Assistant Director, Reunion and Class Engagement

Vanderbilt is a community of talented and diverse staff & faculty!

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice through:

• Working and growing together as a community of communities... we are One Vanderbilt.
• Providing a work environment where every staff and faculty member can be their authentic and best self, while providing the resources and opportunities to learn and grow.
• Encouraging development, collaboration, and partnership both internally and externally while fostering the value that every member of the Vanderbilt community can lead and grow regardless of title or position.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

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Vanderbilt University has made the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University may require employees to comply with any testing or health and safety measures which the University may require.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

The Assistant Director of Reunion and Class Engagement plays a critical role in the logistics and planning activities for the annual events of Reunion, Homecoming and Volunteer Leadership Weekend which all serve as an important part of Vanderbilt's peer-to-peer engagement and fundraising strategies. 

This position directly supports the maintenance of digital experiences and content (including registration, websites, digital class books, etc), project management, and volunteer tracking and reporting.  The Assistant Director may also manage a small cohort of volunteers. The Assistant Director reports to the Director of Reunion and Class Engagement. 

About the Work Unit:

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals.  The Department is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University's teaching and research programs. You can visit our website for more information:  https://www.vanderbilt.edu/dar/

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• In partnership with Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement teams, oversees all aspects of registration for Reunion and Homecoming Weekend, including website maintenance, registration pages, nametag preparation, and onsite registration management. 
• Serves as key planning partner and advocate for Reunion in planning for Volunteer Leadership Weekend with an emphasis on project management (e.g.booking hotel blocks, ordering branded supplies, coordinating printing services). 
• Provides ongoing Reunion team support through pulling reports, tracking data, organizing volunteer outreach plans, and other tasks to ensure the teams success. 
• Serves as a central point of contact for the Reunion team, executing on requests for updated website content, data requests, and other services. 
• Provides exceptional frontline customer service to constituents by responding to emails through centralized inboxes and phone lines. This requires the ability to answer questions in a timely manner, troubleshoot issues, and work with team members to identify solutions. 
• Works with select class volunteers (e.g. Class Agents) to support peer-to-peer engagement and fundraising goals for Vanderbilt's undergraduate class-based programs. 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Director for Class and Community Engagement. 

Work Environment: 

This is a hybrid role based in Nashville in the office approximately 1 day per week depending on business needs. 

Education and Certifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree, or the equivalent, is necessary.

Experience and Skills:

• One or more years of experience is necessary 
• Experience with technology and emerging platforms 
• Must be able to manage multiple projects effectively and efficiently, all while ensuring that key goals and deadlines are met. 
• Must be skilled in the use of all Office products, event registration platforms, and well versed in digital tools (e.g., Zoom/Teams/YouTube) and databases. Experience in Salesforce is a plus.
• Additional experience with project management and client management tools are a must. 
• Excellent customer service skills
• Experience with recruiting and managing volunteers is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, take initiative, manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to ever changing priorities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Values the importance of equity as an organizational operating principle and is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Evening and weekend work, as needed

Key Characteristics of a Successful Team Member in this Work Unit:

• Holds oneself accountable; takes responsibility for failures as well as successes; and recognizes that trust is required to hold a team together.  
• Shares information; communicates proactively; transmits knowledge; asks for advice and considers it thoughtfully.
• Genuinely values teamwork and co-workers. 
• Expects and delivers excellence. Is proactive and focused on creative problem solving. Welcomes input to making things better. Places a high value on learning and improving.
• Is motivated. Manages time, activities and outcomes well so that progress stays on track. Balances multiple, competing priorities simultaneously without becoming overwhelmed.