Description
The Assistant Vice President for Advancement Communications at Ohio University (OHIO) reports to the Vice President of University Advancement/President & CEO of The Ohio University Foundation. The incumbent oversees the Division’s marketing and communications efforts, ensuring that the Advancement brand identity is consistent with the OHIO brand and that there is a strategic and results-driven approach to communications with alumni, donors, prospects, and community members. This position will play a critical role in the communications, marketing, and branding strategies for OHIO’s next comprehensive campaign.
The incumbent serves as a strategic partner to unit leaders in Ohio University Communications and Marketing (UCM) and seeks to leverage UCM’s functional expertise in creative development and production, media planning and buying, web design and develop, social media, content marketing and more to elevate fundraising and alumni engagement and ultimately deliver measurable results. He/she will work with key partners including the Alumni Association, Annual Giving, Donor Relations, Gift Planning, the Office of the President, college and unit partners, and colleagues across UCM and Advancement and will build collaborative effective working relationships internally and externally in ways that help coordinate Advancement marketing and communication efforts across OHIO and in external relationships important to constituent engagement and philanthropy.
Primary Accountabilities:
Comprehensive Campaign Brand and Marketing: Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive communications and marketing plan that supports University Advancement’s strategic goals and campaign aspirations and reaches a diverse constituent base across all media including but not limited to publications, video, web, digital, and social media. Work closely with UCM and Advancement leadership to successfully launch and lead the comprehensive campaign, including informing the creation of a wide variety of marketing materials to support the campaign. This individual will serve as an active leader of the campaign brand voice, including writing compelling, inspirational campaign content that inspires volunteers and donors to stretch their ability to give.
Advancement Integrated Marketing Strategy: Provide oversight of and direction for all marketing and outreach plans designed to drive donations and alumni engagement, including but not limited to overseeing marketing strategies to support annual giving initiatives such as the University’s annual Giving Day, alumni events such as Homecoming, and more. The AVP or his/her designee will be included in the planning of these events along with partners in the OU Alumni Association, Annual Giving and Major Giving in order to inform marketing strategies.
Partner with the UCM creative team to further define and evolve the visual identity and branding of Advancement in keeping with the OHIO brand. Develop, disseminate, and evaluate key messages for print and digital materials, briefing materials for Advancement staff and volunteer leaders (internal and external) ensuring that messages and materials are linked to a common and agreed upon set of core goals.
This individual will directly or indirectly supervise all communications and marketing staff dedicated to the support of the Division of Advancement and participate in the selection and management of any and all vendors utilized for marketing, web or social media sites and print production.
External and Executive Communications: As Advancement’s communications leader, this individual will provide executive communication support to the Vice President and the Ohio University Foundation.
The individual will serve as a communications advisor regarding communication strategies and responses to breaking news, reputational impacts, major decisions, and events that intersect with Advancement and Foundation priorities. He/she will serve as the as the primary point of contact to University Communications for media issues related to philanthropy and alumni relations and lead all communications produced for the Division, including major gift proposals; newsletters; brochures; press releases; websites (including those produced externally); and more.
Leadership and Management – Directly and effectively manage staff members dedicated to communications and marketing work in Advancement. Serve as a university-wide leader as it relates to messaging to donors and alumni, and develop the respect of and inspire the work of communications professionals in UCM, the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, University Athletics and more as they collaborate to communicate with donors and alumni.
This individual will have at least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in communications and marketing, and possess deep understanding of the higher education landscape. He/she will have demonstrated experience with crisis management, strategic marketing, brand development and stewardship, and be proficient with a broad range of distribution channels. They will possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, experience managing and mentoring individuals on high performing teams, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to positive outcomes.
Requirements
Requires a Master’s degree in a related field, 10 or more years of related professional experience, and 7 or more years of supervisory experience, or equivalent education and experience.
