Associate Director or Director of Advancement Communications

Position Title:  Associate Director/Director of Advancement Communications,,UIS

Department:    Division of Advancement

Organization: University of Illinois Springfield

Job Summary

The Associate Director/Director of Advancement Communications is responsible for the development and implementation of advancement-focused marketing and communication tactics that enhance fundraising and alumni relations efforts including but not limited to: writing fundraising proposals and appeals, website and social media design and management, interviewing individuals and writing stories, event scripting, and creating digital and print materials.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepares digital assets, event materials, gift proposals, and other print materials for Advancement, including content development for print, digital, and video publications for fundraising, engagement activities, stewardship outreach, and events.
• Writes and designs print and online communications to highlight, recognize and solicit donors; interviews donors, alumni, students and others for marketing/communications content, creates donor news and stories.
• Prepares scripts and speaker details for chancellor and other event speakers; organizes staging, photography and AV needs.
• Establishes and cultivates collaborative relationships with the university community including alumni, donors, students, campus groups, faculty, and staff and works closely with institutional communications team members to identify, pursue, write, and edit relevant fundraising and marketing materials and to facilitate campaign goals.
• In coordination with advancement colleagues, prepares letters of inquiry, grants, proposals, position papers, concept papers, key correspondence and proofreading in order to garner private support from corporations, foundations and individuals with major donor potential. Prepares stewardship communications including impact reports and routine and special thank-you letters.
• Builds social media and web presence and maintains both internal and external donor communications; stays current on best practices in fundraising communications and emerging platforms/tech/strategies.
• Tracks and analyzes website statistics for optimization; provides counsel to colleagues across the university on strategy, analytics and university expectations for fundraising and donor relations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications        

1. Bachelor's degree in marketing, business administration, communications, public relations or a related field
2. For an Associate Director: Three (3) years (36 months) of professional work experience in marketing, public relations, communications, brand management, graphic design, or a related professional area.

For Director: Five (5) years (60 months) of professional work experience in marketing, public relations, communications, brand management, graphic design AND one (1) year experience working in fundraising communications or marketing.

3. Experience and ability to write compelling stories.

*Note: Master's degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for two (2) years (12 months) of work experience.

            Preferred Qualifications                     

1. Experience writing articles and social media posts.
2. Experience in designing marketing materials including event logos and digital assets, proposals, info sheets, fliers, etc., or willingness to be trained in this area.
3. Experience working in fundraising or nonprofit communications or marketing.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Exceptional proofreading and editing skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of and appreciation for public higher education.

Travel Requirements

No travel is expected beyond occasional local travel for interviews, meetings, and events.

Additional Responsibilities

This job description reflects the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Nothing restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. All employees are required to complete mandatory training by established deadlines (including, but not limited to, annual ethics training and sexual harassment training).

UIS Benefit Programs

• Choice of competitive health insurance plans, a dental plan, flexible spending plans, several types of term life insurance, long term disability insurance, supplemental investment programs and additional optional offerings.
• Tuition Waivers - Employees and their children may be eligible.
• Leave - sick time, shared benefits leave, vacation time, floating holidays, several paid holidays and other opportunities to take time away from work when necessary.
• Work-life balance programs – Be Well Illinois, Recreation and Wellness Programs, Adoption Benefit, Smoking Cessation Program, Weight-Loss Benefit, State Employee Assistance Programs

UIS is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive campus community. Persons with disabilities, women, and minorities are encouraged to apply.