External Strategic Communications & Funding Strategist
Listed on 2026-10-20
-
Marketing / Advertising / PR
Marketing Communications, PR / Communications, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing
External Strategic Communications & Funding Strategist
Communications: 9761PR
Position OverviewThe External Strategic Communications & Funding Strategistelevates the profile, reputation, and competitive funding advantage of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB). In equalpartnership with the Internal Communications & Digital Operations Strategist, this role co-leads the ongoing maintenance,alignment, and execution of MIDB's overarching strategic communications plan. This role designs and executes high-levelexternal communication strategies that engage primary external audiences, including donors, government leaders, community partners, and institutional leaders.
Serving as the strategic leadfor institute brand messaging, social media strategy, and externalpositioning, this role translates complex scientific and clinical research into compelling narratives that build external visibility,positioning MIDB as a premier research institute to drive sustaineddonor investment, strategic partnerships, and competitive grantopportunities.
This position reports to the Administration and Operations Director with a dotted line report to the Director of Communications in the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA). This position alsoworks in close partnership with MIDB’s Internal Communications& Digital Operations Strategist and central University Marketing Communications teams.
Key Responsibilities External Narrative Framework, Brand Messaging Leadership &Positioning (30%)- Lead the strategic development, evolution, and executive oversight of MIDB’s overarching brand story, core messagingframeworks, and master positioning platforms.
- Oversee the end-to-end strategy, content architecture, writing,and production of MIDB’s externally facing annual report and major impact publications to demonstrate ROI to donors, University leadership, and community stakeholders.
- Co-develop an integrated institute editorial calendar with the Internal Strategist, ensuring external storytelling seamlesslycomplements internal messaging without overlap.
- Translate complex brain development research, clinicalinnovations, and grant awards into accessible, high-impact feature stories, public announcements, and thought leadershipcampaigns.
- Direct executive messaging and public positioning (includingLinkedIn presence) for MIDB leadership and faculty researchers toamplify expert voices in national and regional forums.
- Lead the strategic buildout, management, and optimization ofthe Salesforce CRM platform to map, segment, and track engagement across priority external audiences.
- Cultivate targeted communication pathways for high-net-worthdonors, government agencies, community organizations, and healthcare networks.
- Partner closely with the University of Minnesota Foundation(UMF) to align donor communication strategies, stewardshiptouchpoints, and philanthropic pipeline growth.
- Evaluate external channel reach and market penetration,identifying strategic partnerships to expand MIDB’s regional and national recognition.
- Define and govern MIDB’s external social media strategy,platform mix, and public narrative direction across all externalchannels.
- Lead the strategic vision, messaging, public promotion, and executive alignment for major external events, milestone anniversaries, donor galas, and community showcases.
- Partner with OACA Communications and University Marketing Communications to secure strategic media placement and highlightMIDB research breakthroughs.
- Prepare executive leaders, principal investigators (PIs), and faculty experts for media interviews, high-level panelpresentations, and…
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).