from various school constituencies. Plan and execute the event in consultation with relevant faculty members. Manage alumni event planning in consultation with the Advancement team; develop event materials and furnish event briefings to Head of School, Director of Advancement, and other colleagues, as appropriate. Volunteer Management Support the ALC, facilitating regular meetings and involving the group in alumni programming and activities. Engage the ALC and other alumni volunteers to promote peer-to-peer interaction, cultivate alumni networks, and engage the broader alumni community. Develop alumni volunteer networks by recruiting alumni volunteers and developing avenues for young alumni and current students to engage with the school. Communications Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing team to develop and send communications, including a quarterly alumni newsletter. Work with the Advancement and Communications team to increase and improve alumni content on the WIS website. Develop and implement an alumni-oriented social media plan, with a focus on leveraging the school's LinkedIn platform to keep alumni engaged. General Assist the Advancement team with various tasks and duties, as needed, including attendance at "all hands" events throughout the school year.. Data Work with the Associate Director of Advancement to ensure accurate entry and maintenance of alumni records in the database. Develop strategies for improving the school's use of alumni data and evaluate opportunities for potential acquisition and use of alumni engagement systems.
WIS is seeking an energetic professional who can organize and cultivate a diverse, and relatively young, alumni population. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated and driven to create an alumni engagement program that supports WIS's strategic objectives, and will possess the following qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required. Relevant experience in alumni programming and program development; and/or relevant experience in education or business. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated cultural sensitivity in interacting with a diverse alumni population both domestically and internationally. Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong organizational ability and attention to detail. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and present data/information in a clear and compelling manner. Self-motivated with ability to work on a small team with considerable independence. Strong volunteer management skills; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and supportively with high-level volunteers, including alumni, parent(s) of alumni, and current and former faculty/staff.
Graphic design and/or social media experience is a plus. Proficiency with Windows/MAC environments, including MS Office Suite; working knowledge of Virtuous CRM and LiveAlumni systems is a plus but not required. Availability and willingness to work outside the normal schedule on occasion, including early mornings, evening, school holidays, and weekends to accommodate volunteer and donor meetings and events. Occasional travel, both national and international, required. About Washington International School
Founded in 1966, Washington International School is a private, non-profit, Preschool-12 school profoundly committed to its mission: to be an exemplary learning community—enriched by differences, informed through inquiry, global in reach. Serving its full community of 900 plus students on two campuses, the school is multinational, multicultural, and multilingual. The school's challenging international program draws on classroom-based research on pedagogical practices and curriculum design from renowned organizations such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Project Zero, based in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. From Preschool through Grade 5 students follow the inquiry-based IB Primary Years Program; in Grades 6-10 they continue with a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based approach designed to enhance understanding and develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the prestigious IB Diploma Program (DP). All students in Grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the DP, which prepares them to take exams to receive the International Baccalaureate Diploma in addition to a WIS diploma. IB Diploma results are well above the worldwide pass rate, and WIS gra ... duates attend highly selective colleges and universities in both the United States (about two-thirds in a typical year) and abroad.Commitment to the intensive study of a second language is a core principle, with Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes taught entirely in French or Spanish. All instruction in Grades 1-5 is "dual language" in English and either French or Spanish. Chinese is an option beginning in Grade 6. Typically, one half to three-quarters of WIS graduates earn the Bilingual IB Diploma, demonstrating fluency in two languages. The entire school community – alumni, parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff – are ardent advocates for international education. WIS has played a prominent role in setting a standard for a global perspective that many schools now emulate.The school culture is highly egalitarian, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and understanding differing points of view. There is no typical WIS family: some households consist only of U.S. passport holders, others are all non-U.S. passport holders and many are a mix of nationalities. In addition to this global diversity, WIS also strives to achieve economic diversity: 14% of the students receive financial assistance. Show more
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