Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing, Advancement

Job Description

The Student Affairs Advancement team is comprised of alumni and parent engagement, fundraising, and communications professionals who foster an understanding of the student experience in a way that leads to increased engagement and philanthropic support. In keeping with Student Affairs’ mission to promote student learning, life skills, and personal growth, and rooted in our five Aspirations for Student Learning, Student Affairs Advancement has the ability to make an immediate and direct impact on the Virginia Tech student experience.

The Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing reports to the Chief Advancement Officer for Student Affairs, with a dotted line to the Director of Student Affairs Communications, and is responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive, strategic marketing and communications plans directed toward Student Affairs’ constituency groups. The Assistant Director will play a critical role in promoting the initiatives, programs, and promise of over two dozen Student Affairs departments to various audiences. The position will provide leadership and oversight for all Advancement marketing and communications, including but not limited to creating written/edited news stories, stewardship emails, formal presentations, reports, social media posts, website copy, data analysis, graphic design projects, fundraising proposals, annual fund storytelling, and a wide range of other strategic-level marketing and communication efforts. The position will also create and oversee the annual communications work plan for Student Affairs Advancement, including messaging to donors, high-capacity parents, student leader alumni, and board members.

The Assistant Director will also serve as a member of the Student Affairs communications leadership team and will work collaboratively and in alignment with the Director of Student Affairs Communications.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, print journalism, English or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in creating and implementing a strategic communications and marketing plan with a preference for ones related to philanthropic efforts.
• Demonstrated professional experience as a writer, reporter, or communicator, and a portfolio of work that exhibits strong writing skills with keen attention to detail and excellent grammar and proofreading skills.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication and customer service skills, both written and verbal.
• Track record of creating compelling and impactful communications that work across platforms and can be translated into digital or print.
• Strong time management and organizational skills, working independently with little supervision and as part of a team on multiple tasks and projects; including the ability to prioritize projects and tasks based on workflow and current deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in networking effectively to establish relationships and partnerships that benefit all programmatic efforts and to advance initiatives.
• Evidence of a strong commitment to promoting inclusion and diversity in communications and marketing work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with communications and marketing and/or Advancement in a university environment including compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge and use of AP Style.
• Experience working with Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, content management systems, and social media platforms.
• Demonstrated skills in photography and/or videography.
• Knowledge using project management software such as Wrike or a social media content system such as Falcon.

Pay Band

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$55k-$60k

Review Date

June 20th, 2022

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Student Affairs:

Student Affairs’ Aspirations for Student Learning serve as a framework for our roles as educators as we work alongside students to encapsulate their learning into a strengths-based discovery of their talent so they may: commit to unwavering curiosity; pursue self-understanding and integrity; practice civility; prepare for a life of courageous leadership; and ultimately, embrace Ut Prosim as a way of life. We operationalize these aspirations through ExperienceVT whereby we work alongside undergraduate, graduate and professional students to create a customized plan for their experience designed to accomplish their individual goals. We measure our success by the success of our students. To that end, we will do whatever it takes to support the individual well-being and success of every student at Virginia Tech

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Llaura Garcia at llaurag@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: May 16, 2022
Applications close: