Director of Advancement

Position Summary

The Director of Advancement is responsible for leading community and alumni engagement efforts through events, communications, marketing, and fundraising initiatives. It is the role of the Director of Advancement to strengthen relationships among our internal and external stakeholders and oversee the Advancement team. This person in this position will also serve on the Administrative Leadership Team. This position has four direct reports.

Representative Duties

• Plan, organize, and oversee a variety of school-wide, community, and alumni events that build connection and enhance school spirit (e.g. galas, open houses, community celebrations, alumni reunions, and donor recognition events).
• Cook logistics, manage event budgets and timelines, and collaborate with internal departments and volunteers to ensure high-quality experiences.
• Create professional materials and coordinate event-related communications to ensure high attendance and engagement.
• Develop a communications strategy. Lead all internal and external communications, ensuring consistency of messaging and alignment with the school’s mission and values.
• Produce high-quality written content, including weekly newsletter and monthly highlights, press releases, website copy, social media posts, fundraising collateral, donor reports, and crisis communication.
• Create and manage promotional materials, advertising, brochures, pictures, videos, and digital campaigns that showcase Rochambeau’s programs, values, and community life.
• Create and implement communication strategies through various communication channels, including email marketing, social media, and the school’s website.
• Publish the annual satisfaction survey to families; analyze and report on the results.
• Design and execute annual fund campaigns, auctions at galas, and donor stewardship initiatives.
• Produce donor reports, personalized correspondence, and the school’s annual report.
• Manage the advancement program’s presence on social media platforms, creating engaging content to increase followers and engagement.
• Create meaningful advancement content and partner with other colleagues to assess analytics and engagement.
• Develop and maintain a strong alumni network, which fosters lifelong connections and engagement.
• Plan alumni events, communications, and outreach campaigns to encourage involvement and philanthropic support.

Qualifications

• Minimum Requirements: Ten (10) or more years of relevant professional experience in advancement functions, including social media proficiency, communication, events, and fundraising; Five (5) or more years of supervisory experience managing a team of professional staff; Exceptional skills in advancement communication, marketing, alumni relations, fundraising, publication production, advertising, social media, analytics, and web design; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Ability to write smart, concise copy that effectively communicates information to a wide range of audiences in various formats (print, Web, social); Strong interpersonal skills, professional, and approachable demeanor; Strong organizational skills and highly detail-oriented; Ability to effectively multitask and prioritize while working in a dynamic environment; Self-starter with a patient and creative problem-solver mentality who thinks and reacts quickly; Flexible and able to effectively manage unexpected challenges and changes in direction or priority; Willingness to collaborate and work as a team-player with a range of faculty, staff, and administrators throughout the School; Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., Marketing, Communications, Non-Profit Management); Experience working in a private, international, or school setting.
• Preferred Qualifications: Bilingual fluency in French and English; Experience with advanced analytics and engagement metrics; Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, digital photography, and video production experience.