Associate Director of Engagement

The Walnut Hill School for the Arts Associate Director of Engagement works closely with other members of the Development team to strengthen the relationships that sustain Walnut Hill over time. This position recognizes that the School’s future philanthropic success depends on more than fundraising activity alone. It requires that alumni, families, volunteers, and friends continue to feel connected to Walnut Hill long after a performance, a graduation, a reunion, or a gift. This role is responsible for helping create and strengthen those connections. Working closely with colleagues across the School, the Associate Director develops opportunities for alumni and families to remain engaged with Walnut Hill and with one another. This work takes many forms: communications, volunteer opportunities, mentoring, networking, regional gatherings, student-facing programs, community partnerships, and other experiences that deepen affinity and participation. 

This position supports the belief that engagement and philanthropy are closely linked. Individuals who feel connected to the School are more likely to volunteer, advocate, mentor students, participate in School life, and ultimately support Walnut Hill philanthropically. The goal is to strengthen the relationships that make long-term support possible. This role serves as the steward of Walnut Hill’s Continuum of Engagement. It pays particular attention to the transition points where relationships are most often gained or lost: from prospective student and family to active community member, from student to alum, from current parent to alumni parent, from participant to volunteer, and from volunteer to donor. By strengthening these pathways, the Associate Director helps ensure that Walnut Hill remains a meaningful part of people’s lives long after their formal connection to the School has ended. 

The Associate Director is a key member of the Development team and collaborates closely with Admissions, Student Life, College Counseling, Marketing & Communications, Academic Affairs, Arts Department leadership, and School administration to support long-term institutional sustainability through relationship-building, volunteer engagement, and philanthropy. All Walnut Hill faculty and staff are active and engaged members of the School community who support students, participate in school life, collaborate across departments, and contribute positively to the culture and mission of the School. Occasional evening and weekend events are required, as is national and occasional international travel. 

Responsibilities Include: 

Networks

•  Develop and strengthen meaningful connections among alumni, families, students, faculty, volunteers, and friends of the School; 
• Cultivate alumni and family networks organized around shared artistic disciplines, geographic regions, professional interests, and common experiences; 
• Build and maintain relationships with volunteer leaders, ambassadors, and community partners; 
• Identify opportunities to connect constituents to one another in ways that strengthen long-term affinity for Walnut Hill; and 
• Partner with colleagues throughout the School to identify and engage individuals with the potential to become future volunteers, advocates, and donors.

Continued Pathways 

• Develop and strengthen engagement opportunities that support the Continuum of Engagement; 
• Pay particular attention to key transition points including prospective family to enrolled family, student to alum, current parent to alumni parent, volunteer to donor, and donor to leadership supporter; 
• Design and implement volunteer, mentoring, ambassador, and participation opportunities that encourage deeper engagement over time; 
• Lead the ongoing development and support of the Walnut Hill Family Association and other volunteer-led engagement initiatives; and
• Collaborate with Admissions, Student Life, College Counseling, and Development colleagues to create engagement opportunities that support institutional priorities. 

Stories 

• Partner with Marketing & Communications and colleagues throughout the School to identify and share stories that reinforce the value and impact of a Walnut Hill education;
• Help develop alumni, family, volunteer, and community-facing communications that encourage participation and strengthen relationships; 
• Support the creation of communications that celebrate accomplishments, highlight impact, and connect constituents to the life of the School; and 
• Maintain engagement communication calendars and outreach strategies that support participation, volunteerism, and philanthropy. 

Experiences 

• Develop and implement engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships and encourage participation; 
• Ensure that engagement experiences have clearly defined audiences, objectives, and follow-up strategies; 
• Partner with colleagues to execute Family Weekend, alumni programs, volunteer recognition activities, regional gatherings, virtual programs, and other engagement initiatives; and 
• Evaluate engagement experiences based on relationship outcomes, participation, and long-term value rather than attendance alone. 

Assessment, Planning & Collaboration 

• Establish and monitor engagement goals and metrics in partnership with Development Operations; 
• Evaluate engagement initiatives and recommend improvements based on participation and outcomes; 
• Participate in annual planning efforts for alumni, family, volunteer, and engagement activities; and 
• Serve as a collaborative partner across departments to advance School priorities and strengthen constituent relationships. 

Community Involvement & Engagement 

• Actively participate in the student community by supporting the Student Life program which may include serving as a faculty or club advisor, chaperoning School events, providing weekend duty (3 per year), or other opportunities for community involvement that arise throughout the school year; 
• Speak authentically about the imperative for community and belonging in schools; be committed to learning about and contributing to Walnut Hill’s culture of belonging;
• Attend student performances, art openings, and art events throughout the year; support and engage richly in arts productions, shows, exhibitions, and performances; and 
• Attend Family Weekend, Open House, Class Night, Boar’s Head, Candlelight, Awards Ceremony, and Graduation; attend other events as required.
  

Collaboration, Professional Development & Training

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments to foster a positive working and educational environment for students and employees to support the School’s mission, vision, and core values; 
• Attend and participate in all faculty and staff meetings and department meetings; participate and engage fully in individual reviews and evaluations; be open to feedback and work with supervisor to set goals and expectations for the future; 
• Attend and participate in all Professional Development (PD) days, training programs, orientation programs, benefit meetings, mandatory seminars, team-building exercises, and safety training/drills; 
• Complete required paperwork, forms, surveys, employment documents, background checks, fingerprinting, online training programs, request and report absences, accidents, and injuries, and follow other school policy and legal requirements by established deadlines; 
• Pursue PD opportunities in and out of school; display willingness and ability to grow, learn, explore new approaches, and practice self-reflection; and ● Perform other duties as assigned by your supervisor or School Administration. 

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

•  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; 
• Minimum of three to five years of experience in advancement, alumni relations, constituent engagement, volunteer management, communications, admissions, student affairs, nonprofit leadership, or related fields; 
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse constituencies and inspire meaningful participation; 
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and ability to work with a wide range of people; 
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive community; 
• Ability to handle highly sensitive information with discretion; 
• Strong organizational, project management, and collaboration skills; 
• Ability to work both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment; 
• Experience working with constituent databases and engagement metrics preferred; 
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, Veracross, or comparable systems; 
• Share an educational and artistic vision that aligns with the core principles of Walnut Hill; and 
• Ability to travel, and to work occasional evenings and weekends.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS Physical demands include dexterity for office machine and supply operation including but not limited to writing, using electronic devices, computer, phone, calculator, copy machine, fax machine, and printers. Stooping, bending, lifting, traveling to/from locations on campus or other locations, ascending/descending stairs, reaching, and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are common. Ability to travel regionally, domestically, and internationally, as well as ability to lift up to 25 lbs. required.