VICE PRESIDENT, ALUMNI RELATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, Advancement Boston, MA

Vice President, Alumni Relations, Communications And Engagement, Advancement

With a team of over 270 employees, Boston University's Advancement division plays a vital role in fostering connections between the university and its community of supporters, including alumni, donors, parents, and friends, to elevate the university's academic and research initiatives. We harness the power of philanthropy and engagement to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU's global leadership in research, scholarship, the arts, and professional practice. To support our work, we have builtand are continuing to buildan outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs.

Boston University Advancement has prioritized staff development and growth, recognizing that a skilled and motivated team is essential to its success. Through ongoing professional development opportunities, tailored training, mentorship programs, and a collaborative work environment, we foster continuous learning and career progression for our staff. This commitment to nurturing talent not only enhances our effectiveness but also ensures sustainable, long-term relationships that benefit the entire Boston University community.

Michele Schiele, Senior Vice President for Advancement

To lead our community, University President Melissa Gilliam has appointed Michele Schiele as Advancement's new Senior Vice President. Michele is a proud Terrier, having graduated from the College of Communication with a degree in journalism. Most recently, she was deputy vice president and campaign director at Stanford University, where she secured more than $1.4B in annual philanthropic revenue, working with advancement professionals at all seven of the university's schools, its multiple centers and institutes, and other administrative units. Before arriving at Stanford, Michele served in various roles at the University of Chicago, including interim vice president for university alumni relations and development and vice president and associate dean for development at the medical center.

Vice President, Alumni Relations, Communications and Engagement

Position description :

The Vice President, Alumni Relations, Communications and Engagement (ARCE) is a senior member of the Advancement leadership team who oversees critical areas within Boston University's Advancement office. The VP-ARCE will provide strategic leadership for BU's worldwide alumni body totaling over 400,000. They will also provide strategic leadership in communications, outreach and engagement, including volunteerism to help BU achieve its bold aspirations. Reporting to the newly appointed Senior Vice President, Advancement, the VP-ARCE will directly manage central teams in these areas and partner closely with School and Unit advancement leaders to ensure these functions are leveraged optimally. BU seeks to significantly increase its reach, service to and engagement of its alumni and students, as well as its overall fundraising; this position will be a key partner in achieving all of these ambitions.

Alumni Relations

Alumni Relations have evolved significantly in the last decade, and BU seeks to be at the forefront of providing lifelong value to its 400,000 alumni. The new Vice President will establish a forward-thinking program that will appeal to alumni through their different stages of life through intellectual and emotional connections. The right leader will have a track record of implementing innovative programming and of taking a data-driven approach to program evaluation.

Communications

Communications has never been more important in higher education. The Vice President will lead the strategy to determine the message and most effective forms of communication to advance alumni relations and development messaging. Audiences include alumni, donors, and prospective philanthropists. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success communicating with these audiences and ensuring that communications align and complement the broader University messaging system. Communication will be across a variety of platforms, utilizing approaches that measurably increase engagement and improve brand perception. As BU prepares for a milestone philanthropic campaign, the Vice President and their team will develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that will include strategic events.

Engagement

BU has an opportunity to consider new and innovative ways of engaging its alumni and students and other important community members. The Vice President will be the architect for building engagement opportunities for BU's alumni and other friends. BU also aspires to establish a strong volunteer infrastructure and to ensure that the volunteer experience is best in class across the University. This will require a new way of thinking about BU's volunteer platform, which will be important in advance of a new campaign.

The VP will set the strategic direction for these key areas and foster collaborative partnerships with colleagues across Advancement and BU. The VP will provide direction for the recruitment, selection, orientation, development, and retention of high caliber staff and future additions to the team.

Essential Functions :

Alumni Relations

• Consider benchmarking and the recent Alumni Relations Task Force Report and work collaboratively with colleagues in development, and with input from alumni leadership, to formulate a strategic plan that will lead to greater alumni participation; innovative and robust programming; and stronger ties between alumni and the university, with one another, and with students.
• Improve, enhance, and measure effectiveness of existing programs while formulating new initiatives that will resonate with alumni; sunset legacy programs that are no longer serving alumni; provide alumni with meaningful and lifelong engagement, ultimately leading to their participation as volunteers and investors in Boston University.
• Recognize the changing needs of alumni and how they wish to be engaged by their alma mater; use data to understand how our diverse alumni body wishes to be engaged; formulate and implement plans for affinity programs, education programs, career services, regional engagement efforts, and networking opportunities.
• Be aware of how alumni with a diversity of identities interact with our current programs to ensure engagement and belonging.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Advancement to create a truly integrated advancement model in which alumni engagement is intentionally synergistic with development activities.

Communications

Engagement

Annual Giving and Alumni Participation

Team Leadership