Director of Advancement and Campaign Communications

About the Role

The Director of Advancement and Campaign Communications leads the strategic messaging, storytelling, and communications initiatives supporting university fundraising and campaign efforts. This role ensures cohesive, compelling communication that advances donor engagement and campaign momentum. This position serves as the primary liaison between the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Office of Advancement and Alumni.

Essential Functions

• Own and lead the Advancement and Campaign Communications Pillar within the Marketing and Communications Strategic Plan, providing strategic direction, implementation, success measurement and accountability.
• In collaboration with Advancement and MarCom leadership, develop and steward campaign narrative framework.
• Align donor messaging with institutional priorities ensuring brand consistency
• Support major gift initiatives with strategic communications
• In collaboration with the Director of University Communications, oversee development of impact stories and donor features
• Lead the development of advancement engagement pieces for campaigns and advancement relations
• Work with Advancement team to ensure donor communications reflect institutional brand voice
• Guide messaging for appeals, giving days, and fundraising initiatives
• Collaborate with Advancement team on email communications and donor engagement strategy
• Support Advancement event communications in coordination with the MarCom team
• Work collaboratively with the Web Development Manager to set priorities for campaign landing pages, Advancement and Alumni webpages
• Align digital storytelling with Advancement and institutional goals
• Collaborate with Alumni office on alumni communication plan and implementation

Other Duties

• Assist with major university events and special projects.
• Serve on university committees as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Assist MarCom team with projects as required.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Competency in strategic messaging and narrative development.
• Understanding of donor communications.
• Experience managing and directing projects.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or related field.

Experience

• 3-5 years in strategic communications.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Experience managing complex messaging initiatives.
• Experience managing and directing projects.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in advancement communications.
• Capital campaign communications experience.
• Advancement or fundraising experience.

Equipment

• Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Project management software (e.g., Wrike).
• Web content management systems.
• Microsoft 365.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional evening or weekend work for university events.

Special Requirements

Must be a member of a local evangelical Christian church. (Evangelical is a broad term referring to segment within Christianity which maintains the authority of the Bible and the belief in salvation by faith in Jesus alone.)

Benefits

• Generous OBU provision of premium contributions for nationwide family-friendly Health and Dental coverages along with free life insurance that includes accidental death and dismemberment equal to an employee's base salary.
• Access to optional employee-paid ancillary benefits like vision, hospitalization, critical illness, accident, additional employee-paid family life insurance coverages, and education benefits at OBU and other institutions of higher education.
• Generous paid time off that includes annual granted vacation time, accrued sick leave, six annual holidays, and week-long breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas that include energy conservation days.
• Employer matching opportunity for retirement investments in a 403(b)(9) plan administered by Guide Stone for all employees working at least half-time.
• FREE family membership to the OBU Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC).
• Global outreach university mission trips, cafeteria discounts, and parking privileges.