Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore Office of Advancement manages the College's relationship with its alumni, families, and friends to further Swarthmore's commitment to intellectual rigor and creativity, nurturing of student confidence and curiosity, production of new knowledge, and inclusive excellence, among other goals. Advancement works closely with the President, faculty, and senior colleagues to foster positive and productive relationships that not only accelerate the objectives of the College but also represent meaningful and beneficial engagement for the Swarthmore community.

The Office of Advancement manages and maintains alumni, family, and friend records; engages constituents in the life of the College in a variety of ways, contexts, and over time; provides and supports meaningful volunteering opportunities; and partners with the President and Board of Managers to share information about the College and raise critical philanthropic support for the College's priorities and new initiatives. Advancement ensures that alumni and donors are appropriately recognized and informed about the impact of their service and contributions, and manages all gift acceptance and stewardship.

The opportunity:

The Associate Director, Regional Engagement, plays a key role in strengthening Swarthmore College’s alumni network by designing and implementing a strategic approach to regional engagement. This individual will cultivate meaningful connections between alumni and the College through a mix of volunteer-led and staff-driven programs across key geographic markets. The role requires strong volunteer management skills, event planning expertise, and cross-campus collaboration to deliver high-quality, mission-aligned experiences that foster alumni connection and support. The position requires in-person work at a College workspace on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with occasional evening and weekend hours. Additional in-office days may be required for Advancement programming needs.

Essential Responsibilities

Volunteer Engagement and Management

• Identify, recruit, train, and support regional alumni volunteers to lead local programming and initiatives.
• Provide volunteers with planning tools, marketing support, and post-event follow-up guidance.
• Create and maintain a robust online presence for regional engagement activities, ensuring alumni can find opportunities to participate, volunteer, and see the global scope of alumni involvement.
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers and track engagement and program metrics.

Regional Programming

• Develop and implement staff-driven events that advance institutional priorities and reflect alumni interests in key cities.
• Coordinate with colleagues in Alumni Engagement and the Parents Program team on programs such as affinity and industry networking events, young alumni gatherings, and send-offs for new students to ensure overall alignment of regional engagement strategies.
• Ensure a diverse, inclusive approach to programming across regions and alumni demographics.
• Oversee the Faculty on the Road program, working with campus partners to match faculty expertise with regional audience interests.
• Ensure program quality and consistency across cities.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in Alumni Engagement, Marketing, Events, Individual Giving, Admissions, and other key offices to coordinate messaging, scheduling, and outreach.
• Analyze participation trends and regional engagement data to refine strategy and target efforts effectively.

Who you are:

• Collaborative and Diplomatic: thrives in a team environment and values working in partnership with both colleagues and volunteers to achieve shared goals. Exercises good judgment when handling sensitive situations or diverse personalities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: able to engage, inform, and inspire colleagues and volunteers, adapt messaging for different audiences, and represent the College with clarity, warmth, and professionalism.
• Adaptable: comfortable shifting priorities in a dynamic environment and responding to the unexpected with professionalism
• Collegial: committed to building inclusive volunteer communities and creating a positive experience for all alumni and families.
• Detail-oriented: Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and able to manage logistics and timelines without losing sight of broader goals.
• Proactive: takes initiative, anticipates needs, and follows through.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least five years of progressive experience in volunteer management or alumni relations, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams while independently managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and priorities effectively.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment and adjust strategies based on evolving priorities and audience needs.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage and collaborate with internal stakeholders and alumni audiences.
• Valid US driver’s license and ability to travel locally, regionally, and nationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education advancement.
• Experience managing volunteers, ideally in a higher education or nonprofit setting.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Slate, Banner, Raiser's Edge, Salesforce), event registration platforms, and project management tools.

Physical Demands

• Ability to focus in a stationary position for extended periods. 
• Documents may occasionally be stored in physical form and require positioning oneself to access file cabinets, remove files, and transport them.

Working Conditions

• Willingness to travel (approximately 20-30%) by car, train, or plane.
• This position follows a hybrid work model, with the flexibility to work remotely and on campus as determined by the VP of Advancement.
• Occasional evening and weekend hours will be necessary to support key events and programs.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter, by July 7, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $75,000 - $96,000 per year, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.