Director of Advancement Communications

Advancement

The Director of Advancement Communications develops and executes a strategic communications program that builds philanthropic support for the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Reporting to the Managing Director of Advancement Communications, the director serves as the editorial lead for Advancement, creating an integrated multimedia communications plan that engages alumni and drives the Division’s fundraising strategies and stewardship of donors. This role ensures that messaging aligns with institutional priorities, enhances the university’s reputation and fosters a culture of philanthropy.

The Director collaborates closely with colleagues within Advancement and across campus, including the Office of Marketing and Communications, to plan and deliver effective communications.

• Strategy - 20%
  • Lead Advancement’s editorial planning and execution, developing and implementing an annual communications strategy in collaboration with the Managing Director and evaluating and adjusting priorities as needed.
  • Monitor data and performance metrics to assess communication effectiveness, translate performance insights into recommendations and adjust strategies accordingly.
  • Stay informed on best practices in advancement marketing and communications to keep strategies innovative and effective.
• Communications & Social Media - 25%
  • Write, edit and manage content for print and digital platforms, including alumni publications, donor and alumni newsletters, solicitations, stewardship materials, web content and social media.
  • Lead social media content strategy for the Alumni Association’s social media channels, working with the Office of Marketing and Communications to align messaging, plan strategic content and track engagement metrics.
  • Support communication efforts for fundraising campaigns, conducting research and writing compelling cases for support, proposals and campaign messaging across digital and print channels.
• Campus & Alumni Relations - 25%
  • Collaborate with division colleagues and campus communicators to align messaging with Advancement and university branding.
  • Conduct, transcribe, and draft interviews with students, faculty, and alumni for print and social media use.
• Project Management - 30%
  • Oversee Advancement’s comprehensive calendar, proactively identifying content gaps, storytelling opportunities and priorities to ensure consistency, strategic timing and alignment with campaign, fundraising, stewardship and alumni engagement objectives.
  • Assist in coordinating alumni and donor-related content for UMSL Magazine and manage outreach for alumni featured in Class Notes.
  • Develop and coordinate written, visual and multimediastorytelling across Advancement communications, including photography, video and other digital content as appropriate.

As with all positions, may perform other job-related responsibilities as needed to support departmental and campus-wide needs.

• Writing
• Editing
• Communication for various audiences
• Project management & organization
• Interviewing
• Public speaking
• Social media management

Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment with extensive computer use and frequent interaction with university leadership, Advancement staff, students, faculty, alumni, and external partners. The role requires prolonged periods of sitting, and viewing computer screens. Responsibilities include managing multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. The position involves sustained analytical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration across stakeholder groups.