Careers

Working/Functional Title

Sr. Director of Adv Marketing & Comm

Position Summary

 BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

University Advancement seeks an experienced and creative leader for the position of Senior Director of Communications and Marketing. This position plays a vital role in promoting the university’s upcoming multi-billion dollar capital campaign and overseeing successful communications and marketing strategies across a range of platforms.

The Senior Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications directs strategies for University Advancement including alumni and campaign communications, university and campaign brand management and marketing strategy, public relations, graphic/web design, social media, corporate communications, and utilizes appropriate metrics to gauge performance and guide team performance. The Senior Director of Communications and Marketing manages a staff of professionals with responsibilities in donor communications, digital marketing, constituent engagement management, graphic design, video production, and multiple alumni and campaign publications. This position provides recommendations to advancement and university leadership on campaign messaging and content to develop strategic direction, and to determine priorities, and initiate communication efforts consistent with those priorities. The Senior Director will provide recommendations to leadership and fundraisers in issues management, develop joint marketing approaches with colleges and athletics, and work directly with lead donors to announce gifts. This position has responsibility for conceptualizing and overseeing execution of initiatives that reach multiple audiences and helps elevate MSU’s reputation among potential and existing constituents, donors, alums, and corporations. The senior director will act as media liaison for University Advancement - to present stories and build relationships through various activities including on-campus visits and processing requests for information. Builds strategies for visibility and brand through digital and print communications, including website, videos, social media, publications, and other channels and products.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Drives Communications and Marketing Strategies for University Advancement:

• Plan and implement comprehensive content, marketing, and communications strategies for maximizing philanthropy and engagement with MSU and prioritize the donor experience.

• Conceptualize and execute initiatives that reach multiple audiences and elevate MSU’s reputation among potential and existing constituents, donors, alums, and corporations
• Define and pursue comprehensive, effective messaging and content to develop strategic philanthropic priorities and initiate communication efforts consistent with those priorities
• Build strategies for visibility and brand through digital and print communications, including website, videos, social media, publications, and other channels and products
• Plan, host, and communicate at internal and external meetings to provide information about campaign messaging and advancement priorities.
• Serve as University Advancement’s primary liaison to counterparts across the university related to issues management, campaign messaging, and gift announcements.
• Serve as media liaison for University Advancement - to present stories and build relationships through various activities including on-campus visits and processing requests for information
• Collaborate with fundraising communication teams in the units and central University Communications related to alumni, donor, and campaign content and messaging to ensure consistency and donor focus

Donor Experience:

• Work with campus partners including athletics and college development and communication teams, as well as UA engagement, alumni, and annual giving teams to co-develop content and plan and implement internal and external communications and tools that improve the MSU donor experience.
• Represent University Advancement at functions and work with donors and other constituents to strengthen connections and build trust in MSU.
• Assist in setting both long- and short-term goals for Advancement marketing and communications and the entire Engagement to determine resources required.
• Participate with appropriate teams at the Units to strategically link to community and outreach activities that have the potential to align and synergize with the philanthropic community and the work of the development team with donor populations.

Personnel Management:

• Set clear direction and priorities for staff of professionals and administrative support personnel. Promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals; inspire and motivate staff through the free flow of information placing staff members’ work within the context of donor service strategic priorities as well as within the mission of Michigan State, consistent with University Advancement policies and procedures.
• Efficiently and effectively manages editorial, design, video, and photo production resources to produce beautifully crafted and highly effective content within project scope; solves problems, makes decisions, manages expectations, communicates effectively in difficult situations, escalates appropriately, and delegates actively to provide opportunities for leadership and professional growth within the team 
• Lead by example; foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards cross-functional collaboration and team-based efforts. Celebrate current achievements and set clear expectations for future success. 
• Develop and monitor budget and expenses to ensure stewardship of university resources and alignment with departmental goals.
• Actively mentor and train staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth; emphasize retention as a means of increasing capacity and expertise of the team. Fully leverage human and financial resources and promote greater efficiency.
• Provide the structure and guidance necessary to promote a high-performance culture.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Direction is received from the Assistant Vice President of Engagement in University Advancement.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision over the Advancement Marketing and Communications team including but not limited to creative services, social media, digital marketing, development and alumni communications, Spartan Magazine, and event communications.   

Unit Specific Education/Experience/Skills

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in English, journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in news media or media or in a field which corresponds to the particular department of employment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Desired Qualifications

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a master's degree program in English, journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field.

Experience in communications and issues management or in a field which corresponds to the particular department of employment

Significant skills or understanding in public relations, publication production, video production, advertising, graphic design, social media, communications analytics, or web design.

Application and demonstration of strong editorial judgment.

Supervisory experience and exceptional interpersonal skills.

Excellent oral, written, and digital communication skills. Experience working in a higher education environment.

Experience in the delivery of visual and graphic content and presentations in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Knowledge of best practices for communication to diverse audiences.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Resume and cover letter

Special Instructions

HOW TO APPLY

If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Patricia Karam, Director of Recruitment, at karampat@msu.edu. 

All candidates must submit an application resume and cover letter through the Michigan State University Human Resources web-based system, the URL for this website is careers.msu.edu. Please indicate the position number 896429 when submitting your application.

Screening of applicants will continue until the position is filled.

Work Hours

8 am - 5 pm with some evenings and weekends

Website

Advancement.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends September 12, 2023 at 11:55 P.M.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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