Manager, Advancement Communications

Job Description Summary

Shirley Ryan Ability Lab is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions. By joining our team, you’ll be part of our life-changing mission and vision. You’ll contribute to an innovative, multifaceted culture that is second to none — one that embraces collaboration, excellence, discovery and compassion. You’ll play a role in something that’s never been done before as we integrate science and clinical care to help patients achieve better, faster outcomes — as we Advance Human Ability, together.

The Manager, Advancement Communications is responsible for the strategic development of compelling written materials that support donor engagement across the full giving lifecycle. The Manager, Advancement Communications believes in the power of clear, impactful storytelling to inspire philanthropy and strengthen relationships. This role will collaborate closely with colleagues across partner departments — most especially Marketing — to ensure all donor-facing communications are thoughtfully developed to place donors at the heart of the narrative, helping them recognize their integral role in shaping outcomes and driving our shared mission forward.

The Manager, Advancement Communications will consistently demonstrate support of the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab statement of Vision, Mission and Core Values by striving for excellence, contributing to team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute.

The Manager, Advancement Communications will demonstrate Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Core Attributes:
Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Core Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, & Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties.

• Produce original, mission-driven content for proposals, stewardship reports, endowment reports and other communications that articulate impact and advance strategic fundraising goals.
• Understand individual donors’ backgrounds and motivations, creating compelling and customized materials that steward, engage and motivate them to take action.
• Partner with leaders and program teams to articulate institutional priorities and translate them into high-quality, fundable investment opportunities that underscore impact and inspire philanthropic support.
• Review, edit and develop a wide range of fundraising and stewardship templates and boilerplate materials that can be adapted across multiple channels.
• Leverage existing source material to draft, edit and fact‑check talking points, speeches, briefs, correspondence and other communications that support leadership in their advancement activities.
• Engage clinicians, researchers, leadership, grateful patients and other partners in interviews to uncover compelling insights and stories that inform communications.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing and other partner departments to ensure donor-facing communications are aligned with broader organizational positioning and brand.
• Serve as a trusted proofreader and editor for Advancement, ensuring all materials meet the highest standards of accuracy, consistency and quality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reports jointly to the Associate Vice President, Advancement and Executive Director, Communications.

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, English, Journalism or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in writing high-quality content with significant external visibility, preferably in the healthcare or not-for-profit sector. Experience creating advancement materials is also preferred.
• Command of AP style; exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills. Impeccable grammar and formal proofreading skills are a must, as is the ability to present a brand’s voice consistently and creatively.
• Ability to distill and accurately represent complex ideas.
• Ability to lead…