Associate Director of Advancement Communications

The Associate Director of Advancement Communications develops, coordinates and executes communications that support annual giving, constituent engagement and the broader priorities of College Relations.

The position manages communication projects across College Relations from concept through production, oversees the division’s email, web and social media channels, and partners closely with the Annual Giving team to execute fundraising campaigns that inspire greater philanthropic support.

Position Title: Associate Director of Advancement Communications

Pay Status and Classification: Exempt, Regular full time. This position is not eligible for relocation assistance or visa sponsorship.

Supervisor: Senior Director of Advancement Communications/Donor Relations

Position Purpose: The Associate Director of Advancement Communications develops, coordinates and executes communications that support annual giving, constituent engagement and the broader priorities of College Relations.

The position manages communication projects across College Relations from concept through production, oversees the division’s email, web and social media channels, and partners closely with the Annual Giving team to execute fundraising campaigns that inspire greater philanthropic support.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Strategy Management: Develop and maintain an annual communications calendar that supports annual giving, engagement, stewardship and other College Relations communications.

• Annual Giving Partnership: Serve as the embedded communications partner for the Annual Giving team. Coordinate multi-channel fundraising campaigns, develop donor-facing communications and manage production schedules to ensure projects are delivered accurately, on time and in alignment with the College’s messaging priorities. 

• Project Management: Develop project timelines, track production schedules, manage approval processes and oversee multiple projects simultaneously. Monitor and report on communications metrics and recommend improvements to increase audience engagement and fundraising success. Maintain files, templates, mailing lists and communications assets to support project management and consistency.

• Materials Development: Conceive, draft, edit and proofread fundraising appeals, donor impact reports, event invitations and other donor-facing communications that support annual fundraising and/or engagement objectives. 

• Email Marketing and Web Management: Administer and optimize the College Relations email marketing platform and website, including audience segmentation, testing, deployment, analytics and webpage maintenance. 

• Social Media Management: Develop and implement social media strategies that strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, parents and friends. Create engaging content, monitor conversations, analyze performance metrics and recommend opportunities to increase audience engagement.

• Brand Alignment: Ensure that communications adhere to institutional brand standards, style guidelines, visual identity requirements and messaging priorities.

• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external vendors, including graphic designers, printers, mail houses and other service providers. Prepare project specifications, coordinate production schedules, review proofs and monitor quality.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 5+ years of relevant experience in communications, marketing or advancement, preferably in higher education or nonprofit settings. 

• Familiarity with fundraising principles and alumni engagement best practices.

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading and storytelling skills, and superior attention to detail.

• Experience writing content for print, social media and web.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute multichannel communication strategies.

• Experience in email marketing and social media marketing is required. 

• Strong organizational, planning and project management skills.

• Ability to analyze and interpret data to guide communication strategies.

• Graphic design experience is strongly preferred.

• Collaborative mindset, strong project management skills and the ability to work effectively in a deadline-driven environment are required.

• Working knowledge of Google Workspace, MS Office, AI platforms, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, GiveCampus, Salesforce or comparable platforms is desirable.

Compensation:

The annual salary range for this position is $70,000 to $76,000. Except for roles with a set rate of pay, the wage/salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring rate/range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the rate/range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Location: Schenectady, NY

We know some job seekers may not apply for career opportunities unless they meet every qualification in the position description including the preferred qualifications. We are most interested in hiring the best staff and faculty colleagues, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career path. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our preferred qualifications.

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays (in accordance with policy)
• Healthcare: Medical (PPO & HDHP), Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Exchange

Background Checks: In accordance with our background check policy, finalists for hire will undergo a background check that includes education, employment, and criminal convictions.

E-Verify Participation: Union College participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify and your Right to Work (Derecho a Trabajar).