Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications

Founded in 1917, Providence College (PC) is a premier Catholic liberal arts institution steadfastly committed to academic excellence through a dynamic core curriculum, a distinctive Development of Western Civilization Program, and abundant experiential learning opportunities. The only U.S. higher education institution administered by the Dominican Friars, PC is committed to providing a variety of opportunities for intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual growth in a supportive environment. Providence College believes that cultural and intellectual pluralism is essential to the excellence of its academic programs, and strives to foster an academic culture and campus community reflecting the global environment in which we live and work.

The approximately 105-acre campus is situated in Rhode Island’s capital city and is close to the many cultural and educational offerings of Rhode Island’s “renaissance city.” Additionally, Providence is located an hour from Boston and just a few hours from New York City.

For years, Providence College has been recognized in the U.S. News & World Report “Regional Universities – North Category” and has been commended by several other ranking publications.

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications Overview
Manage, coordinate, and execute strategy and the related creative development and production of digital and print communications supporting the College’s development, alumni relations, and engagement efforts. Essential Duties:
1. Conceptualizes, coordinates, and develops robust, multi-channel marketing campaigns from idea to execution, in order to ensure the achievement of goals related to all fundraising initiatives, in addition to programs, events, services, and outreach to alumni, as well as parents, friends, and other constituents. Working with colleagues within Marketing & Communications, and in collaboration with advancement personnel, take the lead responsibility in overseeing conceptualization and creation of print and digital pieces relative to development initiatives and major events including St. Dominic Weekend, Reunion, and Alumni and Family Weekend, along with all other events and communications meant to engage alumni.

2. Lead efforts to ensure that the marketing and messaging needs of the Office of Institutional Advancement are identified, prioritized, coordinated, and fulfilled in ways that help achieve goals and optimize the use of resources. Work closely with leaders to develop shared clarity on priorities and messaging imperatives and then activate the Marketing and Communications resources to create the associate materials, often in the context of multiple concurrent projects, all with tight deadlines. Manage expectations and logistics by ensuring that all involved are communicating emerging needs, programmatic changes, and evolving expectations.

3. Lead collaborations among marketing and communication and advancement colleagues, and freelance associates, to ensure quality, creativity, and effectiveness of College brand-consistent materials supporting advancement initiatives across all channels, including print, web, email, and social media. Identify and implement new and emerging techniques and technologies that will be useful in achieving strategic goals. Use data and metrics to track the effectiveness of these efforts, and adjust—often in real-time—to ensure better outcomes.

4. Supervise the assistant director and a graduate assistant. Coordinate with other leaders in Marketing & Communications to maximize the use of resources and ensure that deadlines are met.

5. Manage an effective transition of responsibilities and processes to assure appropriate marketing and communications support when the College formally begins its upcoming comprehensive campaign. Assess the current practices and collaborations, working with leaders in advancement, to prepare for the campaign. Plan and lead a project aimed at creating a culture of greater self-service in advancement, where MarCom will provide templates, guidance, and support for use by advancement personnel in creating certain routine communications pieces, e.g. presentation slides, certificates, and events signs. Work with advancement leaders to assess overall structures with the goal of determining the optimal collaboration processes once the campaign leadership structure is in place.

Serve as the division’s point person in the assessment, implementation, and use of technology platforms the College employs for advancement-related marketing, messaging, event management, and data organization. Responsible for contract oversight, as applicable, and for providing marketing and communications expertise for College-wide assessment of new and updated operations systems and processes. Marginal Duties:
Perform all other duties as may be required. Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a high-output, creative services operation or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Superb writing skills, applicable to both print and digital formats
• Demonstrated high level of creativity, exemplified by the ability to conceptualize and create successful multi-channel, coordinated marketing campaigns
• Ability to lead and inspire others
• Proven capacity to foster effective collaboration in a high-demand, professional environment
• Advanced understanding of contemporary marketing techniques and delivery systems, e.g. Customer Relationship Management platforms
• Significant background in market research and the use of data to guide decision-making
• Significant experience in higher education or other advancement communications environment
• Demonstrated experience in creating print and digital pieces that serve as elements of integrated messaging campaigns and initiatives

Physical Demands

• Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time
• Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction
• Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard
• Communication skills using the spoken word
• Ability to see within normal parameters
• Ability to hear within normal range
• Ability to move about

Employee Status Full Time Union Status Non-Union Shift: If other, please enter regular schedule. EEO Statement
Providence College does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, gender, except where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, veteran status, or genetic information. The College will develop, and from time to time update, an affirmative action program and will insist on a good-faith effort on the part of its employees to comply with the program. The College will request and expect its agents and those with whom it conducts its affairs to meet the commitment of this important program.

Posting Detail Information

Requisition Number AS576P Closing Date Open Until Filled Special Instructions to Applicants Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * We require all employees to be vaccinated. Are you vaccinated or have a *valid medical or religious exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine? Applicants requesting an exemption, must complete a Providence College request form. Exemptions are not guaranteed approval. Completion of exemption/vaccination process must be finalized prior to start date.
   • Yes
   • No
   • Will request exemption

Documents Needed To Apply
Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Writing Sample

Optional Documents