Senior Director of Development Communications, Penn Medicine

Job Description Summary

The Senior Director of Development Communications will be the principal development communications professional and a source of high-level strategic support for the Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine/ Executive Vice President (EVP) for the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System.

Serving as a key liaison between Penn Medicine Development and Alumni Relations (PMDAR) and the Office of the Dean/EVP, this role is responsible for shaping and advancing the Dean/EVP's voice in development communications and ensuring alignment between Penn Medicine priorities and philanthropic messaging. The Senior Director will report to Penn Medicine's Chief Advancement Officer and will oversee all aspects of the Dean/EVP's written and verbal remarks and presentations for both internal and external audiences.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary writer for the Dean/EVP's speeches, remarks, talking points, and other leadership communications (such as presentation creation) for donor events and external engagements.
• Provide advice, counsel, collaboration, and operational support to the Dean/EVP, Chief of Staff, and Chief Advancement Officer on priorities of the Dean/EVP related to long-range planning, new developments, local and national issues, key projects and trends impacting Penn Medicine, issues management, crisis communications and stakeholder relations.
• Partner on communications (as applicable) for Vice Deans and other Penn Medicine leadership, which will include editing and refining material to polish the final product (and provide a unified voice).
• Conduct in-depth research by gathering facts, statistics, historical references, and anecdotal evidence to support the writing assignment.
• Act as a liaison between the Dean/EVP's Office and PMDAR and work to shape the leadership voice of the Dean/EVP's Office in development of communications and ensure alignment between leadership priorities and philanthropic messaging.
• Translate institutional priorities into compelling narratives that support development initiatives and principal gift strategy.
• Coordinate with Penn Medicine Marketing & Communications, Government and Community Relations, and the CEO's communications team to ensure cohesive institutional messaging.
• Advise on communications strategy across channels, including social media and public-facing communications.
• Manage complex communications projects supporting development and leadership initiatives.

Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role.