Assistant Director of Alumni Relations

Position Overview

The Alumni Relations Assistant Director supports Merrimack College’s mission to foster lifelong relationships between the College and its alumni community. This position plays a key role in enhancing alumni engagement through strategic volunteer management, class and affinity outreach, and programs that connect alumni to one another and to the College. The Assistant Director collaborates across campus and with alumni leaders to cultivate pride, loyalty, and continued involvement in Merrimack. The individual in this role should have a keen eye for identifying new engagement opportunities, particularly during major gatherings such as Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, the Spring 50th Reunion and Golden Graduate celebration

Primary Responsibilities:

Alumni Engagement and Relationship Management

• Strengthen alumni connections through thoughtful outreach, communications and engagement opportunities that encourage lifelong involvement.

• Support affinity and class-based initiatives that build meaningful relationships among alumni and between alumni and the College.

• Serve as a key point of contact for alumni inquiries, providing excellent service and representing Merrimack’s values and mission.

• Collaborate with departments such as Development, Student Affairs and Athletics to align engagement opportunities across the College.

• Identify and act on opportunities during major alumni gatherings—such as Homecoming, Reunion Weekend, and milestone celebrations—to deepen alumni relationships, inspire volunteerism and enhance participation in College programs.

Volunteer Recruitment and Stewardship

• Identify, recruit and support alumni volunteers to serve on committees, class leadership teams and affinity networks.

• Provide tools, guidance, and communication support to volunteers to ensure successful engagement and collaboration.

• Cultivate strong relationships with alumni leaders to encourage ongoing participation and philanthropic support.

• Track and report on volunteer activity, engagement impact and leadership development opportunities.

Program Coordination

• Support the planning and execution of alumni engagement programs including Reunions, Legacy celebrations and Golden Graduate events.

• Partner with colleagues to ensure these programs reflect strategic engagement goals, foster connection, and recognize the special role of alumni milestones in Merrimack’s history.

• Manage event communications, registration, and follow-up to sustain engagement after key events.

Data and Reporting

• Maintain accurate alumni participation and volunteer records in the ODAR instance of Slate.

• Prepare reports and analyses to measure engagement outcomes and inform future strategies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; experience in alumni relations, volunteer management, or community engagement preferred.

• Strong relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills.

• Demonstrated ability to recognize and act on engagement opportunities that strengthen alumni affinity and participation.

• A collaborative team player with initiative, professionalism, and commitment to Merrimack College’s mission and values.

• Some evening and weekend work is required for alumni events and meetings.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume

• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.