Alumni Relations Manager- REMOTE

POSITION: Alumni Relations Manager

REPORTS TO: COO

ABOUT KESEM:

We are a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with innovative, fun-filled programs that foster a lasting community.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The Alumni Relations Manager plays a critical role in fostering a lifelong connection between Kesem and its alumni. This individual will focus on building and sustaining meaningful relationships with alumni, enhancing the Alumni Membership Program, managing alumni engagement initiatives, educating alumni on volunteer opportunities, and driving revenue growth through Kesem’s alumni network. The Alumni Relations Manager will also oversee the National Alumni Leadership Board (NALB).

The position will require a mix of strategy, relationship-building, and operational skills to deepen Kesem’s relationship with its alumni community while expanding the Alumni Membership Program and driving sustainable revenue to support Kesem’s mission.

KESEM’S VALUES

The Alumni Relations Manager must uphold and build a culture that continues to support and strengthen the following behaviors to help us realize our vision:

• Continuous Learning - We operate with curiosity and a willingness to try new things, and we see our successes and setbacks as opportunities for growth.
• Accountability - We are individually and collectively responsible for advancing our mission.
• Resilience - We empower and support each other through challenges while fostering a spirit of joy and hopefulness.
• Empathy - We seek to understand and appreciate other perspectives and experiences.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Alumni Engagement (50%)

• Establish and build relationships with a wide range of alumni, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
• Develop annual communications calendar and maintain regular communication with alumni via direct contact, email, alumni newsletter, and print publications
• Manage and grow the Kesem Alumni Membership Program to increase participation, retention, and revenue
• Develop and execute strategies for building relationships with Kesem’s 15,000+ alumni, fostering ongoing connections to the mission
• Organize and host alumni-focused events, including networking opportunities and volunteer engagements
• Collaborate with Kesem’s marketing team to create compelling communication campaigns targeted at alumni
• Identify opportunities for alumni volunteer engagement and recognition, and coordinate with Operations Team to support the areas of greatest need

Revenue Growth and Development (20%)

• Expand the Alumni Membership Program as a revenue stream, driving contributions to support Kesem’s mission.
• Increase alumni giving revenues by driving alumni participation in annual campaigns, Team Kesem, chapter fundraising, corporate relations, and national events
• Direct Alumni Major Gifts Program by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni with potential to support organization at significant levels
• Collaborate with the development team to secure additional funding from alumni through targeted campaigns and partnerships.
• Design and execute innovative approaches to increase alumni philanthropic engagement.

National Alumni Leadership Board (NALB) Management (15%)

• Oversee, develop and support 15-20 member Alumni Leadership Board, cultivating strong relationships to ensure that this leadership team meets or exceeds their strategic goals
• Support NALB in achieving the annual give/get goal through fundraising, events, and other initiatives.
• Facilitate regular communication and collaboration among board members to align efforts with Kesem’s broader goals.

Data Upkeep and Administrative Operations (15%)

• Establish ongoing data management programs which will ensure integrity of alumni data to support departmental activities
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date alumni records in Kesem’s database, ensuring all data is clean and actionable.
• Implement strategies for tracking alumni engagement metrics, analyzing trends, and driving improvements.
• Utilize tools to streamline workflows and reporting for alumni relations.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 5-7 years of experience in alumni relations, nonprofit management, fundraising, or a related field.
• Proven track record of building and sustaining alumni engagement programs and exceeding revenue targets.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including experience with public speaking and presentations.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or other CRM systems, as well as Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and adaptability to work in a fast-paced environment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The role is a full-time position, with responsibilities that require at least 40 hours per week with frequent nights and weekends.
• It is expected that the Alumni Relations Manager will be available for all staff calls, team meetings, and project meetings.
• Travel may include staff meetings, national fundraising events, community-based events, donor meetings, alumni meet-ups and other engagements. On average, the Alumni Relations Manager should expect to travel 5-15 times per year, all within the United States.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

Kesem’s mission of supporting children through and beyond a parent’s cancer, and our vision of ensuring that every child impacted by a parent’s cancer is never alone, can only be realized through an ongoing, steadfast commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in every part of our organization. To that end, Kesem makes the following commitments:

• To continually expand the communities we support and work with - our camper families, volunteers, staff, alumni, partners, donors, and boards - with attention to engaging communities we are not currently reaching.
• To strive for equity in delivering a transformative, fun, and empowering community that recognizes and embraces our differences.
• To aspire to create shared spaces that are safe for every member of the Kesem community to feel valued and respected.
• Kesem will engage in continued meaningful learning in order to better support our mission and our growing Kesem community.

Kesem is an Equal Opportunity Employer.