Managing Director of External Relations - School of Medicine

Overview

Why Work at BYU As the flagship higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University (BYU) strives to be among the exceptional universities in the world. At BYU, we are devoted to our faith and to our students. We take an active role in the University's Mission: "To assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.”

Our unique mission, deeply rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, provides countless ways to serve and make an impact. This, along with our remarkable culture of belonging, weekly devotionals, and endless opportunities for learning and growth—all situated within a beautiful and historic campus—make it hard to imagine a more inspiring place to work. Brigham Young University strongly prefers to hire faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Managing Director of External Relations - School of Medicine

The BYU School of Medicine is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Managing Director of External Relations to provide executive leadership for advancement, donor development, alumni relations, marketing, and strategic communications. Reporting directly to the Dean and serving as a member of the School of Medicine leadership team, this role works closely with BYU Philanthropies and university partners to strengthen fundraising initiatives, external relationships, alumni engagement, and the School’s local, national, and global reputation.

All efforts are aligned with BYU’s mission to provide a spiritually grounded and scientifically rigorous education for future physicians who serve as healers, teachers, researchers, leaders, and disciples of Jesus Christ.

• Advancement, Marketing & Strategic Communications
  • Develop and execute a unified strategic communications, branding, and marketing strategy for the School of Medicine
  • Provide oversight of all development communications, donor events, and marketing initiatives
  • Lead multi-channel marketing efforts, including digital content, social media, web presence, and print materials
  • Serve as the School’s communications lead, including media relations and crisis communications
  • Monitor and report on communications and marketing performance metrics
• Alumni Relations & Outreach
  • Design and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy
  • Lead alumni events, recognition programs, mentoring initiatives, and advancement activities
  • Oversee alumni communications, primarily through digital platforms
  • Manage student-alumni engagement platforms and partnerships
• Donor Development
  • Lead donor development and fundraising strategies in collaboration with BYU Philanthropies and the Advancement Office
  • Cultivate and steward relationships with individual donors, corporations, foundations, and external partners
  • Oversee donor proposals, gift agreements, stewardship communications, and recognition programs
• Administration & Institutional Representation
  • Manage advancement and external relations budgets and CRM systems
  • Represent the School of Medicine at university and external events
  • Serve as a liaison to BYU Alumni, University Communications, Brand & Creative, and other key partners

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s strongly preferred) in Communications, Business, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field
• 10–15 years of relevant professional experience
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience
• Direct experience in advancement, donor relations, alumni relations, or strategic communications
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing budgets, teams, and complex stakeholder relationships

• Advanced degree (MBA, MPA, PhD, or related)
• Higher education experience, preferably in academic medicine
• Proven success leading fundraising initiatives and alumni programs
• Familiarity with CRM systems, digital media platforms, and analytics
• Professional certifications such as CFRE or FAHP

In addition to our competitive pay structure, this position comes with fantastic benefits, including:

• 401k. BYU automatically contributes 8% at no cost to you. Additionally, if you contribute 5%, BYU adds an…