The Director of Alumni Relations is a senior member of the Advancement Team. The incumbent must be an experienced, dynamic and creative professional who will plan and implement a comprehensive program of activities that establishes and maintains relationships with the approximately 8,000 MMA alumni worldwide.
The Director of Alumni Relations is charged with strategically engaging alumni and securing commitments from them to provide volunteer service. This position also requires working closely with colleagues across key administrative offices, including but not limited to Admissions, Development, College Relations, and Career Services.
The Director will plan and implement a comprehensive program of activities that establishes and maintains relationships with alumni and the Academy. The Director serves as the primary liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, plans class reunions, implements special events to recognize outstanding alumni, oversees Homecoming Weekend, develops and implements plans for the Academy’s Regional alumni clubs, and oversees social media related to Alumni Relations. The Director contributes ideas, story suggestions, writing, and input into the Mariner Magazine, the alumni magazine of MMA. The Director will also be responsible for at least three editions of Shipmate, our e-newsletter.
The Director manages the Alumni Relations budget, supervises employees along with numerous volunteers. This position requires high professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information, including personal alumni information, institutional budget and financial information. The position also requires travel and attendance at evening and/or weekend activities, meetings, and events. This is a full-time, confidential position.
DUTIES
• Work closely with the Alumni Board of Directors, arranging meetings, staffing its committees, and ensuring their strategic plan initiatives are met.
• The Director will develop and submit for approval by the VP for Advancement annual strategic and operating plans.
• Plan and supervise all activities and events associated with Reunion, ensuring that all of the Academy’s constituents are recognized and involved, including alumni, students, faculty and staff, and retired faculty.
• Maintain and expand a class agent program to build engagement and the return of alumni back to campus. Ensure that the Alumni Association Awards program reflects positively on the Academy and recognizes outstanding alumni by researching the records of perspective recipients, preparing background materials for consideration by the Alumni Association Board of Directors, president, or the selection committee.
• Educate graduating students about staying connected as a member of the Alumni Association and engage them in programs.
• Establish and build relationships with alumni locally, regionally, and nationally; maintain regular communication with alumni via face-to-face contact, phone, email blasts, alumni web pages, social media, and print publications.
• Enhance the alumni database; capture contact information, biographical and career information of alumni via surveys, events, and other means.
• Other duties as assigned by the VP of Institutional Advancement.

This job description reflects the general duties of the job but is not a detailed description of all duties which may be inherent to the position. The Academy may assign reasonably related additional duties to individual employees consistent with policy and collective bargaining agreements.

SKILLS
• Ability to embrace the school’s mission;
• High professional and ethical standards for handling highly confidential materials;
• Excellent oral and written communications skills are required, with strong public speaking skills preferred. Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary. Strong writing skills are a plus;
• Strong analytical skills;
• The ability to establish strong and effective personal and professional relationships particularly with volunteers;
• The position requires strong planning and organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to effectively manage multiple projects;
• The successful candidate will demonstrate flexibility and initiative, and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

REQUIREMENTS
• A bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least five years working in college or university alumni relations, although relevant experience in fields such as development and external relations that involve strong constituency relations will be considered.
• A minimum of two years of supervisory experience and a successful record of supporting and motivating staff as well as recruiting, motivating, and managing volunteers is required.
• The ability to work effectively with various technologies including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite required..

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
• Contacts include Board of Trustees, Donors, Alumni, Parents, Students and various external and internal constituencies;
• This job requires the capacity to travel, work evenings and several weekends as necessary;
• The job is generally sedentary, however individual must be able to traverse the campus grounds which include hills, paths and access MMA’s ships and boats. Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms to maintain balance walk through narrow passages;
• Occasional exposure to extremes in weather, including rain, sleet, snow, rough seas;
• Frequent use of keyboard and computer screen;
• Occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds.

POSITION OVERVIEW

This document describes the duties and expectations of a Visiting Assistant Professor for Maritimedigitization. This position is a one-year temporary appointment. The position begins in August of 2025 and continues through the fall and spring semesters until May of 2026.

TEACHING

The primary responsibility will be to teach a full-time course load (12 units, comprising 4–6 sections each semester) in maritime digitization and related subjects. Additionally, the role includes supporting the Academy’s digitization initiatives, such as the use of the lifeboat simulator and the application of digital twin technology. Courses are likely to include some of the following depending on applicants’ experience and the department’s needs, simulator-based courses such introduction to Nautical Science lab (NS101 lab) , Electronic Navigation Lab (NS293) and Maintenance. Teaching responsibilities include time spent in theclassroom, laboratory, and in immediate preparation for these; maintaining and improving competence insubjects being taught; preparing contemporary teaching materials; conferring with students on coursematerials; directing individual and group studies and practica; reviewing written examinations and papers; evaluating presentations; supervising independent study projects and assigning grades according to existingAcademy policy.

OTHER ASPECTS OF FACULTY PERFORMANCE

Collegiality, as well as professional and ethical conduct, enhances teaching, learning and the general reputation of all persons in the academy. Therefore, all faculty members are expected to serve in a collegial fashion and in accordance with professional and ethical principles when dealing with other faculty members, students, administrators, and members of the public.

DUTIES

Teach at the undergraduate level in areas allocated by the Department Head or Dean.
Contribute to the development, planning and implementation of a high-quality curriculum.
Assist in the development of learning materials, preparing lesson plans, and maintaining records to monitor student progress, achievement, and attendance.
Participate in departmental and faculty seminars aimed at building interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside your department.
Provide advice and support to students.
Inform students of their progress by promptly returning assignments, quizzes, papers, and exams.
Hold at least 4 office hours per week.
Participate in the administration of the department’s programs and other activities as requested.
Contribute to departmental, faculty, or Academy-wide working groups or committees as requested.
Maintain an awareness and observation of fire and health and safety regulations.
All academic faculty are expected to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to academic excellence at the highest level.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Teaching and other forms of public presentation• Ability to supervise academic work by undergraduate students• Ability to manage time and work to strict deadlines
Ability to write clearly and tailor communication style to meet the needs of the recipient
Ability to work collaboratively
Ability to share in organization and management of various Academy programs.
Ability to foster a positive learning environment.
Commitment to continuous professional development.
Commitment to MMA’s policy of equal opportunity and the ability to work harmoniously with colleagues and students of all genders, cultures and backgrounds.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational and written and oral communication skills.
Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations.
High degree of professionalism.
Demonstrated integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities and conditions.
Ability to learn and teach courses within the Department even if with limited background in that field.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a relevant field.
A valid USCG license with applicable STCW endorsements. Acceptable licenses include: Third Mate Unlimited Oceans with 1600-ton Master or Chief Mate Unlimited Oceans or Master Unlimited Oceans
Unlimited Tonnage Oceans License.
Experience with small vessel operations (outboard craft, launches, fast rescue boat, etc.)
Lifeboatman certificate and other appropriate STCW credentials.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Unlimited Master or Chief Mate with command experience on commercial vessels.
Master’s degree, or other advanced degree, in a relevant field.
Experience teaching nautical skills in a higher-education setting.
Familiarity with electronic and digital advancements in maritime operations.
Experience with curriculum development.
Experience in command.
Experience instructing lifeboatman skills.

PHYSICAL and ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Typical classroom and office environment are in multi-story buildings with elevator access.
Work in the labs and training cruises may require climbing on ladders and gangways, lifting and carrying materials, occasional work in uncomfortable heat, cold, damp or dry atmospheric conditions.
Those required to participate on the training cruise must be capable of the following:
Living and working in cramped spaces on a rolling vessel and maintaining balance on a moving deck
Rapidly donning an exposure suit and other lifesaving gear
Opening and closing watertight doors
Occasionally lifting and moving up to 50 pounds
Climbing steep stairs or vertical ladders without assistance

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Background check is required
Must present original copies of transcripts
Tobacco-free campus
A pre-employment drug test, and participation in the random drug testing program, is required