Executive Director, Development Communications

Overview

Summary The Executive Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications leads strategic marketing and communications efforts to advance the university’s philanthropic and alumni engagement goals. Serving as the communications and marketing strategist for Advancement, the Executive Director serves as a senior advisor and collaborative partner to Advancement leadership, ensuring alignment of marketing and communications with institutional priorities and audience needs in partnership with University Marketing and Communications.

This role oversees brand management, campaign messaging, digital strategy, creative and communications strategies and development across all Advancement initiatives ensuring that all messaging and storytelling efforts reflect the institution’s mission, engage key audiences, and drive philanthropic and alumni engagement in a multichannel environment. The Executive Director serves as the central point of contact for campaign communications and executive project manager for the Senior Vice President for Advancement.

The content describes leadership of strategic marketing and communications efforts to advance the university’s philanthropic and alumni engagement goals; acts as the communications and marketing strategist for Advancement; serves as a senior advisor and collaborative partner to Advancement leadership; ensures alignment with institutional priorities and audience needs in partnership with University Marketing and Communications; oversees brand management, campaign messaging, digital strategy, creative and communications strategies;

develops messaging across all Advancement initiatives; ensures messaging reflects the institution’s mission, engages key audiences, and drives philanthropic and alumni engagement in a multichannel environment; serves as the central point of contact for campaign communications and as executive project manager for the Senior Vice President for Advancement.

• Excellent writing skills
• Experience in strategic planning and client service
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and handle numerous projects in a timely manner
• Ability to adjust and respond to unscheduled developments requiring immediate attention
• Solid computer skills including working knowledge of the Microsoft suite and basic design skills
• An understanding of brand management across all channels
• Must possess strong leadership and management skills with proven ability to motivate a team
• Comprehensive understanding of traditional and emerging media
• A collaborative approach to management

• Bachelor’s Degree in a field related to communications is required
• 10 years of experience in developing and implementing a successful advancement communications program
• Significant experience in supervision of staff, management of budgets, strategic planning and client service

Any appropriate combination of relevant experience, education and/or certification may be considered.