Associate Director, Advancement Communications

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Department: Kellogg Communications

Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Job Summary:

The associate director of advancement communications is an accomplished writer, editor and strategist with broad-based responsibilities for managing and implementing a range of communications in partnership with Kellogg Advancement. In collaboration with the director of alumni and advancement communications, the associate director of advancement communications manages a portfolio of projects, interacting directly with colleagues from across many Kellogg and Northwestern departments, including fellow integrated marketing and communication colleagues, partners in alumni relations and development, and Kellogg administrative leadership.

May occasionally collaborate with Kellogg faculty, alumni, donors and students. This position plays a critical role in supporting successful fundraising outcomes through the production of Advancement collateral, including for Kellogg's current $600 million Full Circle Campaign. Projects include print and digital communications for frontline fundraising, specifically major and principal gifts, funding proposals, a range of executive communications and stewardship communications, further defined below.

• Develop strategic, Kellogg-aligned messaging for our principal and major gift communications, executive communications and stewardship communications, with an emphasis on the impact of philanthropy at Kellogg.
• Cases of support for key funding areas.
• Major gift and principal gift proposals.
• Dean communications: acknowledgment letters, condolence letters, congratulatory notes, invitations, post‑visit notes, board member correspondence and solicitations.
• Annual Fund solicitation copy.
• Stewardship report supporting content.
• Content for the annual Investors Report and Impact Report.
• Special projects such as donor profiles.

• Conduct research (including interviews and obtain background information in preparation for writing the materials).
• Work closely with gift officers and other Advancement team members to understand the objectives of each communication.
• Ensure that final products are produced accurately, are strategic, and are brand‑compliant.
• Provide occasional writing support for Alumni Relations colleagues, as determined by the director.
• In partnership with director of alumni and advancement communications, assist with developing strategic advancement communication plans and executing them across various vehicles and tactics.
• Proactively make suggestions for improvements to short and long‑term strategic communications and goals.

• Provide strategic review, copy editing, and proofreading of Advancement and Alumni Relations communications and materials.
• Uphold editorial standards of Kellogg and Northwestern University, developing a strong understanding of style guidelines.
• Ensure messaging and tone are appropriate across communication vehicles to all audiences.
• Work with director to develop smooth and efficient editorial processes for the Alumni and Advancement Communications team.

• Manage requests received through team inbox.
• Maintain the proposal tracking system, as well as the writing and editing request log.
• Create reports to monitor and evaluate request activity, rate of fulfillment, and success of proposals.
• Help create and maintain a well‑organized library of communications created by the Alumni and Advancement Communications team.
• Proactively work with colleagues to evaluate opportunities for process improvements with recurring communications requests.
• May provide training to staff within or outside of immediate dept or division in regard to function.

• May provide training to staff within or outside of immediate dept or division in regard to function.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field or the equivalent in education, experience and training.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional writing and editing experience, including online and print content.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as strong…