Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

Department:
Alumni Relations & Development

Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Please note:

The target budgeted salary for this position is $75,000 to $80,000 annually. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

The associate director of marketing and communications is an accomplished writer, editor, and strategic project manager with broad-based responsibilities for planning, overseeing, and implementing a wide range of communications on behalf of Northwestern Alumni Relations and Development (ARD), including the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). The associate director manages a portfolio of projects in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with team members and interacting with ARD and University partners, and coordinating freelance writers, editors, designers, and photographers as needed.

Projects include managing and developing print and digital communications for alumni and donor engagement, such as event marketing materials, social media copy, stewardship materials, magazine stories, press releases, gift announcements, and fundraising solicitations.

Please note:

This role is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, up to two days remote and three onsite

* Note:

Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

• Collaborate with team members to develop new communications, from concept through execution
• Serve as the strategic project lead for individual projects and integrated, multi-faceted programs, managing partner relations and communication plan development (goal, strategy, target, channel mix, schedules, and budget)
• Collaborate with team members (including design, social, digital, and video) and ARD and University partners at all levels
• Ensure projects and programs are on strategy, on time, and on budget
• Review, copyedit, and proofread print and digital communications materials.
• Enforce editorial and brand guidelines
• Adapt messaging and tone as appropriate for different circumstances and audiences
• Decipher complex concepts and translate them to accessible language for general audiences
• Work with director to maintain and develop smooth and efficient processes for the marketing and communications team
• Audit editorial quality and identify opportunities to improve communication effectiveness
• Develop short- and long-form content for a variety of strategic, engagement, fundraising, and stewardship materials, including newsletters, press releases, and magazine stories (print and digital)
• Conduct research and interviews for the development of content

• Perform other duties as assigned

• Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Eight years of marketing/communications or other relevant writing experience

• Experience managing partners or clients, complex tasks, and large-scale multi-faceted marketing or editorial projects
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, collaborate, and demonstrate attention to detail
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and completing them under tight deadlines
• Experience developing strategic communication plans
• Exceptional communication skills: interviewing, writing, editing, and proofreading
• Experience in higher education advancement or complex organization
• Experience writing fundraising solicitations
• Experience in Chicago Manual of Style
• Experience in a project management…