Executive Events

The Director of Advancement Communications will proactively drive a strategic communications program that generates support for the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Housed in the University's Office of Advancement, the Director will create and implement an integrated and multimedia communications plan that appeals to prospective and current donors, alumni and other key stakeholders. The Director of Advancement Communications reports to the Managing Director - External Relations.

Advancement communications should create and improve a culture of philanthropy, elevate the University's profile, and align with institutional needs.
The Director will collaborate with partners in the Division of Advancement in planning and creating communications that inspire interest in and engagement with the University and will also collaborate with colleagues outside the division, i.e., the Office of Marketing and Communications, to complete and deliver projects.
The Director will be responsible for ensuring that communications to alumni, donors, prospective donors and other key stakeholders deliver a consistent, clear and compelling message about the University's value and the impact of philanthropy.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Directing and managing communications projects that require collaboration from team members, and stakeholders from across the University and throughout the community.
• Developing and executing a communications plan for the University's comprehensive fundraising campaign. The Director will work with stakeholders to communicate the campaign's priorities through print, web and digital platforms.
• Overseeing the master communications calendar for the Division of Advancement.
• Writing, editing and planning compelling content (digital and print) for development and alumni communications including donor stories, newsletters and impact pieces, major gift proposals, web content and scripts.
• Under the direction of the Managing Director-External Relations, drafting messages for University and Division leadership, including talking points and presentations that support giving and engagement initiatives.
• In collaboration with Division partners, including major gifts, annual giving, alumni engagement, stewardship, gift planning, operations and other units, execute on their respective communications and event support needs.
• Works collaboratively with Advancement, college and unit communicators to ensure that alumni and donor messages, strategies and projects are well coordinated and on mission.
• Overseeing and executing new communications to internal and external audiences.
• Serve as Advancement liaison with UMSL Marketing and Communications working in partnership to leverage opportunities for visibility of UMSL's fundraising priorities and initiatives, donors and alumni in University-wide publications and portals
• Ensures alignment of development and alumni communications with the University's brand.
• Create and monitors metrics to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of projects and priorities. Communicates metrics to leadership and adjusts future projects accordingly.
• Develop systems to ensure consistency, clarity, cost efficiency, and high quality of advancement communications.
• Keep informed of developments in the fields of marketing and communications to ensure that unit's strategy and approach remain leading-edge
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Qualified candidates who are interested in a remote/hybrid work arrangement are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University will not sponsor applicants for this position for employment visas.

Full-time, normally during regular business hours, M-F

Opportunity to work hybrid/remote

Pay commensurate with education and experience.
Hiring Range: $55,208 - $75,000 Annually
Grade: GGS-011
University Title: ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR I

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations or a related field.
• Four or more years of professional experience in communications, including experience in development and alumni communications.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit communications as well as fundraising campaigns preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and project and budget management experience preferred.
• Exceptionally versatile writing and editing skills; must be a creative thinker and problem-solver with the ability to motivate and excite various audiences through compelling storytelling and concise messaging.
• Knowledge of advancement communications best practices.
• The position requires excellent professional judgment and the ability to communicate with tact and sensitivity with a broad range of constituencies including donors, faculty and senior administrators.
• Successful candidates must be highly creative and organized, with a proven ability to balance multiple concurrent priorities and work effectively in a large, complex institutional setting.

Applicants must combine all application materials (cover letter, resume, list of three references with contact information, and writing sample(s), e.g., gift acknowledgement, solitication, social media posts) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment.
Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.) to the UMSL Job site: Http://umsl.jobs.
For questions about the application process, please call (314) 516-5805. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.

The University of Missouri - St. Louis offers benefit-eligible employees a wide variety of benefits including: health, dental and vision coverage effective on the first day of employment, retirement, paid time off, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents and employee and dependent life insurance. For more information about our benefits, please visit:

https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate. In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the UM Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-7976.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the UM Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

Know Your Rights

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

• Know Your Rights English Version
• Know Your Rights Spanish Version