AVP for Adv Comms, Marketing & Campaign Direc

Job Description

Job Description

PCN 2088

Position Description:

The Associate Vice President for Advancement Communications, Marketing and Campaign Director provides senior-level leadership for Merrimack College’s advancement communications and marketing strategy and serves as director of the College’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), the Associate Vice President is a leader on the Institutional Advancement leadership team and works closely with the Senior Vice President and CAO and Advancement leadership to establish campaign strategy, communications priorities, messaging and integrated engagement plans that advance fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations and campaign Objectives.

The Associate Vice President is responsible for translating Merrimack’s strategic priorities, institutional progress and philanthropic aspirations into compelling communications that engage alumni, donors, parents, prospects and other key audiences. The position leads the development of campaign narratives, donor and alumni stories, impact communications and marketing initiatives designed to deepen engagement and inspire philanthropic investment.

Advancement-generated content will also serve as an important source of stories, messages and proof points for Merrimack’s broader institutional communications and marketing efforts.

Primary Responsibilities:

Campaign Leadership and Strategy

• Serve as director of Merrimack College’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.

• Lead campaign planning, organization, implementation, communications, marketing and evaluation.

• Develop and maintain an integrated campaign plan, including phases, timelines, milestones, audience strategies, communications priorities, responsibilities and accountability.

• Partner with the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and CAO and Advancement leadership to establish campaign priorities, goals and strategies.

• Develop and maintain the Together We Rise case for support, campaign narrative, key messages and communications strategy.

• Ensure campaign priorities are clearly articulated, compellingly presented and aligned with Merrimack’s strategic priorities and philanthropic aspirations.

• Lead communications and marketing supporting campaign launches, priorities, leadership gifts, milestones, celebrations and campaign conclusion.

• Maintain campaign visibility, momentum and a strong sense of progress throughout the life of Together We Rise.

• Partner with institutional communications and marketing colleagues to extend campaign stories and messages through broader College channels and audiences.

Advancement Communications, Marketing and Content Strategy

• Establish and lead an integrated Advancement communications and marketing strategy supporting fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship and Together We Rise.

• Translate Merrimack’s priorities, progress and philanthropic opportunities into compelling communications for alumni, donors, parents, prospects and other Advancement audiences.

• Establish editorial and content priorities based on Advancement and campaign objectives.

• Lead the development of stories featuring students, alumni, faculty, donors, research, career outcomes, athletics, mission and community impact through an Advancement and philanthropic lens.

• Lead and oversee major Advancement content, including donor-impact stories, alumni profiles, videos, digital features, newsletters, publications and the quarterly Merrimack Magazine.

• Maintain a coordinated Advancement editorial calendar and repository of approved stories, testimonials, data, photography, campaign proof points and donor-impact content.

• Ensure Advancement communications are consistent in voice, message, quality and visual presentation.

• Partner with Advancement Services and other colleagues to use audience segmentation, analytics and performance data to strengthen communications effectiveness.

• Test and refine messaging, content and channels based on audience engagement and results.

Donor, Alumni and Fundraising Communications

• Lead communications strategies supporting donor engagement, alumni engagement, stewardship and philanthropic participation.

• Develop donor-centered communications that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy and inspire continued investment.

• Partner with fundraising leadership and frontline gift officers to develop proposals, presentations, cases, talking points and other communications supporting cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

• Ensure fundraising teams have the stories, messages, data and tools necessary to engage donors and prospects effectively.

• Partner with alumni relations and advancement colleagues to align communications with recognition, stewardship and donor experience strategies.

• Develop communications that strengthen alumni connection to Merrimack and create pathways toward deeper engagement, volunteer participation and philanthropy.

• Ensure alumni, parent, prospect and donor communications are coordinated and aligned with Advancement and campaign priorities.

Digital, Social and Event Communications

• Lead digital and social media strategy for Advancement, alumni engagement, donor relations.

• Develop digital and social content that demonstrates philanthropic impact, showcases student and alumni success and outcomes, celebrates donors and alumni, and advances fundraising and campaign priorities.

• Coordinate Advancement content with broader College digital and social media channels.

• Lead communications and marketing for major campaign events, donor gatherings, alumni programs and Advancement leadership events.

• Partner with Advancement and College colleagues on event objectives, messaging, audience strategy and program development.

• Develop pre-event and post-event communications that strengthen relationships, deepen engagement and support philanthropic outcomes.

• Use digital performance data and audience insights to improve reach and effectiveness.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a senior strategic advisor to the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and CAO on advancement communications,