top of page

Colorado College

Director of Alumni and Family Relations

​

THE ORGANIZATION

​

Colorado College is a private liberal arts college located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Founded in 1874, the College enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduates on its 90-acre campus, 70 miles south of Denver. Colorado College offers 42 majors and 33 minors and has a student-faculty ratio of 10:1. With an acceptance rate of 15%, Colorado College is consistently ranked among the best private liberal arts colleges in the country. It is known for its unique "block plan," which divides the year into eight academic terms called "blocks"; a single class is taken during each block, which runs for three and a half weeks.  

 

The College’s strategic plan, “Building on the Block” reaffirms its mission to provide the finest liberal arts education in the country and has identified several new strategic initiatives to build upon its existing strengths: www.coloradocollege.edu/theplan. To turn vision into reality, the College is currently embarked upon a major, comprehensive campaign that includes investments in financial aid, innovation programming and significant renovations and capital improvements to the College’s physical plant. In addition, it seeks increased support for professorships, faculty support and  programmatic initiatives that improve the quality of student life and the academic mission of the College. 

​

Colorado College’s Office of Alumni and Family Relations develops programs for and provides service to all Colorado College alumni as well as to an extended community of parents, students, and prospective students. Its staff creates opportunities for engagement among alumni and between alumni and the College including: homecoming and reunion events; travel study, both in the US and abroad; regional chapter events; affinity groups; professional development and career networking events; and managing data, publicity, social media, and networking technology to help connect alumni throughout the world.

​

 

THE POSITION

 

Colorado College seeks an innovative, energetic, and transformational Director of Alumni and Family Relations to serve as the senior ambassador for a diverse and inclusive community of alumni, family, and friends of the institution. S/he is responsible for envisioning, developing, and implementing programs and projects that strategically engage alumni, families, and friends in the life of Colorado College, enabling them to become active participants in a broad spectrum of College communities and in the institution as a whole. The Director must be confident interacting and collaborating with a wide range of constituencies and appreciate and promote the relevance and value of a residential liberal arts education.

​

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Director is a senior member of the Advancement staff and manages a team responsible for the Alumni Association Council, alumni awards and honors, campus programming, and alumni and family travel study programs. S/he will provide strategic and administrative planning and decision-making for the Alumni and Family program, motivate the team to enhance and increase alumni and family involvement with the College, and identify opportunities to use alumni and faculty expertise on and off campus and virtually to meet the growing demand for meaningful and intellectual engagement. The Director will also promote communications that are consistent with and supportive of the College's overall direction and seek opportunities to maximize the engagement of the President, other key staff, faculty, and alumni leaders in advancing relationships with Colorado College.

​

​

RESPONSIBILITIES

​

  • Serve as senior member of the Advancement leadership team and oversee all efforts to engage and inspire alumni, parents, and friends to meaningfully support Colorado College

  • Design and implement a robust series of engagement opportunities that strengthen the lifelong relationships of alumni, parents, and friends with Colorado College

  • Serve as a primary liaison to the global body of more than 28,000 living alumni

  • Manage and staff the Alumni Association Council (AAC) that serves as the primary liaison to the alumni body and an advisory board to the Colorado College Board of Trustees. Work closely with the President of the AAC to create an annual set of goals for the Council that support the work of the College

  • Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of the Alumni and Family Relations Office, including designing, establishing, and maintaining an organizational structure and staffing to accomplish the College’s goals and objectives

  • Work closely with the Office of Communications and Advancement Communications in developing consistent materials, mailings, emails, etc. for alumni and parents

  • Support and directly contribute to the goal of achieving greater diversity and inclusive experiences with and for alumni and students, working collaboratively and effectively with the many constituencies that make up a university community

  • Supervise Alumni staff of at least five individuals. Foster a strong sense of team among staff and   with Advancement colleagues and partners throughout the Colorado College community. Actively encourage staff to explore new ideas and ways to engage alumni and parents across the country and around the world

  • Serve as an ambassador of Colorado College at events and programs

  • Serve on committees where the impact of the decisions on alumni should be considered

  • Support Advancement Services in its efforts to maintain the integrity of the database system, and provide appropriate reports, records, and other data as requested 

  • Develop and expand student-related programs designed to encourage ongoing engagement and a lifelong commitment with the college

  • Oversee all budgets related to the Office of Alumni and Family Relations

 â€‹

 

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

 

Education:

​

A Bachelor’s degree is required.  An Advanced degree preferred.

 

Experience/Requirements:

 

  • A minimum of seven years of progressive management or transferrable experience

  • Experience in higher education or private, public, or non-profit organizations with a knowledge of best practices within alumni and parent and constituent relations

  • Experience serving as an effective leader/coach who is highly creative, strategic, and adept at building and stewarding diverse relationships

  • Proven success as a leader and in managing both staff and volunteer.

  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate groups and engage in strategic program planning

  • Proficiency with social media

  • An alumna/alumnus of Colorado College, preferred

  • Travel, evening, and weekend work is required, must possess a valid driver’s license and a driving record that is insurable by Colorado College’s motor vehicle insurance carrier

 

 

COMPETENCIES/ATTRIBUTES

​

The successful professional will have or be:

​

  • Socially responsible, modeling environmental sustainability by exercising financial prudence, using college resources wisely, and supporting ecological initiatives and innovation

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to address, engage and motivate both large audiences and small groups

  • Superb listening skills

  • A commitment to high performance and teamwork; strong initiative and the ability to work collaboratively in a complex environment

  • Extraordinary attention to detail and ability to manage multiple competing priorities with minimal supervision

  • An effective team leader and mentor

  • A deep appreciation for the liberal arts and the impact of higher education, value for the role of diversity and teamwork in a fast-paced, challenging position, and ability to implement high standards of customer service for internal and external constituents 

  • Unquestionable integrity and commitment to professional ethics, and the ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion

  • A creative team member with a clear commitment to the mission of the College

  • Outgoing and enthusiastic style with a sense of humor and perspective
     

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

​

A competitive salary and generous employee benefits package will be offered. To be considered for this position or for additional information on the opportunity, please send resume to or contact:

​

David N. Randall

Principal

Randall Search Associates

415 767 3814

david@randallsearchassociates.com

bottom of page