Director, Advancement Communications and Digital Engagement

Position Information

Title
Director, Advancement Communications and Digital Engagement

Department
Vice-President for College Advancement

Regular or Temporary
Regular

Hours Per Week
40

FLSA Determination
Exempt

Weeks Per Year

52

Open Date
06/22/2022

Full or Part Time
Full Time

Position Summary

Trinity College seeks a talented and strategic Director of Advancement Communications and Digital Engagement to lead communications and marketing efforts for the college’s alumni, donor, and parent/family audiences. This person will lead the development of marketing strategies and tools to help the college enhance fundraising and participation and nurture its relationships with those audiences broadly. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Director will work closely with the senior leadership group of Advancement and all units to guide the use of digital tools, including email, social media, and the Alumni and Families website in executing advancement communications and marketing strategy. Within the division, there are several team members who are responsible for various elements of marketing, and there may be a future opportunity to expand the division’s communications and marketing staff.

A leader with an entrepreneurial spirit and experience with community building, the Director will lead with a vision to build a program from the ground up and to build a team to guide and implement that vision. We see this as a central element of our overall community engagement efforts and it will build off the success of the Virtual Long Walk platform and develop content to elevate alumni stories in advance of the Bicentennial and the public phase of a comprehensive capital campaign.

• Strategic planner: The Director will work in close partnership with leaders in Advancement to develop strategies that promote and support the work of Alumni Relations, Donor Relations/Stewardship, Annual Giving, and Campaign staff. This work will help build an annual plan with a particular focus on a digital strategy that ties into both efforts from the Bicentennial and the public phase of a comprehensive capital campaign.
• Digital communications leader: Creates an annual communications plan for Advancement, deploying integrated multi-channel approaches (i.e., email, web, social media, mobile platforms, donor publications, alumni content) to support and advance the division’s goals, priorities, and programs such as events, annual giving, online engagement, and major gift strategies.
• Marketing expert: Must understand the principles of fundraising communications, target marketing, data analytics, and creative branding. Works to support the goals of engagement and fundraising efforts, with the ability to monitor trends in digital philanthropy and support the successful fundraising campaigns.
• Digital Strategist: Understands what makes good engagement and how to produce content. Acts as the “social listener” and online community manager, monitoring alumni comments, reactions, and sentiments on social media platforms. Provides recommendations for engagement opportunities and response strategies. Responsible for the content strategy and day-to-day management of the Alumni and Families website. Collects and analyzes data (web analytics, campaign results, etc.) to make recommendations and decisions on content and audience experiences.
• Collaborator: Working with the Office of Communications, this leader will develop plans for creating compelling alumni content and stories, this person ensures alignment with the college’s brand standards, messaging, and best practices, as well as integration with college-wide communications and marketing strategies. Works closely with the Office of Communications to manage the Alumni and Families website, all social media platforms, and email marketing communications.
• With the VP and unit directors, plan and oversee the calendar for all e-communications and solicitations to alumni and parents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with strategic communications at a higher education or non-profit, and/or experience in journalism, public relations, or digital media.
• Must be an excellent writer.
• Must have media relations experience (established media contacts are desired).
• Management experience required.
• 7 years of relevant work experience or specialized training may be used in lieu of education requirement.
• Experience in marketing or development.
• Expertise in social media, email marketing, and digital engagement best practices. Full proficiency with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and emerging platforms, as well as demonstrated success in managing social media communities.
• Experienced collaborator who excels at working with others toward a common goal.
• Proven project management skills and an ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while prioritizing and handling multiple projects.
• Demonstrated creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and ability to identify innovative engagement opportunities.
• Value for Trinity’s commitment to inclusiveness; demonstrate respect and commitment to diversity
• Experience with design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva Pro, PeopleSoft and/or CRM systems.
• Experience with distributed content management systems such as WordPress.

• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Management experience with website, publications, design, photography, and video desired.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles and experience in higher education preferred.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All applicants must apply online by submitting their resume, cover letter, 3 references and examples of social media and digital marketing campaigns.


Trinity College requires proof of COVID19 vaccination and booster or an approved exemption prior to beginning employment .

Review of applications will begin three weeks after the role posting date.

Quick Link
https://trincoll.peopleadmin.com/postings/2330

Trinity College is an independent, nonsectarian liberal arts college for men and women, with approximately 2,200 undergraduate students and 200 faculty members, located in Hartford, Connecticut. Our Mission is “Engage. Connect. Transform.” As the preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives. Trinity is an actively engaged community of students, faculty and staff who work together to develop and sustain the intellectual and creative opportunities central to a first-class liberal arts education. Hartford, the state capital, provides many opportunities for cultural and social engagement.

The College is committed to building a representative and diverse faculty, administrative staff, and student body. Trinity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities should request, in advance, any needed accommodation in order to participate in the application process.

For all faculty positions, completion of the Ph.D. or appropriate equivalent is expected. Candidates should have a strong commitment to undergraduate and interdisciplinary teaching in a liberal arts context, and a well-articulated plan for sustained research. Trinity is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their research, teaching, and service.