Associate Director, Regional Engagement

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore Office of Advancement manages the College's relationship with its alumni, families, and friends to further Swarthmore's commitment to intellectual rigor and creativity, nurturing of student confidence and curiosity, production of new knowledge, and inclusive excellence, among other goals. Advancement works closely with the President, faculty, and senior colleagues to foster positive and productive relationships that not only accelerate the objectives of the College but also represent meaningful and beneficial engagement for the Swarthmore community.

The Office of Advancement manages and maintains alumni, family, and friend records; engages constituents in the life of the College in a variety of ways, contexts, and over time; provides and supports meaningful volunteering opportunities; and partners with the President and Board of Managers to share information about the College and raise critical philanthropic support for the College's priorities and new initiatives. Advancement ensures that alumni and donors are appropriately recognized and informed about the impact of their service and contributions, and manages all gift acceptance and stewardship.

The opportunity:

The Associate Director, Regional Engagement, plays a key role in strengthening Swarthmore College’s alumni network by designing and implementing a strategic approach to regional engagement. This individual will cultivate meaningful connections between alumni and the College through a mix of volunteer-led and staff-driven programs across key geographic markets. The role requires strong volunteer management skills, event planning expertise, and cross-campus collaboration to deliver high-quality, mission-aligned experiences that foster alumni connection and support. The position requires in-person work at a College workspace on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with occasional evening and weekend hours. Additional in-office days may be required for Advancement programming needs.

Essential Responsibilities

Volunteer Engagement and Management

• Identify, recruit, train, and support regional alumni volunteers to lead local programming and initiatives.
• Provide volunteers with planning tools, marketing support, and post-event follow-up guidance.
• Create and maintain a robust online presence for regional engagement activities, ensuring alumni can find opportunities to participate, volunteer, and see the global scope of alumni involvement.
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers and track engagement and program metrics.

Regional Programming

• Develop and implement staff-driven events that advance institutional priorities and reflect alumni interests in key cities.
• Coordinate with colleagues in Alumni Engagement and the Parents Program team on programs such as affinity and industry networking events, young alumni gatherings, and send-offs for new students to ensure overall alignment of regional engagement strategies.
• Ensure a diverse, inclusive approach to programming across regions and alumni demographics.
• Oversee the Faculty on the Road program, working with campus partners to match faculty expertise with regional audience interests.
• Ensure program quality and consistency across cities.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in Alumni Engagement, Marketing, Events, Individual Giving, Admissions, and other key offices to coordinate messaging, scheduling, and outreach.
• Analyze participation trends and regional engagement data to refine strategy and target efforts effectively.

Who you are:

• Collaborative and Diplomatic: thrives in a team environment and values working in partnership with both colleagues and volunteers to achieve shared goals. Exercises good judgment when handling sensitive situations or diverse personalities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: able to engage, inform, and inspire colleagues and volunteers, adapt messaging for different audiences, and represent the College with clarit