Associate Director, Volunteer Engagement

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Reporting directly to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Associate Director oversees the development, execution, and enhancement of Emerson’s flagship external volunteer programs. The Associate Director acts as a bridge between high-net-worth volunteers, academic and College leadership, and fundraising teams to align volunteer engagement with institutional priorities and major giving pipelines. The Associate Director, Volunteer Engagement is an important role focused primarily on high-level volunteer management, advisory committee support and coordination within the Institutional Advancement division.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Direct and manage operations for the School-based Advisory Committees, in partnership with Academic Deans and the Family Executive Council (in concert with the Major Gifts team), including designing strategic agendas, supervising meeting logistics, and managing post-meeting action items.
• Direct and manage additional specialty Advisory Committees, in areas such as Industry Relations; Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship; Global Engagement; and other areas as assigned.
• Plan and successfully execute a calendar of volunteer engagements, ensuring each advisory committee executes at least one virtual and one high-touch, in-person meeting per fiscal year.
• Collaborate closely with the VP of IA, President’s Office, and Development Officers to strategically identify, cultivate, and onboard high-level volunteers, qualifying them for potential future Trusteeship or leadership roles.
• Maintain comprehensive, real-time records and accurate rosters of all institutional volunteer committees within the constituent relationship management (CRM) database to facilitate pipeline tracking and leadership reporting.
• Establish and maintain a regular debrief schedule with the VP and President concerning critical volunteer interactions, ensuring relevant intelligence is integrated into major gift strategies and fundraising goals.
• Direct the creation, synthesis, and review of comprehensive presidential briefings, research profiles, and event profiles for the President's Office. Partner directly with the Director/Special Assistant to the President and Director of Executive Communication to ensure the President is seamlessly prepared for high-touch volunteer interactions, donor salons, and institutional flagship events.
• Develop and deploy highly customized, bespoke communication plans for Advisory Committees and leadership groups, ensuring volunteers receive timely, sophisticated updates on institutional developments and industry trends. 
• Act as a key cross-functional liaison with Academic Deans and department chairs, translating institutional milestones and academic successes into compelling content for volunteer advisory committee networks.
• Partner closely with the Associate Vice Presidents (AVPs) of Advancement to provide strategic direction and operational support for institutional flagship events, including Master Classes, Alumni Weekend, Parent and Family Weekend, and intimate donor salons.
• Perform other special advancement initiatives and duties as assigned by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement to support broader divisional priorities.
   

QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform job.

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications, or related field or equivalent professional experience required; Master’s degree or advanced certification (e.g., CFRE) preferred.
• 4-6 Years of progressively responsible experience in higher education advancement, non-profit board governance, or high-touch relationship management required.
• Demonstrated track record of success in designing, managing, and sustaining sophisticated volunteer leadership structures or advisory boards required.
• Professional experience operating or fundraising within communications, arts, media, or higher education environments is strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job. 

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven ability to navigate highly complex social and professional settings involving high-net-worth individuals, trustees, and executive leaders.
• Ability to synthesize institutional priorities with volunteer motivations to construct mutually beneficial engagement models.
• Flawless written and oral communication skills, with a distinct talent for articulating an institution's mission to inspire philanthropic action and deep involvement.
• Proven capability to build consensus, foster collaboration, and maintain relationships across a heavily matrixed organization involving faculty, deans, and senior administrators.
• High level of comfort with modern advancement ecosystems, including sophisticated fundraising databases/CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge) and the application of cutting-edge AI tools for relationship management and predictive analytics.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Regular regional and national travel (with occasional global travel) is required. Must be willing to work frequent evenings and weekends to support high-profile events and board meetings.
• Standard professional office conditions; however, substantial time is spent off-campus in face-to-face engagements with prospective volunteers, donors, and key stakeholders.

WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

• Usual Office Conditions

IN-OFFICE EXPECTATIONS

This position is primarily a hybrid role with expected days in the office each week.

The hybrid arrangement will be made upon hire. Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the Boston campus to ensure operational effectiveness. This arrangement must be approved as outlined in the Remote Work Policy.

Compensation: $74,500.00 - $91,350.00 annually, commensurate with experience.

 

Grade of Position: 23-09E

Employment Category: Regular

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Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. 

Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and commuter offerings, are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.