Senior Director of Alumni Affiliate Groups & Student Programming
Affiliate Groups
Affinity Groups: Affinity Councils & Interest Groups
Regional Clubs
Position Summary
The Senior Director of Alumni Affiliate Groups & Student Programming leads the development, planning and execution of a comprehensive and diverse volunteer program, which offers opportunities for alumni to support the USC Alumni Association's mission and its strategic priorities. The Sr. Director of Alumni Affiliate Groups & Student Programming has an innovative approach to engaging students at USC, to ensure they recognize the value of the Alumni Association, and oversees career development and mentorship programming. Reporting to the Chief Experience Officer, the Sr. Director leads a team that provides volunteer management, event planning and the exceptional communication efforts with our affinity groups and regional clubs.
Accountabilities
Affinity Groups oversight: Oversees the affinity council program, including the Black Alumni Council, LGBTQ+ Alumni Council, Veterans Alumni Council, Young Alumni Council, the Carolina Band interest group, the CarolinaLIFE interest group, and other councils and interest groups as they are identified and approved. Oversees communications for respective councils and interest groups, including social media channels, website content and email campaigns. Assist affinity councils with raising funds for their respective scholarships. Oversees council operating budgets and ensures proper usage of resources. Works with direct reports to ensure councils and interest groups are supported.
Regional Clubs program oversight: Supports clubs and their volunteers in identified major markets. Ensures all clubs are appropriately using their funding and oversees club budgets. Manages the process of onboarding new clubs and new volunteers. Manages communications for respective clubs, including social media channels, website content and email campaigns. Travels to key markets for on-site support of clubs and volunteers. Oversees club operating budgets and ensures proper usage of resources. Works with direct reports to ensure regional clubs are supported.
Scholarship and Endowment program oversight: Manages a comprehensive scholarship and endowment program and serves as the association's primary contact for all aspects of the scholarship program. In coordination with direct reports and the CXO, ensures that scholarships are properly awarded and provides regular reporting updates. Coordinates with campus partners to effectively manage the scholarship process from inception to award, including the development of application forms, communicating with campus partners as required by the process, and implementing programming and recognition efforts. Serves as an ex-officio member of affinity council scholarship committees.
Student programming: Develops and manages programming and corresponding communication for students to develop their connection to the alumni association, build university traditions and connect students with alumni for networking opportunities.
Works closely with campus partners to collaborate on programming, including staffing orientation and supervising Graduate Student for Student Programming efforts. Programs include:
Garnet Circle advisement: Serve as the primary advisor to Garnet Circle, providing leadership support to the group and assisting with their event/program management, which includes Ring Ceremony and other student engagement programs. Challenge and empower student leaders to take ownership of creating new programming and maintaining key campus traditions.
Future Alumni Programming: Develop and manage programming focused specifically on celebrating graduating students and assisting with their transition from student to alumni. Programming included but is not limited to: Grad Fest and Future Alumni Week.
Volunteer management: Maintains a volunteer handbook, including resources, financial guidelines, communication resources and engagement methods. Oversees the onboarding and offboarding process for volunteers. Works to maintain positive relationships with key volunteers. Leads effort to host a volunteer leadership conference on an annual basis.
Alumni Experience team member: Serves as a member of the Alumni Experience team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines to develop strategies. Serves on committees and attends staff meetings as required. Supports and assumes leadership roles of alumni association signature events and engagement programming as needed.
Basic Qualifications:
- A minimum of four years of volunteer management experience with progressive responsibility and proven success
- An excellent listener and strong communicator (written and verbal) to internal and external audiences and stakeholders
- Experience or an aptitude for building relationships and partnerships with a broad range of constituencies
- Ability to have difficult conversations while maintaining a high degree of professionalism and tact
- Experience working with a CRM and related technologies is preferred
- Adaptable to new and emerging technologies as it relates to email marketing, event management and volunteer communications
- After hours meeting and event attendance required. This includes evenings and weekends.
- Travel required. Travel to key markets for on-site support of clubs and volunteers, and Association engagement activities
- Experience executing a variety of events, including golf tournaments and networking events is preferred
- Displays sound judgment, emotional intelligence and detail orientation
- A sense of accountability for oneself and for others as it relates to meeting commitments; inclusive management style that actively solicits input from team members
- Possesses integrity, confidence and a positive attitude
- Is mission-driven and self-directed
- An unwavering commitment to quality and excellence
Education
An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution is required.
Compensation
Salary will be commensurate with experience plus a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision and a 403(b)-retirement plan. Other benefits include 30 days of paid time off, tuition reimbursement at the University of South Carolina and free parking at the Pastides Alumni Center.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email your resume and cover letter in PDF format to with "Senior Director of Alumni Affiliate Groups and Student Programming" in the subject line.
We will confirm receipt of your application within a few business days.
We will be accepting applications until a candidate has been selected.
If selected for an interview, you will be contacted by phone and email.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The University of South Carolina Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind.
- The Association is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
- All employment decisions at the Association, including hiring, are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications for the job to be filled, without regard to race, color, gender, religion or belief, family or parental status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by United States or South Carolina laws or regulations.
- The Association reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to receive equal employment opportunity and/or perform the essential functions of the job unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship to the Association. This applies to all applicants and employees.
- The Association will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.