The posting
ABOUT SIMMONS
Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.
You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.
As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Senior Director of Alumnae/i and Volunteer Engagement and Individual Giving, the Associate Director of Affinity Engagement (“Associate Director”) will serve as an integral member of the Office of Advancement and Alumnae/i Relations (“Advancement”) team. The Associate Director will lead the strategy, development, and execution of programs, activities, and communications that engage alumnae/i across shared affinities and strengthen their connection to Simmons and our global community of more than 50,000 graduates. Through the development and refinement of an integrated affinity strategy, relying heavily on volunteer recruitment and management, as well as cross-campus collaborations, the Associate Director will develop a robust culture of philanthropy amongst alumni groups with shared interests and connections.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Volunteer Management
- Create and expand a diverse affinity-based volunteer network to build toward increasing alumnae/i participation against organizational goals, with a focus on leadership development across regional, professional, identity-based, and shared-interest groups such as, but limited to, the African American Alumnae/i, athletics, and school-based alumnae/i communities. This will include both deepening the engagement within historic affinity groups and discovering new affinity opportunities.
- Recruit, train, and manage volunteer leaders and committees with clear expectations tied to engagement outcomes, including participation growth and affinity community-building.
- Collaborate with the Associate Director of Alumnae/i and Volunteer Engagement to align this with overall volunteer management.
- Develop and implement structured cultivation and stewardship strategies to increase volunteer retention and progression into leadership roles and referrals for philanthropic opportunities.
- Equip volunteers with tools, training, and data to serve as effective ambassadors, driving peer engagement, Simmons Network participation, mentorship, and event attendance.
Events
- Design and partner with the Advancement Events Manager to execute affinity-based and integrated programming (virtual and in-person) that supports event goals (attendance,recruitment, growth, cultivation, etc.) and advances a alumnae/i engagement and participation.
- Partner with campus stakeholders and volunteers to deliver innovative, inclusive experiences aligned with institutional priorities, including the reimagined Reunion model that expands beyond class years to affinity and professional network and leads to philanthropic support and affinity participation in programs like Giving Day.
- Evaluate program effectiveness using defined metrics (attendance, repeat participation, audience growth, satisfaction) and apply insights to continuously refine strategy and increase impact.
Communications
- Develop and execute targeted, data-informed, multi-channel communication strategies for affinity audiences that drive engagement and achieve key metrics (e.g., email performance, platform growth, and user retention), in alignment with Advancement priorities.
- Contribute to and support a 12–18 month communications plan that elevates Simmons’ legacy, signature programs, and institutional initiatives across affinity groups.
- Create and manage affinity-based content—including writing and light design—for digital, email, and social channels; collaborate with Advancement, cross-campus and external partners to amplify messaging, share impact stories, and optimize reach through analytics.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- A Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience.
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience, or equivalent or transferable skills and experience; experience in higher education, alumni relations, and/or development preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in constituent engagement and/or volunteer management.
- Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to be aware of, coordinate, instruct, negotiate with, and be in service to others.
- Strong time management skills and attention to detail, organizational, oral, and written communication skills.
- Ability to envision, propose, and develop new initiatives that support Advancement’s goals, specifically around donor participation and engagement.
- Must be able to handle sensitive information confidentially.
- Some evening and weekend work is required, including staffing/attending specific events throughout the year.
COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of annual giving processes, metrics, and systems.
- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms. And other office procedures and terminology.
- Knowledge of communication and dissemination techniques and methods, including alternative techniques and methods.
- Knowledge of and skill with navigating and utilizing spreadsheets, presentations, word processing, databases, the internet, and other key computer and technical applications and related software. Knowledge of and skill with navigating and utilizing customer relations management applications (Raiser’s Edge/NXT in particular) a plus.
- Strong communications skills, demonstrating the ability to effectively communicate and understand information and ideas across multiple stakeholders and constituencies, demonstrating active listening and learning.
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to look at data and draw conclusions to inform strategies.
- Demonstrated ability to work with individuals across different identities, backgrounds, and abilities.
- Strong ability to work effectively in an outcomes-focused, team environment, with demonstrated ability to take responsibility for assigned tasks and take initiative.
- Ability to recognize and identify problems of varying complexity and develop, implement, and evaluate creative solutions as appropriate. Ability to manage oneself and others as appropriate.
- The ideal candidate will be positive, extremely service-oriented, and have a demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships with a variety of different individuals and groups.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position with occasional evening and weekend work, as well as some travel.
- Simmons offers a flexible hybrid work structure that blends remote and in-office work.
In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29, 2025, Simmons University is committed to pay equity, transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process. The hourly or annual salary range for this position is:
S09$69,400.00 - $111,300.00
This is benefits eligible position.
Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, equity, and external market benchmarks that help guide compensation decisions. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay, health benefits, and retirement savings offerings that can be seen here, as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles, contribute meaningfully, and lead with confidence.
Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).
Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
