Executive Director of Advancement Communications

Executive Director of Advancement Communications

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The purpose of Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR) is to foster a thriving and engaged community of support for Caltech. By strengthening and nurturing the community of people who share and support the Institute's mission and values, we will ensure the Institute receives the necessary resources to achieve our aspirations and advocate for excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship in perpetuity.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Philanthropic Initiatives and Stewardship, the Executive Director of Advancement Communications works closely with the Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations and senior leadership. The Executive Director will oversee the strategy, planning and implementation of all marketing and communications efforts to support AAR's philanthropic and engagement priorities. As AAR's lead communications strategist, the Executive Director will ensure a consistent voice and visual branding across the organization, with the responsibility for the development of philanthropic messages ranging from fundraising case statements to complex proposals to donor and impact stories disseminated via digital, print, multimedia, and social media platforms.

In addition, the Executive Director will drive marketing and earned media strategies that broaden support and engagement by demonstrating the impact of donor philanthropy in support of Caltech's unparalleled teaching and research mission.

• In consultation with advancement leadership, develop, implement, and monitor all philanthropy-related communications, donor storytelling, content strategy, and digital marketing and communications plans to support diverse fundraising initiatives for target audiences through a multi-channel approach that drives engagement and participation.
• Lead, mentor, and support a team of two other communications professionals who develop gift announcements, impact stories, social medial posts, videos, newsletters, endowment reports, proposals, cases for support, pitch decks, and other resources that engage individuals with the potential to make annual, major and transformative gifts.
• Supervise day-to-day staff assignments, maintaining a balanced workflow to meet deadlines while supporting positive team development. Review all work products to ensure alignment with AAR and Caltech style guidelines, needs, and priorities.
• Ensure the publication goal of approximately 40 gift announcements and impact stories is met each year, along with related emails and social media posts.
• Produce and/or manage Advancement Communications' production of proposals and case statements, working directly with frontline fundraisers and faculty.
• Manage the strategic use of external partners such as freelance writers, consultants, firms, photographers, designers, and temporary staff.
• Serve as an executive communications resource to the Vice President and other advancement leaders, helping to shape strategic initiatives and communications; as needed, develop presentations, talking points and/or remarks for the Vice President.
• Establish strategy and relationships with local, state, and national media outlets to amplify gift announcements and philanthropic impact on innovation, research and teaching at Caltech to the general public.
• Provide both strategic and hands-on production-level work, effectively serving as a consultant/marketing agency to AAR departments.
• Develop processes to evaluate the effectiveness of projects to support continuous improvement and creativity.
• Work collaboratively with Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Caltech Associates, Stewardship, Gift Planning, and other teams that produce their own communications to support the dissemination of key messages.
• Oversee the strategy, content management, and regular updating of AAR's giving and student initiative websites.
• Supervise the maintenance of the AAR digital asset management system.
• Oversee monthly communications calendar meetings to promote visibility and collaboration among teams that produce AAR communications and to ensure communications are scheduled in a complementary manner.
• Plan and lead the AAR Communications Roundtable, a forum for communicators across AAR to connect, share successes and lessons learned, and support consistent and cohesive messaging and branding throughout the division.
• Update the AAR Communications Guidelines as needed and ensure all AAR communicators are aware of and follow them. Ensure that AAR communications complement Institute communications and incorporate branding and identity guidelines, as well as tone and voice standards. Design and conduct…