Director of Advancement Communications

Job Description

The Director of Advancement Communications serves as the strategic, creative, and editorial lead for all advancement-related communications at Trinity College. As the sole communications professional within the Advancement division, this position is responsible for designing and implementing a cohesive communications strategy that supports fundraising, alumni engagement, and recognition efforts. The Director works closely with teams across the Advancement division including the Vice President’s Office, Major and Annual Giving teams, Alumni Engagement, and Donor Relations, to illustrate the impact of philanthropy at the College and crafts persuasive materials for print, digital, and social media channels to deepen connections and inspire philanthropic support.

In partnership with Trinity College’s central Marketing and Communications team, the Director ensures brand alignment, message consistency, and coordinates institutional storytelling across all platforms. This role requires strong editorial judgment, project management expertise, and a deep understanding of philanthropy-driven communications, guaranteeing that Advancement communications are consistent, precise, and aligned with the College’s mission and identity.

Additionally, the Director will play a central leadership role in the planning phase for the College’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign, helping to shape strategy, messaging, and institutional readiness. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement, the Director of Advancement Communications is vital to enhancing engagement among alumni, volunteers, and donors, while advancing the College’s fundraising and stewardship initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for Advancement, ensuring consistency and alignment across alumni engagement, fundraising, and stewardship initiatives.
• Collaborate with Advancement leadership, gift officers, and campus partners to create persuasive materials such as proposals, brochures, appeals, and web content.
• Oversee messaging for alumni and donor events, including invitations, programs, remarks, signage, and post-event follow-up. Coordinate photography and video for events.
• Partner with the stewardship team to deliver donor communications, including acknowledgments, custom messages, and annual reports.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Advancement and the central Marketing and Communications team ensuring alignment with institutional brand standards, messaging frameworks, and visual identity.
• Manage and act as a key decision-maker for Advancement communication channels, including email, direct mail, and social media.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in communications, marketing, or advancement, preferably in higher education or nonprofit settings.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute multichannel communication strategies.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Social media skills.
• Proven success in leadership and collaboration.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles and alumni engagement best practices.

About Us

Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution located in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut. The college maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant co-curricular program. With more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate students, representing forty-three states and ninety-one countries, we consider our location in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse capital city to be among Trinity’s most distinctive assets; and we cultivate strong connections with our surrounding neighbors and with institutions and organizations throughout Hartford and the region. As a preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.

Apply online at https://trincore-ibvxjb.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/4/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share

*Trinity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer*