Associate Director, Advancement Communications

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Job Title:
Associate Director, Advancement Communications

Department:
Advancement Advancement Communications

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Advancement Communications will be a key member of a proactive team that works to foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, responsiveness and flexibility. Reporting directly to the Director of Advancement Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, the Associate Director’s primary responsibilities will be to produce compelling deliverables in a timely fashion – including donor-centric proposals, stewardship pieces, annual giving campaign materials, leadership correspondence and more – for central and academic partners.

The ideal candidate must be a master storyteller and editor, someone who can combine creative writing and visuals, with research and interviews to elicit emotion from an audience of one or many. Success in this position will be influenced by the candidate’s ability to work collaboratively with administrators, creative directors, Advancement staff, students and designers, and the ability to tackle projects of all sizes on tight deadlines.

All members of Advancement are part of creating an inclusive culture that inspires and exceptionally diverse and talented team and are measured on their adherence to the following core competencies: Leadership, Continuous Improvement, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Communication/Interpersonal Effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:

50%

Works directly with Advancement Communications leadership, Principal Gifts, Donor Experience and unit-based development colleagues to create highly customized communications strategies and solutions to effectively engage, cultivate, solicit and steward donors and prospects. Researches, writes, organizes and edits high-level correspondence, including gift acknowledgements, on behalf of Advancement leaders.

40%

Develops strategy for and creates persuasive content that resonates with the university’s alumni and friends and inspires them to strengthen their support for Ohio State, including personalized proposals, reports, stewardship books and more that strictly adhere to editorial style. Works with subject matter experts throughout the university to gather and confirm information. Aligns work with university, campaign and unit priority and project-specific messaging. Implements university style, voice, tone and brand standards across all work. Uses InDesign/Adobe Design Premium Suite as well as other available tools to achieve creative, impactful, and timely donor reports, and collaborates with designers when needed to ensure high-impact materials.

10%

Proofreading, copy editing and other duties, as assigned.

Commitment to Inclusion

The Office of Advancement is committed to active allyship in addressing and dismantling the inequities created by systemic racism and implicit, long-held bias. We pledge to:

• Act with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times

• Trust ourselves and our colleagues and empower their whole identities

• Hear and see our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Four (4) years of relevant experience

• Four (4) years of professional writing/strategic communications experience

• Advanced storytelling, research, and customer service skills

• Demonstrated superior organizational, collaborative, editorial and interpersonal skills are key

Desired Qualifications (We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, liberal arts, communication sciences or a related field

• Five (5) years of relevant experience

• Five (5) years of experience with Microsoft Office, Adobe, InDesign and relational databases

• Five (5) years of professional writing/strategic communications experience with emphasis in philanthropic communications

• Five (5) years of proposal/persuasive writing experience

• Five (5) years of fundraising, donor relations or related experience

The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the diverse, smart, fun, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing research. Learn more here:  https://hr.osu.edu/careers/ .

Closing Statement

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status. 

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

Additional Information:

Target Hiring Range: $58,100 – $77,400

Ohio State is focused on enhancing the health and safety of our community. Therefore, the university is requiring every student, faculty and staff member to be compliant with Ohio State’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement . By the start of employment, all newly hired employees must receive at least the first dose of a two-dose series or a single dose of a one-dose series COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals who choose a two-dose series vaccination must receive the second dose within 45 days of their start date. Proof of vaccination will be required at time of hire. Candidates may request a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination requirement. Campus employees may also request an exemption for personal reasons. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine or OSUP Employees are not eligible for personal exemptions. All exemptions are subject to Ohio State’s approval and subject to change, including revocation, due to legal and regulatory requirements.

Location:
University Square North (1031)

Position Type:
Regular

Scheduled Hours:
40

Shift:
First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions .

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other basis under the law.

Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit the Equal Employment Identification form.