Assistant Director of Advancement Communications

Position Overview

Clark University seeks a highly organized, proactive, and strategically minded communicator to join its University Advancement team. This role offers the opportunity to play a visible and meaningful part in shaping how alumni, parents, and supporters engage with the University and how those connections translate into philanthropic impact.

The Assistant Director of Advancement Communications leads the execution and continuous improvement of digital communications across email, social media, and web. Working collaboratively across Advancement, Marketing and Communications, and campus partners, this role drives audience engagement through thoughtful storytelling, targeted outreach, and data-informed strategy.

This is an ideal opportunity for a detail-oriented, forward-thinking professional who is energized by digital strategy, takes initiative, and is motivated to improve performance through testing, analysis, and creative problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities

Email Communications (40%)

• Lead the development, execution, and optimization of email communications for events, fundraising appeals, and alumni engagement initiatives.
• Partner on high-impact campaigns such as GivingTuesday, Spree for Clark, Cougar Challenge, and other strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with campus partners to create targeted communications for segmented alumni audiences.
• Oversee email testing, quality assurance, and performance tracking to ensure accuracy and effectiveness.
• Analyze engagement metrics including open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, and translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Maintain and enhance email templates to support efficiency, accessibility, and brand consistency.

Social Media Strategy & Management (20%)

• Manage and grow Advancement's social media presence on Facebook and Instagram.
• Develop and execute content strategies that increase engagement, visibility, and audience participation.
• Create, schedule, and optimize content aligned with Advancement priorities and campaigns.
• Monitor performance metrics and continuously refine content strategy based on results.
• Highlight alumni and donor impact through storytelling that supports fundraising and engagement goals.
• Coordinate with Marketing and Communications to ensure alignment with University-wide social media standards.

Digital Strategy & Campaign Optimization (20%)

• Lead A/B testing strategies for email and digital campaigns, including subject lines, content, segmentation, and send times.
• Analyze performance data across email, social media, and web channels to identify trends and inform strategy.
• Partner with data and CRM teams to refine audience targeting and personalization approaches.
• Develop and maintain reporting that tracks campaign performance and supports data-driven decision-making.
• Recommend and implement strategic improvements to increase engagement, participation, and conversion across Advancement initiatives.

Website Management (10%)

• Maintain and enhance Advancement webpages within the University's CMS.
• Develop new pages and manage forms to support campaigns and events.
• Use web analytics and user behavior data to improve content performance and user experience.

Additional Responsibilities (10%)

• Coordinate communications timelines and support audience targeting in partnership with data teams.
• Provide editing and quality control to ensure communications meet high standards for accuracy and clarity.
• Ensure all content aligns with University branding, accessibility, and communication standards.
• Support key Advancement events, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Maintain confidentiality of constituent and University information.
• Contribute to strategic planning and execution in partnership with the Director of Advancement Communications.

What Success Looks Like

• Increased engagement across email and social media channels.
• Strong performance of digital campaigns supporting fundraising initiatives.
• Clear, consistent, and compelling storytelling that strengthens alumni and donor relationships.
• Efficient, well-executed communications delivered on time and aligned with strategic goals.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field.
• 2-4 years of experience in digital communications, marketing, or advancement communications.
• Experience building and managing email campaigns using platforms such as Emma or Mailchimp.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Experience managing social media accounts for an organization.

Preferred

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or fundraising communications.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, particularly Raiser's Edge.
• Experience with CMS platforms such as Drupal or WordPress.
• Proficiency with tools such as Hootsuite, Microsoft Office and Teams, Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Basic design skills and the ability to create simple, effective visual assets for digital communications.

Core Competencies

• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strategic thinking and data-informed decision-making.
• Collaborative and professional approach to working with partners.
• Knowledge of accessibility and digital communication best practices.