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Assistant/Associate or Director of Engagement & Advancement
Waldorf University, located in Forest City, IA, is dedicated to educating the whole person, equipping students for lives of fulfillment in communities where they live and serve. We are seeking a relationship-focused, creative, and organized professional to join our Engagement and Advancement team as the Assistant, Associate or Director of Engagement & Advancement. Reporting to the Vice President for Engagement & Advancement, this position plays a vital role in strengthening connections with alumni, families, donors, volunteers, and friends of the university. The ideal candidate will bring effective communication skills, event coordination experience, and a passion for relationship-building and storytelling. We are seeking a mid-career professional for this Forest City-based position. Compensation and final title dependent on experience.
This position serves as the primary contact and voice for more than 26,000 living alumni and an additional network of families, organizations, businesses, and friends of Waldorf University. This position leads alumni engagement initiatives, manages annual giving communications, coordinates alumni events and volunteer opportunities, and oversees production of the Waldorf University Magazine and other advancement communications. Success in this role is measured through meaningful alumni engagement outcomes such as participation, volunteerism, attendance, communications engagement, and philanthropic support.Key Responsibilities
Alumni Engagement & Events
- Manage the Waldorf Alumni and Ambassador Council and support meaningful volunteer engagement
- Coordinate alumni reunions, Homecoming, virtual events, and regional engagement opportunities
- Develop and distribute event communications, invitations, and post-event reporting
- Collaborate with campus partners to recruit and steward volunteers for events, boards, and programs
- Respond to requests for alumni participation in classes, career services, and university events
- Create opportunities that connect current students to alumni engagement and philanthropy
Project Management, Marketing, Publications & Graphic Design
- Serve as editor of the biannual Waldorf University Magazine, including writing, content development, layout coordination, and production management in coordination with Marketing
- Project management to produce the four-appeal annual cycle, multi-channel marketing efforts for giving days and endowment reports
- Serve as the primary contact for campus partner fundraising initiatives
- Develop alumni stories, class notes, testimonials, and engagement content
- Coordinate engagement and advancement-related social media efforts with Marketing, Admissions, and Athletics
- Maintain Engagement and Advancement webpages
- Ensure all communications align with university brand standards
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, education, student personnel, or related field
- Experience managing volunteers and coordinating events
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with graphic design tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or InDesign, or willingness to learn quickly
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and Excel
- Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends
- Valid driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle
- Commitment to the mission of Waldorf University and the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation
Preferred Qualifications
- Waldorf University or Waldorf College graduate
- Experience with Constant Contact and CRM/database systems, preferably Raiser’s Edge
- Background in alumni relations, fundraising, communications, marketing, or sales
- Experience writing newsletters, social media content, donor communications, and publications
Desired Skills & Attributes
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Highly organized with excellent attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Creative, innovative, and collaborative mindset
- Professional discretion and ethical handling of confidential information
- Strong public speaking and presentation skills
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and within a team environment
Benefits: This is a full-time benefit eligible position. Waldorf University offers a comprehensive benefit package with including: health, life, LTD, 401k match and tuition benefits for employees and their families, in addition to options in dental, vision, supplemental and voluntary life insurances and FLEX spending plan.
To Apply: Interested and qualified candidates are asked to apply through the link below, upload their application materials including a letter of interest outlining your qualifications, a resume, and contact information for at least three professional references. Final candidate will be subject to a background investigation.
Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.
Join Our Team if you are passionate about higher education, relationship-building, storytelling, and creating meaningful alumni connections, we encourage you to apply and become part of Waldorf University’s mission-driven advancement team.
More information about Waldorf, visit: https://www.waldorf.edu/about, https://waldorf.edu/departments/advancement/ Check out the Forest City aerial video created and produced by Waldorf’s very own Adjunct History Professor, Dr. Kevin Mason, for his “Notes on Iowa” project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRDnPXu7GYI
Since 1903, Waldorf University has created opportunities for learning and service to students seeking well-rounded lives through education by establishing engaging online and residential communities centered on learning and faith. As a liberal arts university with core values Waldorf offers a curriculum to liberate the way students think so that they may develop a basic understanding and knowledge of how those in a variety of disciplines think and approach life. As a liberal arts university, Waldorf seeks to instill values of service, community, critical inquiry, and lifelong learning in each student and in the very culture of the college community. These values and this education prepare our graduates to understand and contribute to life in our complex and ever-changing world.
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