University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer…
Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Senior Engagement Communications Specialist
Job Profile Title
Staff Writer D
Job Description Summary
The Senior Engagement Communications Specialist performs as a conceptual thinker, writer, and project manager to advance the University’s mission and goals, specifically supporting Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) special event program development. This individual contributes big-picture creative vision, granular-level planning, and timely hands-on execution for an evolving portfolio of event-related communications projects, typically working directly with senior staff, academic leadership, and occasionally with the President. This role will develop event programs for the Academy (the University’s highest level donor recognition group), Presidential all-constituent engagement events regionally and internationally, and various other central DAR development and alumni relations strategic events for both broad and targeted audiences. When the University is in a Campaign, this individual will participate in designing and implementing campaign event programming.
The Senior Engagement Communications Specialist will be a member of the DAR Marketing and Communications (DARMAX) team. Their work will involve a high level of collaboration with other colleagues in DARMAX, members of the Programs and Special Events team, Donor Relations, other DAR units, and the President’s Office as appropriate to conceptualize high visibility in-person and virtual alumni and donor engagement event programs. This individual will manage the process to propose event programming to DAR and University Leadership for approval. They will then lead the development of approved event program components, including identifying, engaging, and preparing faculty or other speakers, developing visual presentation materials (typically in PowerPoint), and writing remarks. This role occasionally participates in video concepting and script writing, attending filming of interviews to support the creative process for engagement videos, which may be played as part of event programs. The Senior Engagement Communications Specialist will also attend key regional all-constituent events to staff program speakers and assess program success from a strategic communications perspective.
This position will serve as a trusted senior communicator who may occasionally be called upon to work with DAR colleagues on high priority communications projects beyond this event-related portfolio.
Job Responsibilities
- Working closely with colleagues in Programs and Special Events, DARMAX, Alumni Relations, other DAR units, and the Office of the President, lead creative thinking, planning, and execution of live programs for alumni and donor events, including but not limited to events to engage members of the Academy, and all-constituent/all-alumni regional and virtual events.
- Produce unique and compelling remarks, conversation prompts, PowerPoint presentations and accompanying scripts, and other communications assets as needed for University leaders, DAR leaders, and volunteer alumni leaders to present at high visibility events.
- Contribute conceptual, strategic thinking to the development of DAR videos to be shown at events and for other purposes to support fundraising and engagement.
- Engage and manage relationships with key faculty to prepare and support them as speakers for DAR events. This may include partnering with and managing a vendor relationship with an external speaker preparation service provider.
- Attend 4-8 regional events annually to staff faculty speakers and oversee program delivery from a strategic communications perspective.
- Consistently deliver high quality deliverables within budget and in accordance with the University’s established fiscal procedures while working in a demanding, deadline-driven, multi-stakeholder environment.
- Interact comfortably and effectively both virtually and in person with DAR leadership, University leadership, faculty members, philanthropists, high level volunteers, and other alumni and University friends at events.
- Occasionally work on emerging or unexpected leadership communications projects as needed beyond the typical event portfolio.
Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of the application prior to submitting.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years of experience in communications, event production, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Creative vision and skill to devise strategic event programs/productions, which may include video elements, live presentations, and staged panel conversations.
- Communications skills to develop compelling PowerPoint or similar visual presentations for delivery in various settings from virtual events to big screens in large venues.
- Expert writer with experience writing executive communications, including speeches and remarks.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to function with diplomacy and build positive working relationships with peers, senior colleagues, and leadership in a highly collaborative environment.
- Excellent project management skills and comfort level driving processes in a collaborative peer group setting.
- Experience in communications for fundraising, donor relations, recruitment, or other audience-targeted strategic engagement field.
- Demonstrated history of effective performance within deadline-driven environments, and ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor when under pressure.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to several times a year to attend events within the US.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
Development and Alumni Relations
Pay Range
$77,330.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
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