Merrimack College is a selective, private college in a beautiful,
residential setting — just minutes from Boston,
Massachusetts.
Position Overview:
The Assistant
Director of Advancement Communications and Content plays a key role
in bringing Merrimack College’s advancement communications, alumni
engagement, donor relations and comprehensive campaign strategies
to life through compelling content and high-quality
execution.
Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement
Communications, Marketing and Campaign Director, the Assistant
Director develops content that engages alumni, donors, parents,
prospects and other key audiences; demonstrates the impact of
philanthropy; highlights student and alumni success; and advances
the goals of Merrimack’s comprehensive fundraising campaign,
Together We Rise.
Working from communications, marketing and campaign strategies
established by the Associate Vice President, the Assistant Director
produces stories, digital and social content, email communications,
publications, donor communications and other Advancement materials.
The position requires an excellent writer and storyteller who can
identify strong content opportunities, manage multiple projects and
deadlines, and collaborate effectively across the Office of
Development and Alumni Relations and the College.
Primary Responsibilities
Content Development and Storytelling
- Develop compelling content supporting Merrimack’s fundraising,
alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship and campaign
priorities.
Write and edit stories featuring students, alumni, donors,
faculty, research, career outcomes, athletics, mission and
community impact.
Identify stories that showcase meaningful student and alumni
outcomes and connect those outcomes to donor investment and College
priorities.
Interview students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff and College
leaders to develop authentic and engaging stories.
Translate institutional priorities, programs, data and outcomes
into clear, audience-focused communications.
Adapt content for use across email, web, social media,
publications and other Advancement channels.
Campaign, Donor and Alumni Communications
- Support communications and marketing for Merrimack College’s
comprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.
- Develop campaign stories, donor communications, digital
content, presentations and other materials based on established
campaign strategy and messaging.
- Support communications surrounding campaign priorities,
leadership gifts, milestones, announcements and celebrations.
- Develop donor-centered communications that demonstrate
philanthropic impact and inspire continued engagement and
investment.
- Create content that strengthens alumni connection to Merrimack
and encourages deeper engagement, volunteer involvement and
philanthropy.
- Ensure campaign, donor and alumni communications are accurate,
audience-focused and consistent with Merrimack’s voice and
brand.
Digital, Social and Publications
- Develop digital and social content that demonstrates
philanthropic impact, showcases student and alumni success and
outcomes, celebrates donors and alumni, and advances fundraising
and campaign priorities.
- Write and produce Advancement email and web content for alumni,
donors, parents, prospects and other constituent audiences.
- Create and manage content for the Office of Development and
Alumni Relations social media platforms.
- Repurpose long-form stories and other Advancement content
across digital channels.
- Support the planning, writing and manage the production of
Advancement publications, including the quarterly Merrimack
Magazine.
- Coordinate interviews, photography, video and other creative
assets needed to support Advancement content.
- Monitor content performance and help identify opportunities to
strengthen audience engagement.
Event Communications and Project Management
- Develop communications and materials supporting campaign
events, donor gatherings, alumni programs and other Advancement
events.
- Produce invitations, programs, presentations, scripts, signage,
web content and pre- and post-event communications.
- Support storytelling and messaging that reinforce fundraising,
campaign and alumni engagement priorities.
- Help implement the Advancement editorial and communications
calendar.
- Manage multiple content projects, approvals and deadlines to
ensure high-quality and timely execution.
- Maintain organized libraries of stories, testimonials,
photography, data, campaign proof points and donor-impact
content.
Collaboration
- Work closely with the Associate Vice President for Advancement
Communications, Marketing and Campaign Director to execute
Advancement communications, marketing and campaign strategies.
- Collaborate with colleagues across Development, Alumni
Relations, Advancement Services and other College departments to
identify and develop compelling stories and content.
- Partner with communications, marketing, digital and creative
teams across the College to ensure coordination and consistency
with institutional brand standards.
- Work with photographers, videographers, designers, freelancers
and other external partners as needed.
- Contribute to a collaborative, creative and highly responsive
Advancement culture.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing,
public relations, English or a related field.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in
communications, content development, marketing, journalism, public
relations, advancement communications or a related area.
- Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills across a
variety of audiences, formats and channels.
- Strong interviewing and research skills and the ability to
translate complex information into clear, engaging content.
- Experience developing digital, email, web and social media
content.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the
ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
- Excellent attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and
levels of an organization.
- Sound judgment and discretion when working with donors, alumni,
students and sensitive information.
- Experience in higher education, advancement, nonprofit
communications or a mission-driven organization preferred.
- Familiarity with content management systems, email marketing
platforms, social media tools and basic analytics preferred.
- Experience working with photography, video, publications or
creative production partners is a plus.
- Evening and weekend work required for events and College
activities as well as availability outside of normal business hours
when necessary to support time-sensitive initiatives.
Application Materials Should Include:
- Resume or CV
- Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position,
citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including
experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian
mission and our values.
Work Location
This is an on-campus position as
employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus,
residential college experience for our students and the
community.
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal
background check.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a
Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to
building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to
enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by
our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth
through inquiry and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can
contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All
candidates should describe in their application how they will
foster a culture that supports our mission.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian
institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College
is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than
4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral
students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more
than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate
programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate
about their subject and student success. The College has six
schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences,
nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the
Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and
social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north
of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s
Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in
the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News &
World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the
Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA
Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary Range: $65,000
- $70,000