Advancement Communications Manager

Job Summary

Wentworth Institute of Technology seeks an innovative and strategic communications professional to serve as Advancement Communications Manager. This role will lead comprehensive communication initiatives that advance the Institute’s fundraising goals, enhance donor engagement, and strengthen university relationships.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Donor Relations and Advancement Operations, the Manager will be responsible not only for strategic messaging and content development but also for project management, production planning, and cross-campus coordination to ensure timely and effective delivery of all advancement communications.

This role serves as the strategic lead and day-to-day project manager for all advancement communications, with responsibility for coordinated planning, timely production, and alignment with university advancement and fundraising priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies that support annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, industry partnerships, and capital campaign initiatives
• Create compelling narratives that articulate Wentworth’s impact, vision, and funding priorities to diverse stakeholder audiences
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align advancement communications with university strategic goals
• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of advancement case statements, campaign materials and donor-facing messaging frameworks.

Content Operations and Project Management

• Serve as the primary project manager for all advancement communications initiatives, from concept through final delivery.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce an integrated communications calendar across stewardship, campaign, planned giving, major gifts, and annual giving, and lifetime engagement.
• Coordinate directly with gift officers, advancement leadership, marketing, lifetime engagement, annual giving, industry partnership colleagues, academic units, and external partners to gather content and meet deadlines.
• Establish and manage clear workflows, intake processes, timelines, and approval structures for all advancement communications.
• Assign projects, set priorities, and monitor progress across the advancement communications team.
• Ensure all deliverables are completed on schedule and aligned with fundraising priorities.
• Manage production schedules, vendor timelines, and internal review processes.
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks, competing priorities, or resource constraints.
• Serve as the central intake and prioritization point for university advancement communications requests, balancing competing needs and available resources.

Content Advancement and Storytelling

• Produce high-quality written materials including newsletters, impact reports, campaign publications, grant proposals, and stewardship communications.
• Partner with and oversee the Senior Designer, providing copy and creative direction for digital and print templates, as well as specialized reports that highlight achievements, impact, and the financial distribution of major gifts.
• Work with Marketing and Communications to develop multimedia content that showcases student success stories, faculty achievements, and university impact.
• Ensure brand consistency across all advancement communications touchpoints.
• Maintain a pipeline of student, donor, and scholarship recipient stories and content aligned with fundraising priorities.
• Ensure all content reflects donor-centered storytelling principles and clear calls to engagement or support.

Digital and Traditional Media Management

• Coordinate with Marketing and Communications colleagues to manage and produce advancement-focused digital platforms, including email campaigns, social media content, and website materials.
• Supervision of Senior Designer and Copy Editor who oversee production of print materials, event collateral, and promotional literature.
• Analyze communication performance data and apply insights to refine messaging, segmentation, and channel strategy.

Event and Donor Engagement Support

• Develop written content for cultivation events, galas, recognition ceremonies, and donor appreciation activities.
• Create presentation materials for leadership meetings with major gift prospects.
• Oversee stewardship communications that recognize donor contributions and demonstrate impact.
• Coordinate messaging and production schedules for donor events and milestone announcements.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise communication staff (Senior Graphic Designer and Copywriter) and manage day-to-day team workflow and project assignments.
• Serve as the central point of coordination for advancement communications requests across the division.
• Work closely with marketing and communications, lifetime engagement, and university advancement teams.
• In collaboration with marketing and communications, serve as primary liaison with external communication vendors and consultants.
• Mentor staff in strategic communication practices, project planning, and donor-centered storytelling.
• Foster strong cross-functional partnerships to ensure alignment between advancement strategy and Wentworth brand messaging.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, English, or related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in advancement communications, nonprofit marketing, or university advancement.
• Demonstrated expertise in multi-channel communication strategy advancement and execution.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in digital marketing tools, content management systems, and advancement or CRM platforms.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, production calendars, and cross-functional teams.
• Comfort with AI tools and technologies, including a baseline understanding of their application in communications, content development, and workflow optimization.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of fundraising and donor engagement principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Experience in higher education advancement or STEM-focused organizations.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and donor cultivation strategies.
• Familiarity with Boston-area business, technology, and philanthropic communities.
• Experience with campaign communications and major gift marketing.
• Demonstrated success in leading communications teams through complex projects or campaigns.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic thinking with ability to translate complex university goals into accessible messaging.
• Strong project management and organizational leadership skills.
• Ability to prioritize requests and manage competing deadlines across multiple teams.
• Creative problem-solving and innovative approach to communication challenges.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Data-driven decision making with experience in communication analytics.
• Cultural competency and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.
• Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Senior Graphic Designer
• Copywriter

Position Details

The job grade for this position is Grade 8.

The expected salary for this position is between $78,000 - $98,000 which reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this role.

At this time, the university is unable to sponsor applicants for H-1B visas.

This position is a fulltime benefits eligible role with a 37.5 hour work week. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.