"Director of Development Communications"

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title
Director of Development Communications

Position Type
Regular

Job Number
SA70324

Full or Part Time
full-time 40 hours weekly

Fair Labor Standard Act Classification
Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range
$120,000 - $140,000

Pay Range Information
Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Position Summary Information

Job Description Summary
Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Strategic and Integrated Communications, the Director of Advancement Communications provides strategic leadership in crafting and managing creative communications strategies that drive donor support and alumni and parent engagement across various constituent levels. This role serves as a central collaborator across fundraisers, alumni and parent teams, and campus partners to create compelling advancement communications materials to inspire philanthropic support and meaningful connections with the university community. Through innovative approaches, data-driven communication strategies, and cross-organizational collaboration, the Director of Advancement Communications ensures consistency in brand messaging while driving measurable outcomes for campaigns, fundraising, and lifelong engagement initiatives with university constituents.

Responsibilities

CONCEPTION AND DEVELOPMENT

• In collaboration with SMC leadership and campus partners, lead the strategic vision and execution of integrated communications across Development, Alumni Engagement, and Parent and Family Engagement to cultivate and strengthen constituent relationships throughout their entire journey, from initial engagement through sustained philanthropy.
• Develop and implement tailored communication strategies for donor, alumni, foundation, and parent audiences that drive philanthropic support, engagement, and participation in events and volunteer programs, collaborating closely with respective teams on content and outreach initiatives including:
  • Develop high-level gift proposals and create templates for gift officers to create their own
  • Develop comprehensive campaign messaging, in addition to supporting messaging efforts in the Foundation and Corporate Relations area
  • Write content for the monthly donor, alumni, and parent newsletters
  • Draft and distribute the monthly donor, alumni, and parent newsletters using Salesforce
  • Conduct monthly check-in meetings with team members in Alumni Engagement, Parent Engagement, Annual Giving, and Corporate and Foundation Relations
• Ensure strategic alignment and consistent application of institutional brand identity and messaging across all advancement communications, serving as a key liaison within SMC, including:
  • Schedule tasks in Asana and coordinate with SMC team members regarding their project roles.
  • Customize materials to the needs of academic disciplines and institutional priorities (e.g. Athletics, Student Affairs, etc.)
  • Customize materials to various donor segments (e.g. annual fund /major /principal /planned gift prospects and donors)
  • Customize stewardship materials to the individual interests of donors
• Customize communications by synthesizing and applying available research on distinct donor segments including loyal donors, philanthropic entrepreneurs and philanthropic investors as well as research on philanthropic propensities that may be unique to individual prospects/donors and their interests.
• Collaborate within the department and university and with external vendors, as appropriate, to produce strategic, high-quality, and persuasive messaging and content for written collateral, web, electronic mail, and social media platforms for the comprehensive campaign when applicable.
• Oversee strategic messaging and SMC coordination role for Homecoming activities

COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION WITH CAMPUS PARTNERS

• Provide strategic communications counsel, guidance, and training to UA and university colleagues on the best practices of messaging and content delivery for impactful communications that drive donor support.
• Collaborate with key academic and administrative leaders, student and alumni leaders, advancement professionals and others to incorporate the various voices and outlooks that comprise the Chapman identity for the comprehensive campaign and other donor communications.
• Help to establish the aesthetic direction and consistency for printed collateral and the web environment for campaign image and brand.
• As needed or requested, advise internal stakeholders, including front-line fundraisers, volunteers, and academic leadership, on ways to customize their messages to engage alumni, parents, and friends within the University’s brand identity parameters.

DATA STRATEGY

• Champion a data-driven approach to communications strategy by establishing key performance indicators, analyzing engagement and fundraising metrics, and leveraging insights to continuously optimize strategies and content across all platforms and constituent segments.
• Provide monthly data reports and suggested strategies to improve engagement across all integrated advancement communications.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and professional experience
• Minimum seven years’ experience in leading communications strategy for a complex organization, preferably in a development or fundraising environment.
• Experience advising and working closely with executive-level leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience creating successful campaign collateral and brand messages
• Knowledge of fundraising concepts related to proposals and campaign collateral and web content
• Superior command of grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Ability to forecast expenses and manage a budget
• Technical skills to use Microsoft Office and position relevant design-related software, and to learn and use enterprise systems
• Demonstrated ability to influence and tactfully manage relationships with diverse internal and external constituencies
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate data, assess alternatives, and make appropriate decisions and/or recommendations
• Ability to learn university policies, procedures, practices and culture and apply them for effective and persuasive messaging
• Ability to maintain high level confidentiality and to employ tact and good judgment
• Working knowledge of current messaging tools, styles, and best practices for diverse audience appeals
• Experience managing design and print partners/vendors as well as leading high priority communication projects or related initiatives; graphic design skills a plus.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.

Minimum Number of References
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Maximum Number of References
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Pre-screening Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents
(none specified)