Senior Engagement Communications Specialist

About the role

The Senior Engagement Communications Specialist performs as a conceptual thinker, writer, and project manager to advance the University’s mission and goals, specifically supporting Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) special event program development.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative thinking, planning, and execution of live programs for alumni and donor events, including but not limited to events to engage members of the Academy, and all-constituent/all-alumni regional and virtual events.
• Produce unique and compelling remarks, conversation prompts, PowerPoint presentations and accompanying scripts, and other communications assets as needed for University leaders, DAR leaders, and volunteer alumni leaders to present at high visibility events.
• Contribute conceptual, strategic thinking to the development of DAR videos to be shown at events and for other purposes to support fundraising and engagement.
• Engage and manage relationships with key faculty to prepare and support them as speakers for DAR events. This may include partnering with and managing a vendor relationship with an external speaker preparation service provider.
• Attend 4-8 regional events annually to staff faculty speakers and oversee program delivery from a strategic communications perspective.
• Consistently deliver high quality deliverables within budget and in accordance with the University’s established fiscal procedures while working in a demanding, deadline-driven, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Interact comfortably and effectively both virtually and in person with DAR leadership, University leadership, faculty members, philanthropists, high level volunteers, and other alumni and University friends at events.
• Occasionally work on emerging or unexpected leadership communications projects as needed beyond the typical event portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years of experience in communications, event production, or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Creative vision and skill to devise strategic event programs/productions, which may include video elements, live presentations, and staged panel conversations.
• Communications skills to develop compelling PowerPoint or similar visual presentations for delivery in various settings from virtual events to big screens in large venues.
• Expert writer with experience writing executive communications, including speeches and remarks.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to function with diplomacy and build positive working relationships with peers, senior colleagues, and leadership in a highly collaborative environment.
• Excellent project management skills and comfort level driving processes in a collaborative peer group setting.
• Experience in communications for fundraising, donor relations, recruitment, or other audience-targeted strategic engagement field.
• Demonstrated history of effective performance within deadline-driven environments, and ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor when under pressure.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to several times a year to attend events within the US.

Pay

$77,330.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate

Schedule

Full-time