Immediate: Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement - Sandy Spring Friends School

Founded in 1961, Sandy Spring Friends School is a progressive, coed, academically-rigorous day and boarding school serving approximately 700 students from age three through 12th grade. The campus is located on 140 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the School is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, integrity, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement

Summary: The Associate Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement at Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) plays a vital role in fostering meaningful connections and relationships within the SSFS community. Reporting to the Director of Institutional Advancement, this position is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to engage alumni, current parents, and alumni parents in the life of the school, cultivating their support, involvement, and advocacy.

Responsibilities include:

1. Alumni Relations

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with SSFS alumni, keeping them connected to the school and informed about its activities, achievements, and needs.

• Plan and execute alumni events, individual class reunions, and programs to engage alumni in a variety of ways, including networking, mentoring, and volunteer opportunities.

• Coordinate with the communications team to produce alumni-focused publications, newsletters, and digital content to share alumni stories, news, and updates.

2. Parent Relations

• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with current and alumni parents, encouraging their active participation and involvement in school activities and initiatives.

• Organize and oversee parent engagement events, including the annual Parent’s Association Auction, to support parental involvement in the school community.

• Serve as a liaison between parents and the school administration, addressing concerns, facilitating communication, and soliciting feedback to enhance the parent experience.

3. Volunteer Management

• Recruit, train, and support alumni and parent volunteers for various school initiatives, events, and committees.

• Establish and maintain a volunteer database, tracking volunteer interests, skills, and availability to effectively match volunteers with opportunities that align with their interests and strengths.

• Recognize and appreciate the contributions of volunteers, fostering a culture of gratitude and appreciation within the SSFS community.

4. Fundraising and Stewardship

• Collaborate with the development team to integrate alumni and parent engagement efforts with fundraising initiatives, including annual giving campaigns, major gift solicitations, and capital campaigns.

• Cultivate relationships with alumni and parents to identify potential donors, cultivate their interest in supporting SSFS philanthropically, and steward their contributions effectively.

5. Data Management and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of alumni and parent engagement activities, interactions, and outcomes using the school's CRM system, Veracross.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in alumni relations, parent engagement, fundraising, or related field, preferably in an educational or nonprofit setting.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse constituencies.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

• A high level of proficiency with G-Suite products, and experience with event planning and volunteer management

• This position manages several events, requiring candidates to be able to work evenings and weekends.

• Commitment to the mission and values of Sandy Spring Friends School and the Quaker tradition.

Physical Requirements: Daily desk work including significant amounts of telephone and computer time; as part of daily routines, the ability to move around a large campus with uneven pavement and managing stairs; frequent walking inside and outside responding to campus issues and/or checking on various departmental progress.

Please note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination, including documentation of a booster shot given five months or more since you completed the final dose in the primary series.

Commitment to Diversity: Sandy Spring Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a person's status as a qualified candidate with a disability in administration of its educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and other school-administered programs.