Director, Volunteer Engagement
Princeton University

Princeton University is among the world’s foremost educational institutions. The fourth-oldest college in the United States, it is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational university that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering.

As a global research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching.

Princeton’s educational mission is to prepare students to pursue meaningful lives and to help address the challenges of the future. To this end, the University aims to enroll the most capable students from all parts of the world and to provide them with an educational experience that strengthens their intellects, sharpens their skills, expands their horizons, and prepares them for leadership—all while pursuing the highest possible standards of excellence.

Living up to its informal motto, “In the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity,” the University has educated thousands of individuals who have dedicated themselves to public service and to serving communities in the United States and around the world. This mission also finds expression in the lives of Princeton’s alumni, arguably among the most loyal and generous of any American university. Their level of service and generosity to their university is legendary, exemplified by the extraordinary number of hours they give annually in service to the University and the extremely high participation rates of the Annual Giving program.

Commitment to Diversity: Many Voices, One Future

Diversity and inclusion are central to Princeton’s educational mission and its desire to serve society. Throughout the University, members of the Princeton community have a deep commitment to being inclusive because:

• A diverse environment is more intellectually and socially stimulating.
• Fairness is a core value of the University.
• Princeton students should live and learn in an environment that reflects U.S. society and introduces them to the world beyond.

Princeton has invested in many initiatives to make its campus more welcoming to people of all backgrounds. With continual attention and effort, the University is aiming to make its campus demographics reflect the United States’ vibrant, pluralistic society while strengthening its values in every aspect of its campus experience. Learn more here.

University Advancement's Mission

University Advancement’s mission is to inform, involve and inspire Princeton’s global community of alumni and friends to serve the University and its mission, with the vision of advancing Princeton’s ability to make a difference in the world.

Princeton strives to be the most effective alumni engagement and fundraising enterprise in the world. In doing so, the Advancement Office staff approach their work and work with each other based on the following guiding principles:

• High Performance
• Innovation
• Civility
• Collaboration

Learn more about the Office of Advancement and Princeton’s fundraising priorities here.

The Director of Volunteer Engagement (Director) reports to the Assistant Vice President for Alumni Engagement Operations (AVP-AEO) and is a senior member of University Advancement’s Alumni Engagement team. The Director has a deep understanding of Princeton University and its mission, familiarity with the University’s diverse and global community of alumni, and genuine appreciation for the critical role that alumni volunteers play in the success of the University’s alumni engagement and fundraising activities. The Director plays an integral role in supporting the alumni trustee election processes through which approximately 25 percent of the University’s trustees are elected, engaging with the Vice President and Secretary of the University as appropriate. This highly visible and strategic role presents an opportunity for the right incumbent to engage with senior University leadership and alumni volunteers on a broad range of high-priority efforts. In addition, the Director supervises the Coordinator of Volunteer Engagement.

Responsibilities include:

• Alumni Trustee Election Processes for Princeton’s Board of Trustees (40%)
  • Stewards and supports the Committee to Nominate Alumni Trustees, a special standing committee of the Alumni Council that selects the undergraduate and graduate alumni candidates to run on an annual ballot for election to Princeton University’s Board of Trustees
  • Working closely with the CTNAT chair and committee members, the Director helps to ensure that CTNAT effectively fulfills its responsibilities to review all nominations received, research and interview potential nominees, and create balanced and diverse slates of candidates each year, in which all candidates would be strong trustees
  • Provides guidance and counsel to CTNAT members and potential alumni candidates throughout the election cycle
  • Oversees all communications pertaining to the CTNAT process
  • Works closely with the chair of the Alumni Council and the deputy vice president for alumni engagement / director of the Alumni Council to help identify and on-board members to serve on the committee
  • In partnership with the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, stewards and supports the Young Alumni Trustee election process
  • Provides guidance and counsel to students interested in running for Young Alumni Trustee
  • Oversees all communications pertaining to the YAT process
     
• Academic Department Advisory Councils (35%)
  • In partnership with the Office of the Dean of the Faculty, identify and recommend Princetonians to serve on advisory councils for more than 50 academic departments
  • In partnership with Advancement colleagues, manage relationships with departmental faculty chairs, department managers, and senior alumni leaders
  • Provide departments with expertise in governance, volunteer management, and best practices
  • In partnership with colleagues in the Dean of Faculty’s Office and the Advancement Office, provides vision and leadership for university-wide engagement of advisory council members
     
• Volunteer Leadership Pipeline Development (15%)
  • In partnership with Advancement and campus colleagues, develop and maintain a robust pipeline of alumni to recommend for entry- through senior-level volunteer opportunities extending beyond the above referenced alumni trustee elections and advisory councils to volunteer roles for the Alumni Association, Annual Giving, and numerous campus partner opportunities (e.g., speakers, mentors, hosts, ambassadors, task forces, etc.)
  • Partner with Advancement and campus colleagues to create metrics-driven reports that reflect a comprehensive view of volunteer engagement, leveraging this data to identify up-and-coming leaders and steward proven volunteer leaders with “service laddering” opportunities
  • Partner with Advancement and campus colleagues to create more accessible entry points for alumni interested in volunteer service
     
• Other Duties as Assigned (10%)
  • Take on special projects from time to time as assigned by the AVP-AEO.

Qualifications:

•  Essential Formal Education: Bachelor’s degree
   
•  Essential Work Experience: 7+ years
   
•  Essential Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
  • Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with people at all levels of an organization, and to collaborate and influence at a high level
  • The ability to collaborate, listen well, and take the lead in problem-solving and consensus building
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills, and superb organizational skills; excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills
  • Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in teams, with high personal standards representative of Princeton’s commitment to excellence
  • Discretion, good judgment and commitment to keep confidential all data related to Princeton and its alumni and donors
  • Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and priorities.  Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and to produce high-quality and compelling work product under tight deadlines. Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Commitment to University Advancement’s mission of fostering alumni engagement and maximizing philanthropic support for Princeton University and to adhering to its guiding principles of High Performance, Innovation, Civility, and Collaboration
     
•  Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Experience, and Other Education:
  • Strong familiarity with Princeton University, its mission, and its global community of alumni
  • Strong familiarity with board of trustees and governance structures and processes
  • Strong volunteer management experience
  • Ability to authentically engage and inspire others as a representative of the Advancement Office

To apply or learn more about this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter to Leslie Smith, Executive Search Consultant, leslie.smith@boyden.com or Lisa Vuona, Managing Partner, lvuona@boyden.com.