Director of Alumni Relations Thacher School Ojai, California
Founded in 1889 by Sherman Day Thacher, Thacher School is among the most highly selective and regarded boarding schools in the country. Thacher serves academically talented students from 24 states and 11 countries in a rigorous college preparatory experience. The faculty and students live and work closely together on a 427-acre campus nestled in the foothills of the Los Padres National Forest in Ojai, California (85 miles north of Los Angeles). Honor, fairness, kindness, and truth are the cornerstones of School life. Together, we commit to the belief that demands in the academic classroom, when combined with those of mountains and horses, of sports and the arts, produce independent minds, strong bodies, and powerful character. The School enrolls 250 students, runs an operating budget of $20 million, and has an endowment of $141 million. Thacher has a solid record of fundraising fueled by the extraordinary dedication of parents and alumni. In 2008, the School completed an $81 million Campaign for Thacher primarily targeted on completing an aggressive capital building program: adding two new dorms, a performing arts center, student commons, all-weather track, a new field, and weight room. The School also completed a highly-targeted campaign in 2010-2012 to dramatically renovate another dormitory: raising $6.2 million to construct the Casa de Piedra dormitory. In 2013, Thacher launched a new strategic planning process which led to the leadership phase of a capital campaign that has already raised $120M. In the coming months, Thacher will launch the public phase of a capital campaign that will have a goal that – on a per student basis – will be one of the largest in the nation. With 56% of alumni making a gift each year and ever-increasing attendance at Alumni Reunions and events, Thacher boast one of the highest alumni giving percentages in the nation.
Director of Alumni Relations: The Director of Alumni Relations works closely with the Alumni and Development office and Board to implement and manage alumni engagement and activity at Thacher. The Director of Alumni Relations is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy to strengthen relationships between Thacher and more than 3,800 alumni. Appropriate cultivation of alumni/ae will be of great importance with a special emphasis placed on the management of our Alumni Council, alumni affinity groups, reunion programming, social media postings and communication, regional alumni gatherings, electronic and print communication, and select advancement related events.
Major Functions and Responsibilities: Communications o Gather cross-organizational input to design and deliver a multi-channel marketing strategy, including email and digital campaigns. o Implement regular communication with Thacher alumni including direct contact, e-mails, alumni online pages, social media, and print publications. o Serve as communications liaison between Marketing & Communications and Alumni Council with a special focus on the Thacher Magazine. Alumni Activities o Develop and manage alumni engagement programs focused on increasing the depth and diversity of alumni relations in support of the School o Manage reunion planning together with Events Manager including recruiting and management Reunion committee volunteers. o Manage Networking and Gathering program for alumni with Events Manager. o Develop mentoring program for senior classes and interested alumni. o Develop philanthropic educational plan with current student population. Constituent Relations o Oversee strategic planning and annual goals with the Alumni Council. o Assist with development of Thacher’s Reunion Giving and Class Agent programs. o Alert alumni relationship and contact information updates to staff and CRMs, as appropriate. o Present alumni opportunities and activity to board. Fundraising o Develop and implement strategic plans to maximize relationships with all constituents including alumni and friends of Thacher to support the School’s upcoming capital campaign o Collaborate closely with others on the development management team to identify alumni major donor prospects o Cultivate philanthropic culture among all alumni
Experience and Skills: Alignment with and ability to articulate the mission and values of the Thacher School. 5+ years senior-level experience with Alumni Relations programs Experience with Blackbaud‘s Netcommunity and/or Raiser’s Edge or an equivalent CRM, experience with Mac products preferred. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required. Demonstrated experience leveraging information to make sound, data-driven decisions. Project management skills, including planning, budgeting, and the ability to balance multiple tasks and projects while delivering quality work on schedule. Occasional nights and weekends required. Trust, accountability, discretion, honesty, and teamwork.
Compensation and Benefits: Compensation dependent on experience. The Thacher School offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package. In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Thacher provides an excellent compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, life & long-term disability insurance, a generous retirement program, and paid time off. Interested Persons Contact: Jonathan K. Ball Managing Associate Carney, Sandoe & Associates 617-933-3450 (dir) jball@carneysandoe.com All inquiries and nominations are kept confidential. Thacher School does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or national or ancestral origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other School-administered programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment practices. The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.