Director of Marketing and Communications
9211BR
University Advancement
Marketing and Donor Relations
Job Summary
The Director of Marketing and Communications is responsible for the overall communications, marketing, messaging and branding activities for the Division of University Advancement. The Director serves as both a strategist and catalyst in support of the university’s fundraising and engagement goals. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Donor Relations, this position requires focused management capability as well as strong leadership skills. In this role, the Director will use a collaborative and inclusive approach to create and implement an integrated multichannel advancement marketing and communications plan specific to elevating overall alumni engagement, annual fund solicitation and communication, as well as marketing and communication efforts specific to the solicitation and stewardship of leadership, major, principal and planned gifts. The position leads a communications team and works collaboratively with colleagues within the division and across campus.
Job Responsibilities
- Develop, execute and manage highly creative and effective marketing and communications strategies of significant scope specific to alumni/constituent engagement and fundraising at all gift levels. Gather and prioritize objectives, set a course of action, and deploy necessary resources. Effectively balance long-term thinking and planning (including budgets) with short-term needs. Uphold a positioning framework that is aligned with RIT’s brand. Institute a practice for measurement (and refinement) for reporting and optimization.
- Strategize and collaborate with fundraisers and other divisional and campus partners to create personalized and customized donor proposals and maintain a library of donor proposal templates at leadership, major, principal and planned gift levels.
- Provide strategic direction and leadership in the development of college/unit-based key messaging, case statements, and fundraising collateral in alignment with specific fundraising goals and university priorities. Collaborate closely with gift officers and divisional/campus partners to ensure a unified, impactful approach that drives donor engagement and supports institutional objectives.
- Plan, direct and supervise the work of two staff focused on the development, creation and production of solicitations and appeals, fundraising and stewardship collateral and alumni engagement materials across multiple channels including but not limited to direct response marketing, social media promotion, email marketing, event marketing, video, and the web.
- Drive consistency of message, style (concise, consistent and compelling), tone and voice across all marketing channels as well as in scripts, talking points and all other communication.
- Provide leadership to the Marketing and Communications Managers and work with internal constituents to drive compliance with all brand standards and required branding elements in all materials.
- Collaborate and work with Alumni and Constituent Relations and Annual Giving teams on alumni, parents, faculty/staff, and friends on engagement, cultivation and fundraising initiatives. Direct the work of the marketing and communications team in support of these activities.
- Lead ongoing data reporting and analysis efforts specific to marketing channel performance and drive data driven strategic planning and course-correcting as needed
- Maintain a strong knowledge of competitive academic, research, and outreach programs and their offerings with a goal to increase the effectiveness of the outreach conducted for University Advancement. Support programmatic efforts by planning and deploying publications, advertising, and digital and analog promotion activities and elevating the visibility of the outreach programs within University Advancement to external and internal audiences.
- Serve as the champion for RIT’s Division of Marketing and Communications by disseminating timely and accurate information that ensures alignment with the university. Represent University Advancement in key M&C initiatives as necessary.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years of marketing or fundraising communications experience required. Advertising/marketing agency experience desirable.
- Proven experience leading, inspiring and motivating teams in a fast-paced, highly productive, relationship-based environment
- Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Outstanding verbal, presentation, and written communication skills: an attentive listener, articulate public speaker, and clear and persuasive writer. High energy, clear goal orientation, and attention to detail a must.
- Significant and successful persuasive writing and editing experience.
- Successful proposal writing and proven ability to synthesize multiple and complex concepts into a single, persuasive story a must desirable.
- Strong computer skills and advanced use of Microsoft Office Suite.
- Strong project management skills.
- Leadership skills and proven management experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in various communications media, marketing communications, fundraising communications or branding also preferred.
- Demonstrated success in effective content development; experience in photography or art or design direction, video direction also preferred.
- Working knowledge of design, multimedia, and web development software desired.
- Current knowledge and technical understanding of communications tools (all varieties) available. Experience in connecting with a large, diverse audiences a plus.
Required Minimum Education Level
Bachelors or Equivalent Experience
Work Location
Hybrid — Remote/On-campus
Wage Band
120A
FLSA Category
Exempt
Employment Category
Fulltime
Required Application Documents
Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, List of References
What do we believe at RIT?
Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We are dedicated to building a diverse community, one where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring.
As a member of the RIT community, you'll receive a comprehensive employee benefits package that offers multiple options and access to additional employment advantages. You can tailor your benefit elections to meet your needs (affordable medical/dental/vision benefits; paid vacation/sick time/retirement saving plan with exceptional employer match; and tuition assistance for you and your family, to name a few).
Department/College Description
At Rochester Institute of Technology, our mission is to shape the future and improve the world through creativity and innovation. As an engaged, intellectually curious, diverse and socially conscious community, we leverage the power of technology, the arts, and design for the greater good. In the Division of University Advancement at RIT, we are dedicated to advancing this mission by fostering deep and meaningful connections with alumni, parents, friends, and organizations with the goal of increasing the resources available to the university through greater volunteer engagement and increased philanthropic support. As Advancement professionals, we seek support from a variety of investors to ensure a life-transforming RIT education is accessible to the talented students who seek to join us.
RIT’s Division of University Advancement (UADV) is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe the power of diversity enriches all of us by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and engage with each other, our constituents and our broader communities. We are dedicated to developing and implementing best practices to promote even greater diversity through our employee retention and hiring, accessibility, marketing materials, constituent engagement and in pursuit of our philanthropic goals.
How To Apply
In order to be considered for this position, you must apply for it at: http://careers.rit.edu/staff. Click the link for search openings and in the keyword search field, enter the title of the position or the BR number.
Additional Details
In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Hourly/Salary Minimum
60200
Hourly/Salary Maximum
100800