Director of Alumni and Community Relations/ Development Officer

Description

Director of Alumni and Community Relations/Development Officer

POSITION:   Director of Alumni and Community Relations/Development Officer

SUPERVISOR: Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Public Affairs

DEPARTMENT:  Alumni Relations

LOCATION: On-campus, located in Tiffin, OH

JOB TYPE: Full Time

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director of Alumni and Community Relations/Development Officer is a dual-facing role that brings together philanthropic cultivation and alumni engagement to ensure the longevity of Tiffin University for years to come.  

Alumni and Community Relations Responsibilities:

TU looks to expand connections and nurture meaningful engagement with the University from our alumni and stakeholders. The Director of Alumni and Community Relations/Development Officer designs, leads, and administers a comprehensive alumni relations program in support of the mission of the University. The Director of Alumni and Community Relations develops and executes programming and communications that engage TU alumni and friends with the University, fellow alumni, and students. Collaborate with the Institutional Advancement team and TU Staff and Faculty to develop outreach strategies and create content for alumni and community programs. Analyze the impact and reach of new programming, as well as the efficacy of existing offerings, and create new strategies based on this analysis. Coordinate alumni and community engagement and outreach strategies to advance Tiffin University’s and the Institutional Advancement’s goals and objectives.

Development Officer Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Public Affairs, this position supports fundraising efforts by cultivating relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the University. This position is responsible for identifying, qualifying, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects in alignment with institutional fundraising goals.

This position works to increase philanthropic support for Tiffin University through effective relationship management, personalized engagement strategies, and consistent outreach. This role requires strong communication skills, a goal-oriented mindset, and the ability to manage a portfolio of donors while maintaining accurate records and reporting outcomes. Travel, evening, and weekend work may be required.

WAYS TO MAKE AN IMPACT

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift prospects, focusing on individuals capable of giving at the $25,000+ level.
• Conduct consistent outreach to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective donors through in-person visits, phone calls, and events.
• Partner with university leadership, faculty, staff, and colleagues across campus to align fundraising efforts with academic and strategic priorities.
• Develop personalized solicitation strategies and compelling proposals to inspire giving.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all donor interactions in the university’s donor database.
• Represent the University at alumni and fundraising events both on and off campus.
• Travel regularly to meet with donors and prospects, including evenings and occasional weekends as needed.
• Collaborate with the alumni engagement and communications teams to create impactful touchpoints and messaging.
• Directs and oversees the daily operations of the alumni office.
• Manages alumni records, databases, and reporting systems.
• Develops and implements short- and long-term goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; monitors effectiveness and makes improvements as needed.
• Oversees alumni communications, including the development and distribution of written and electronic materials.
• Serve as advisor to the Alumni Board.
• Develops and executes membership and sponsorship plans for LIFE@TU; supports programming and social media campaigns.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS FOR THE JOB

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 2–5 years of experience in fundraising, sales, client management, or a related field with measurable results, preferably in higher education.

Other:

• Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with individuals and organizations.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to a