Senior Vice President of External Relations and Alumni Affairs

LIM College - The Business of Fashion & Lifestyle is currently seeking candidates for the position of Senior Vice President of External Relations and Alumni Affairs.

This position is a Hybrid 1 role; it is scheduled to be on campus a minimum of 3 days/week, with the option to work remotely 1-2 days/week. 
 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
 

Located in the heart of New York City since 1939, LIM is focused on the business of fashion and lifestyle. With majors ranging from Fashion Media and Fashion Merchandising to The Business of Cannabis, Consumer Analytics, and more, LIM prepares students for career success through an approach grounded in real-world experience and learning by doing. Offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs both on campus and online, LIM provides students with the education, experience, and connections to become successful business leaders in the global fashion and lifestyle industry.

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Senior Vice President of External Relations and Alumni Affairs (SVP of E.R.A.A) is dedicated to expanding access and driving new revenues and high margins through academic programs and other education-based activities for new audiences, especially working adult professionals and executives, and pre-college learners. A primary focus for this activity will be development and expansion of programs, offerings, and delivery-platforms and other B2B partnerships.

With an entrepreneurial business-driving orientation, the SVP develops and leads the execution of a multi-year strategy and plan for a comprehensive portfolio of non-degree and degree offerings that scales rapidly and contributes to the College’s vibrancy, audience reach and access, and financial sustainability.

The SVP of E.R.A.A leads the planning and management of an alumni relations program which seeks to increase alumni involvement and build a culture of alumni support for LIM College.

The SVP of E.R.A.A works strategically with the VP of Marketing and Communications and VP of Enrollment Services to identify international enrollment goals. Works collaboratively with the International Business Development Consultant on a focused multiyear strategy to identify and strengthen lead generation, and other vehicles that produces strong prospective candidates and raises strong global awareness of the LIM brand. 

The SVP of E.R.A.A reports directly to the President, will have a seat on the President’s Cabinet, and as such, will be looked to for solutions to challenges confronting the College, and ways to leverage LIM College as an educational provider for companies and corporations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES:

REVENUE GENERATION

·Partner with industry and lifestyle connectors/ influences to give LIM access to major decision makers at key corporations.

·Open new business relationships to promote LIM as an educational provider.

·Negotiate new business opportunities and close program contracts.

·Lead a team, (Provost, Vice President of Industry Relations, Vice President of Online Learning and Dean of Graduate Studies) to forge relationships, plan, develop and launch a comprehensive noncredit skill based, short courses, certificate, workshops or workforce development programs that will generate significant revenue.

·Work with the Vice President of Finance and Controller to create financial and forecasting models and scenarios that include setting and delivering revenue and growth milestones and targets.

·Establish a budget that supports the infrastructure of nontraditional education programs.

LEAD & COLLABORATE WITH:

·The Vice President of Industry Relations to:

·Drive Strategic Business Planning and Revenue Goals

·Design a comprehensive data-informed and market-responsive business strategy that aligns and integrates all offerings and delivery platforms and formats.

·Lead Portfolio Management

·Design a product portfolio management approach to maximize reach, access, and service to audience populations, and leverage the assets and differentiating aspects of LIM College offerings, while minimizing cannibalization within the College’s various lines of educational programming across the institution.

·Cultivate relationships and build programs that will garner revenue generating opportunities.

·Identify potential corporate and civic partners to cultivate relationships that will jump start customized training programs and noncredit skills-based learning series to provide revenue generating opportunities.

·Research, cultivate, and maintain industry relationships to broaden the pool of industry experts to support programing and provide networking and experiential educational opportunities for students.

·Manager of Alumni Affairs to:

·Maintain a comprehensive alumni community, working closely with all stakeholders.

·Implement short and long-term development plans with a timeline to strengthen the alumni community.

·Plan and coordinate all aspects of alumni affairs to continually expand and re-engage to broaden the alumni community.

·Increase alumni engagement annually by 2%.

·Cultivate and create additional opportunities to expand the alumni community, in collaboration with the Alumni Association.

·Create a parent engagement program that educates and engage the parent community with the goal of a culture of support from parents and other family members.

·The International Business Development Consultant to:

·Increase international undergrad and grad community.

·Identify and cultivate new educational partnerships and pathways that supports international recruitment, enrollment, and retention.

·Broaden and diversify international agent network to increase student lead generation.

·Expand B2B partners to increase revenue generating opportunities.

MISCELLANEOUS

·Work under the direction of the President, spearheading the management of the Office of External Relations and Alumni Affairs – including preparing and maintaining a strategic plan, budget, and yearly assessment report.

·Work closely with each member of the team to create and implement short and long-term strategic goals with a timeline including measurable results to ensure each team member meets their departmental and professional goals.

·Develop and empower the E.R.A.A team to cultivate and develop partnerships with professional organizations as well as academic organizations to increase programs, networking and mentoring opportunities for undergrad, grad, international and online students, and alumni.

·Attend Fashion Industry Advisory Board meetings.

·Serve on the President’s Cabinet.

·Represent the College at external events.

·Other duties as assigned by the President.

REQUIREMENTS: The person selected will have the following qualifications:

Minimum Required Qualifications:

·Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred

·An understanding of the Fashion Industry, its influencers, the main companies, and their executive leadership. An understanding of cultivation and relationship building techniques.

·Demonstrated ability to take primary responsibility for diverse number of projects and to complete them in a timely manner with limited supervision.

·Minimum 10 years demonstrated relationship building and business development experience, preferably in the fashion industry and/or higher education

·Demonstrated supervision of professional level staff with leadership, management, and administrative skills that motivate and build professional support staff competencies.