The Assistant Director of Engagement builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, parents, former faculty and staff, volunteers, and other members of the Interlochen community. This position develops and supports engagement opportunities that foster connection, encourage lifelong involvement, and advance a culture of advocacy and philanthropy. Working closely with colleagues across Interlochen, the Assistant Director supports alumni and parent outreach, volunteer initiatives, regional events, communications, and other programs designed to keep the Interlochen community connected and engaged. This is a full-time, in-office position on the Interlochen campus.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Delivers exceptional customer service and day-to-day support as a point of contact in the department via in-person meetings, phone, email, and social media.
- Builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, parents, former faculty/staff, volunteers, and other members of the Interlochen community.
- Assists with regional outreach efforts and supports engagement activities in assigned cities and markets.
- Supports the coordination and communication of alumni and parent volunteer initiatives and ambassador programs.
- Assists with the planning, execution, and evaluation of engagement programs and events, including Academy Reunion Weekend, Summer Alumni Series, regional gatherings, centennial events, and on-campus programming.
- Coordinates event logistics, including invitation lists, vendor communications, registration, attendee tracking, and event follow-up.
- Supports content development and communication efforts for alumni-focused social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- Assists with maintaining and tracking constituent information in Salesforce CRM, HubSpot CRM, Asana, Google Workspace, and other departmental systems.
- Prepares reports, dashboards, and tracking materials to support the evaluation of engagement efforts.
- Collaborates with colleagues across Admission, Education, Hospitality, IT, Marketing, Philanthropy, Presents, and other departments to support engagement initiatives and enhance the customer experience.
- Supports community engagement strategies that strengthen Interlochen's visibility and reputation throughout northwest Michigan.
- Seeks the best use of materials, equipment, and staff to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
- Complies with Interlochen policies/procedures and acts as a good steward of Interlochen finances.
- Respects the culture, diversity, and rights of all students, their families, and the community.
- Prioritizes duties in line with organizational objectives and growth.
- Supports additional Office of Engagement and institutional initiatives as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- 2-5 years of related work experience
- Familiarity with Mac operating system, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining a high level of customer service.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to exercise discretion and professionalism with sensitive information.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across a diverse community of internal and external stakeholders.
- Commitment to the Interlochen mission, values, and culture.
- Respect for cultural, ethnic, spiritual, and linguistic diversity and values, including differences in personal goals, lifestyle choices, and varying family backgrounds and histories.
- Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends, particularly during the summer months, and availability for overnight travel several times a year.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience planning and executing events, engagement programming, or volunteer initiatives.
- Experience working with alumni, donors, volunteers, or constituents within an academic, nonprofit, or arts environment.
- Experience managing social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
- Additional education or training in communications, event management, volunteer management, relationship management, or nonprofit leadership.
- Experience working with Salesforce CRM, HubSpot CRM, Asana, or similar engagement and communications platforms.
- Experience analyzing engagement data or preparing reports and dashboards to support strategic decision-making.
Application Materials Required:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Vacation, Sick, Holiday and generous winter holiday time off
- Life insurance
- Voluntary life insurance
- Short and long-term disability
- Employee development & tuition reimbursement programs
- 403(b) plan, managed by TIAA
- Free or discounted employee tickets to Interlochen performances and events *some exceptions apply
- Early event ticket purchase before general public sales begin
- Free Stone Cafeteria meal on shift
- Dennison Recreation Center accessibility (includes spouses)
- Priority access to Interlochen employees at Pitter Patter Day Care Center (less than one mile from campus)
- Employee Referral Program (cash payments)
- Tuition discounts for employee's children at Academy, Camp and Interlochen Online
- Parental leave (12 weeks paid for Pregnancy/Maternity/Childbirth leave, 6 weeks paid for Parental leave).
Interlochen is proud to provide priority placement at Pitter Patter Preschool & Childcare located in the Interlochen Community Center, near our campus, for employees' dependents. In addition, Interlochen employees may be eligible for the MI Tri-Share Program. This program shares the cost of childcare between the state of Michigan, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the employee (The employee will only pay 1/3 of the total cost, if eligible). Income guidelines and more information about MI Tri-Share can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/mwc/initiatives/mi-tri-share-child-care.