Senior Communications Specialist

VISION:

Transform the university through the power of generosity.

Unite donor passions with university priorities to elevate the impact of Oklahoma State University.

The Marketing and Donor Experiences team, which falls within the Development team at the Oklahoma State University Foundation, contributes to the mission by collaborating with internal and external partners to provide strategic, integrated marketing, communication, creative services and special events expertise to achieve our mission of serving Oklahoma State University and providing our donors with impactful, dynamic and engaging experiences.

The Senior Communications Specialist will help execute the Marketing and Donor Experiences department’s strategic goal of creating effective materials that inspire, solicit and steward donors. This position prioritizes storytelling to complete and/or contribute to writing assignments that include publications, news releases, speaking points, development materials, advertising and more. This position plays a leading role in the production of STATE Magazine and distribution of news releases.

This position works closely with the Senior Director of Communications to identify ways to publicize giving impact, donor and student stories, events and fundraising and stewardship messages through a variety of mediums.

• Create compelling impact stories for print and digital publication to inspire, solicit and steward donors.
• Write engaging articles to be published in STATE Magazine and other university publications.
• Serve as the Foundation’s primary manager and editor-in-chief of content for STATE Magazine, which publishes three times a year. Duties include planning, writing, production, review of all content and representing the Foundation at all STATE planning and strategy meetings. Maintain consistent communication with internal and external partners to ensure a smooth magazine production process.
• Conduct interviews with donors, students, university officials, faculty and other relevant personnel in person, over the phone and via email.
  • Work with the creative services team to conduct interviews for use in videos.
  • Effectively and courteously communicate with donors to coordinate interviews, receive approvals, answer questions and gather information and photos.
• Research gifts, donors, university information and other subjects via internal databases and external sources.
• Edit other colleagues’ work for grammar and consistency, ensuring effective communication.
• Utilize Microsoft Copilot and other approved AI tools to enhance research, content development, editing and workflow efficiency while ensuring content aligns with Foundation standards and objectives.

• Serve as the department’s primary handler of news releases, including writing and coordinating public/media relations outreach for gift announcements and special events.
  • Coordinate with Brand Management to plan news release distribution to media outlets and okstate.edu.
• Write and put together event speaking points for multiple sources.
• Write advertisement copy for various publications and distributions.
• Write email copy for various purposes including solicitation and stewardship.
• When necessary, write and gain approval on quotes from Foundation and university representatives.
• Participate in the execution of major events and initiatives, including Women for OSU, donor society events, major gift announcements, specific campaigns, groundbreakings and other special projects.
• Leverage Microsoft Copilot and other approved AI tools to support communications planning, content creation and information gathering while maintaining accuracy, consistency and adherence to organizational guidelines.

• Create persuasive fundraising materials for development use, including personalized proposals, cases for support, brochures, one-sheeters, etc.
• Collaborate with development partners to ensure materials will be effective for the desired outcome.
• Conduct research and review online, archived or provided information and…