Director of Alumae Relations

The Director of Alumnae Relations is responsible for the planning and implementation of programs and initiatives that strategically engage the nearly 4,000 alumnae of The Nightingale-Bamford School. Reporting to the Director of Institutional Advancement, the Director of Alumnae Relations is a vital member of the Advancement leadership team and is responsible for involving alumnae in the life of their alma mater and stewarding current students as they transition into the alumnae community—all to further Nightingale’s mission to inspire girls to go beyond barriers and help showcase our belief that Nightingale is a school for life.

The Director will hire and manage one direct report (the Alumnae Associate). In partnership with the Alumnae Associate, colleagues, and alumnae volunteers alike, the Director is charged with deepening alumnae relationships, furthering connections, and encouraging philanthropic participation through thoughtful oversight of communications, deliberate execution of programming and events, and effective management of Nightingale’s volunteer community. Inclusion will be a central focus in these efforts, and will guide the Director’s work to ensure the alumnae program supports and advances Nightingale’s mission to see difference as a source of strength and a means of growth, fostering a community where all alumnae feel seen, heard, and valued.  

This position is a full-time, 12-month position. While there is some remote flexibility, the majority of work hours will be spent in-office.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• Serve as a collaborative and pioneering member of the Advancement leadership team, aligning strategic alumnae initiatives with the broader goals of the school. 
• Collaborate with school colleagues (including, but not limited to Advancement, Communications, Head of School, Admissions, and Academic leadership) to create and maintain pathways for alumnae participation that advance the goals of Nightingale.
• Hire and manage an Alumnae Associate as a thought and execution partner.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement and the Director of Major Gifts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward alumnae giving efforts.

PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS

• Create and execute a robust suite of in-person and virtual programming that engage alumnae across class years, life stages, interests, affinities, and geography.
• Execute annual Reunion programming to celebrate milestone classes, including giving initiatives for milestone reunions.  
• Develop a regional alumnae engagement strategy, identifying how best to support alumnae engagement both in and outside of New York City. Leverage targeted events and regional volunteers to broaden outreach and engage a larger segment of the alumnae community.

• Be immersed in the Class XII experience as they prepare to transition into the alumnae community. Execute programs to educate and ready them for continued engagement in the alumnae network. This includes oversight of Class XII Gift selection and student fundraising, among other responsibilities.

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AND ALUMNAE BOARD OVERSIGHT

• In partnership with the Alumnae Associate, identify, train, and steward Nightingale’s robust community of alumnae volunteers.
• Oversee and manage Nightingale’s Alumnae Board and its leadership. Plan and execute meetings for both the full Board and its subcommittees.
  • Develop a pipeline of candidates to the Alumnae Board nominating committee. Work with the Alumnae Board to evaluate candidates and manage recruiting conversations. Provide training and onboarding support. 
  • Meet regularly with the President of the Alumnae Board to maximize the Board’s efforts and also to support the President’s ex-officio role on the Board of Trustees.  

COMMUNICATIONS

• In partnership with Advancement colleagues and the Communications team, oversee and maintain regular communication with alumnae via direct contact, email blasts and newsletters, website content, and print publications.
• Develop a robust and strategic alumnae communications plan across multiple mediums including digital and print that amplifies and supports the mission of the school. 
• Collaborate with database colleagues to ensure accurate and complete alumnae database records. Identify and execute a data integrity cleanup and maintenance plan for alumnae constituents. 

FUNDRAISING

• Maintain and steward a portfolio of alumnae volunteers and prospects. Establish and build strategic relationships with a wide range of alumnae, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Partner with Advancement colleagues to develop mutually aligned strategies and goals that further engagement and fundraising outcomes, thereby deepening alumnae relationships with Nightingale and encouraging philanthropic participation.  
• Support efforts to bolster alumnae participation for those celebrating a milestone reunion year.
• Raise alumnae funds for select special projects and events in collaboration with Advancement colleagues. This includes working closely with the Nightingale Fund team to maximize alumnae participation during community-wide giving days.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Considerable experience in alumnae relations or related field with demonstrated accomplishment in fostering and managing productive relationships with volunteers and developing volunteer leadership.
• Demonstrably strong communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues throughout the Nightingale community. 
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, implement, and build constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
• Extensive experience with Raiser's Edge or a similar constituent database.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Self-starter with a high degree of initiative and entrepreneurial spirit, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve institutional goals.
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines.
• High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
• A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic.
• Committed to excellent performance, organization, and follow-through on tasks.
• An unflagging commitment to accuracy.

• Ability to travel to approximately 3-5 regional alumnae events each year, and work occasional evenings and weekends is required.
• Commitment to school mission and to advancing girls via an exceptional education.
• Possesses a sense of humor and appreciates this trait in others.

SALARY: In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, this position's salary range is $125,000-$140,000. When extending an offer, Nightingale considers factors such as (but not limited to) the position's scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter and resume online at https://www.nightingale.org/careers.

ABOUT THE NIGHTINGALE-BAMFORD SCHOOL 

Founded by two bold, visionary educators in 1920, The Nightingale-Bamford School’s mission is to inspire girls to go beyond barriers. Tied to this mission is a broader vision of students who are joyful learners who have the intellectual depth and courage to be critical thinkers, compassionate citizens, and agents of their own lives. Nightingale educates girls’ minds and hearts and, in so doing, infuses their lives with meaningful relationships, teaching them to value difference as a means of growth and empowering them to question the status quo with confidence, empathy, resilience, and reason. Nightingale’s commitment to social justice and anti-racism requires that all community members engage actively and thoughtfully in work around diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates with broad and diverse backgrounds. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

It is the policy of the School to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, military status, marital status, familial status, caregiver status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. The School’s employment practices and decisions adhere to the principles of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity.

This commitment to equal opportunity applies to and is reflected in all School activities, including, but not limited to, recruiting, interviewing, hiring, staffing, training, promotions, compensation practices, employee benefits, social programs, discipline, and termination of employment. The School maintains zero tolerance for violations of this policy and expects all employees to abide by and support this policy without reservation. The School prohibits retaliation against any employee who in good faith makes a report under this policy.