What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Advancement Communications position at University of Missouri-Saint Louis?
Hiring Department
External and Donor Relations
Job Description
The Director of Advancement Communications develops and executes a strategic communications program that builds philanthropic support for the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Reporting to the Managing Director of Advancement Communications, the director creates an integrated multimedia communications plan that engages alumni and drives the Division’s fundraising strategies and stewardship of donors. This role ensures that messaging aligns with institutional priorities, enhances the university’s reputation and fosters a culture of philanthropy. The Director collaborates closely with colleagues within Advancement and across campus, including the Office of Marketing and Communications, to plan and deliver effective communications.
Shift
M-F; 8:00am-5:00pm, 40 hours per week
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Pay commensurate with education and experience.
Hiring Range: $60,000 - $72,000 Annual
Grade: GGS11
University Title: ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR I
Application Materials
Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.
Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Job site: http://umsl.jobs.
Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Values Commitment
We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.
In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.
To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.
External and Donor Relations
Job Description
The Director of Advancement Communications develops and executes a strategic communications program that builds philanthropic support for the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Reporting to the Managing Director of Advancement Communications, the director creates an integrated multimedia communications plan that engages alumni and drives the Division’s fundraising strategies and stewardship of donors. This role ensures that messaging aligns with institutional priorities, enhances the university’s reputation and fosters a culture of philanthropy. The Director collaborates closely with colleagues within Advancement and across campus, including the Office of Marketing and Communications, to plan and deliver effective communications.
- Develop and implement an annual communications strategy for Advancement in collaboration with the Managing Director, evaluating and adjusting as needed.
- Write, edit and manage content for print and digital platforms, including alumni publications, donor newsletters, solicitations, stewardship materials, web content and social media.
- Manage the Alumni Association’s social media channels, working with the Office of Marketing and Communications to align messaging and track engagement metrics.
- Support communication efforts for fundraising campaigns, conducting research, interviewing stakeholders and writing compelling cases for support, proposals and campaign messaging across digital and print channels.
- Oversee Advancement’s comprehensive calendar to ensure consistency and strategic timing of communications.
- Assist in coordinating alumni and donor-related content for UMSL Magazine and manage outreach for alumni featured in Class Notes.
- Maintain and optimize web and email design templates, ensuring effective segmentation for targeted outreach. Analyze alumni and donor engagement for improved messaging.
- Develop SEO strategies to improve website visibility, analyzing website traffic and user behavior using Google Analytics, and optimize website content.
- Collaborate with division colleagues and campus communicators to align messaging with Advancement and university branding.
- Monitor data and performance metrics to assess communication effectiveness and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Stay informed on best practices in advancement marketing and communications to keep strategies innovative and effective.
- Handle additional duties as assigned.
Shift
M-F; 8:00am-5:00pm, 40 hours per week
Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations or a related field.
- Four or more years of professional experience in communications.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to craft compelling messaging for diverse audiences.
- Experience with social media management and digital engagement strategies.
- Excellent verbal communication and organizational skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
- Experience in development and alumni communications preferred.
- A higher education or nonprofit communications background, especially fundraising campaigns, is preferred.
- Strong understanding of alumni engagement and advancement principles.
- Strong technology skills including HTML, website content management systems, SEO and Google analytics.
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign) preferred.
- Photography, videography and editing experience a plus.
Pay commensurate with education and experience.
Hiring Range: $60,000 - $72,000 Annual
Grade: GGS11
University Title: ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR I
Application Materials
Application materials include a cover letter and resume. Finalists will be asked to provide references at a later date.
Applicants must combine all application materials into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as a resume attachment to the UMSL Job site: http://umsl.jobs.
Limit document name to 50 characters. Maximum size limit is 11MB. Do not include special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). For questions about the application process, please email employment@umsl.edu. If you are experiencing technical problems, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu.
Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.
Values Commitment
We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.
In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.
To request ADA accommodations, please email the Office of Human Resources at umslhr@umsl.edu.
Salary : $60,000 - $72,000
