Senior Director, Advancement Communications

Senior Director, Advancement Communications

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Senior Director, Advancement Communications at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Job Purpose

Strategic leader for the Division of Development and Alumni Affairs advancement communications team. In collaboration with division and university leadership, develop and oversee communication and marketing strategies that build awareness, inspire generosity, and activate involvement within the university’s community of alumni and donors.

The senior director serves as brand and philanthropic champion, inspiring the advancement communications team to actively contribute toward achieving annual and campaign fundraising and engagement goals. The position requires an understanding of integrated advancement marketing and development communication best practices and an ability to lead through influence and collaboration. Responsible for developing and implementing advancement communication and marketing strategies; advising on the implementation of major and principal gift proposals, case statements, impact reports and stewardship messaging, omni-channel planned and annual giving marketing, audience segmentation and lead generation;

and coordinate editorial content development. The senior director will work in close collaboration with the division vice president and AVPs, unit directors and the university’s Senior Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications. This position reports to the Associate Vice President, Advancement Communications and Engagement.

Essential Functions

Provide strategic communication expertise to achieve university annual and campaign fundraising and engagement goals; and deploy a team of advancement communication professionals who contribute toward achieving university and s/c/u fundraising and engagement goals through the creation of communication plans, major and principal gift proposals, case statements, impact reports and stewardship messaging, omni-channel planned and annual giving marketing, audience segmentation and lead generation, and coordinated editorial content development.

Analyze data to inform and create collaborative strategies that increase the quality, frequency and focus of alumni and donor communication on behalf of university and s/c/u fundraising and engagement goals. Coordinate and negotiate priorities, project needs and workload alignment in the best interest of the alumni and donor engagement process and campaign and annual goals.

Lead creation and provide final approval of all marketing and promotional materials for the division. Ensure cohesive branding and consistent messaging across all communication materials and platforms.

Supervise staff, effectively manage performance to meet individual and team initiatives; foster a collegial and highly productive work environment. Recruit, interview, hire, train, coach, evaluate, and discipline staff. Establish and communicate performance expectations in a manner that motivates and empowers staff to fulfill job duties. Encourage, support, and ensure employee participation in training and development programs. Coordinate clear workload objectives defined among staff, contracted consultants or service providers.

Write, edit, and contribute to time-sensitive, complex materials that require interaction with departments across the campus for projects that have executive priority. Responsible for creating final documents to ensure consistency of the message.

Manage unit's annual budget. Develop expense projections, approve expenditures at unit level, and monitor transactions for compliance with university policies and procedures.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

WORK CONTEXT

Job

Reports to:

Vice President/AVP/Dean.

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