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Case Western Reserve University · 4 hours ago

Assistant Vice President, Development and Alumni Communications Strategy

Cleveland, OH

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$104K/yr - $132K/yr

10+ years exp

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The Assistant Vice President of Development and Alumni Communications Strategy has the primary responsibility to provide strategic leadership of a comprehensive global development and alumni engagement program, representing the university's highest strategic priorities that impact its future and national reputation.

E-LearningEducationUniversities

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive global communications strategy for fundraising campaigns and initiatives aimed to maximize lifetime engagement and philanthropic support

Serve as subject matter expert on advancement communications, particularly in a campaign environment, to best plan and implement strategic communications throughout URD

Create a holistic strategy that incorporates a variety of marketing and communications vehicles, including digital campaigns, direct mail, events, newsletters, and social media, to engage donors and alumni

Examine all potential mediums and vehicles for messaging and make recommendations for implementation or expansion of usage

Using knowledge of CRM platforms and development/fundraising best practices, develop targeted messaging strategies and journeys to meet audiences where they are and inspire them to engage with CWRU

Lead, develop and maintain annual marketing and communications plans that provide oversight for the entire URD division but also specifically focus on areas such as planned giving, major gifts, corporate giving and annual giving

Ensure that all school strategies align with central URD priorities, development and alumni engagement best practices, and UMC capabilities

Provide leadership to team members in developing and executing initiatives for their campus partners that align with overall global development and alumni engagement objectives supporting a major university-wide campaign

Design and implement innovative engagement initiatives to strengthen relationships with donors and alumni

Oversee all communication touchpoints with donors and alumni, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging

Work closely with president's office, university leadership, development officers, and alumni relations teams to align global communication strategies with fundraising goals

Serve as a key partner for and thought leader to senior leadership in URD and serve as a member of the URD senior development staff to assist with the development and implementation of program strategies and overall development plans to fulfill the mission of the university

Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners to support development and engagement objectives

Establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and initiatives

Provide regular reports and insights to senior leadership on campaign progress and communication impact

Adjust strategies as needed to achieve desired outcomes

Lead and manage a dynamic team of development and alumni communications professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture while ensuring staff accountability, maximum effectiveness, and clearly defined goals, objectives, and methods for which to measure success

Develop and implement industry best practices in processes and amplify both the CWRU and URD messaging

Establish streamlined processes for all writing, editing, designing, production, and mailing print pieces that serve individual schools, college, and departments, as well as division-wide needs, including invitations, prospect correspondence and direct mail appeals

Convene a communicators group that brings together stakeholders who oversee external communications and ensure a clear line of sight to campaign communication policy and execution, with knowledge and expertise in CASE standards and campaign practices woven throughout workflows and outcomes

Encourage continuous learning and development within the team to enhance skills and capabilities

Qualification

Fundraising communicationsCRM softwareMarketing automation toolsStrategic marketing plansVerbalAnalytical skillsWritten communicationInterpersonal skillsProject managementMicrosoft WordGoogle SuiteAdobe PhotoshopInDesign knowledgeSocial media management

Required

10 years of communications and/or fundraising experience, including significant time in a supervisory role and work in development communications

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline required; advanced degree preferred

Demonstrated success in fundraising and/or alumni engagement communications and marketing

Deep understanding of various charitable giving categories and styles, including best practices on reaching appropriate audiences for each

Extensive knowledge of CRM software and marketing automation tools, including experience using queried data to create personalized and targeted communications

Experience with Ellucian Advance (or similar CRM product) required; Salesforce Marketing Cloud a plus

Exceptional verbal and written communication, editing and presentation skills

Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders

Ability to handle multiple tasks, organize workflow, and coordinate activities efficiently

Ability to establish priorities and execute multiple projects simultaneously while staying within budget and meeting deadlines

Robust analytical and problem-solving skills to assess marketing and communications strategies and drive improvements

Ability to establish credibility, engage stakeholders, develop relationships, and influence change in a decentralized and complex organization

Ability to succeed in a collaborative, cross-functional, and fast-paced environment

Ability to develop and execute strategic marketing and communications plans for alumni and donor audiences, and to guide others in achieving those

Demonstrated success in creating teams and continually building relationships within them

Ability to think creatively and bring innovative solutions to marketing and communications challenges

Outstanding planning and organizational skills

Ability to motivate and inspire colleagues and direct reports

Clear understanding of how to convey compelling, interesting stories in multiple formats based on audience

Excellent writing, editing and proofreading ability, including superior knowledge of Associated Press style

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Google Suite (Docs, Sheets), and Adobe Photoshop; InDesign knowledge a plus

Ability to learn new programs

Knowledge and experience with content and social media management platforms

Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university

Ability to meet consistent attendance

Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face