Director of Advancement Communications
- Employer
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Location
- Wilmington, North Carolina
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Communications & Marketing
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
UNCW is seeking a Director of Advancement Communications – an enthusiastic marketing and communications professional. The ideal candidate will have significant development expertise and will formulate, articulate, and drive strategic communications that support the work of the Division for University Advancement to include Alumni Relations.
In February 2021, the university launched a $100 million comprehensive campaign. This position will help unify division efforts around the theme – Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW – to inspire philanthropic investment among university constituents and enhance engagement among our 90,000+ alumni. The successful candidate will help convert campaign concepts, influenced by a recent image study, into various collateral that will resonate with key constituents. We are seeking a master-collaborator who will develop integrated strategies within this framework but will also contribute new ideas and establish operations that transcend the campaign period.
A leader within the division, the Director of Advancement Communications will guide communication strategies that support the goals of the division – including but not limited to, driving participation in annual giving campaigns, cultivating alumni engagement, and enhancing UNCW’s culture of philanthropy through stewardship and storytelling. The ability to collaborate with internal departments, as well as with campus partners and external vendors, to build consensus and effectively coordinate communications is key. These communications will be multi-channel, including but not limited to, direct mail, digital communications, speaking points, print publications and videos.
The Director of Advancement Communications will help match departmental goals with broader divisional goals and will work to align communication channels and budgetary resources accordingly. This role will be called upon to protect campaign branding guidelines, teach techniques, and provide guidance on developing and deploying effective advancement communications. The top candidate will be strategic, innovative, diplomatic and energetic; demonstrate the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies; and be proficient in written, oral and visual communications. Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced yet lighthearted working environment is a necessity.
This position reports to the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and will supervise a staff of two. This position will work full-time on-campus when the university returns to normal operations.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Relevant post-baccalaureate degree required, or undergraduate degree with relevant experience in substitution.
A minimum of five years of progressive professional responsibilities guiding strategic communications as well as previous management experience.
Demonstrated ability to effectively tell a story through written text.
Knowledge of comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
A self-starter who will immerse themselves in UNCW’s campus community and beyond to uncover stories about the impact of philanthropy and engagement, curate content that appeals to key constituents and foster professional relationships.
High level of cultural competence, an inclusive approach to segmentation and messaging, and comfortable building awareness of diverse individuals and groups.
Ability to implement project management software that keeps internal departments on-task and aligned.
An understanding of university advancement best practices related to communications, engagement, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
Ability to analyze and interpret complex data
Excellent interpersonal skills, including high levels of diplomacy, discretion and influence with the ability to work with internal and external stakeholders at any level of seniority.
Must be able to secure buy-in on proposed strategies and advocate for resources.
Demonstrated experience and expertise with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop).
PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Professional experience in development or higher education.
Experience using Customer Relationship/Database Management systems.
Experience with marketing automation or utilizing artificial intelligence within marketing strategies is a plus.
Familiarity with UNCW’s history and culture is highly desirable.
Organization
Our Mission
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its superb faculty and staff and consistently recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking.
UNCW, a public institution with nearly 16,000 students, offers an array of high-quality programs at the baccalaureate and graduate levels as well as doctoral programs in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology. UNCW also offers a number of distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated R.N.-to-B.S.N. program and an Executive MBA program, taught exclusively online and specifically structured for working professionals. The university operates extension sites in several regional counties.
UNCW is recognized nationally as a military-friendly university and works closely with Coastal Carolina Community College, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River to offer programs designed for military personnel and their families. UNCW is committed to providing resources to military-affiliated students transitioning into the university. The Office of Military Affairs coordinates a comprehensive program of support services for military-affiliated students and advocates for student veterans, active-duty personnel and dependents.
The university takes a leadership role in the long-term growth of the region. UNCW actively supports economic development through advanced biotech research at its CREST Research Park and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which works to identify and nurture high-growth, low-impact companies in southeastern North Carolina.
Learn more about UNCW at www.uncw.edu.
Student Profile 
Total enrollment 15,740
*2016 fall semester reporting as of October 2016
Undergraduate 13,914
Graduate 1,826
UNCW is dedicated to offering a community rich in diversity and inclusion, global perspectives and enriching the quality of life through scholarly community engagement. The university has formed numerous partnerships that provide students with internships, volunteer opportunities and research experiences.
As a long-time member of the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll and recipient of the Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, UNCW is deeply committed to civic engagement. The university offers service-learning courses and philanthropic opportunities to faculty, staff and students.
Faculty Profile 
UNCW employs 1,041 faculty (2016 fall semester reporting as of October 2016) in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the Cameron School of Business, the Center for Marine Science, the Graduate School, Randall Library and the Watson College of Education. A majority of faculty hold doctoral or other terminal degrees.
Learn more at www.uncw.edu/oira/data.html.
UNCW Earns Top Rankings
The Princeton Review
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a featured school on The Princeton Review’s list of “Best Southeastern Colleges 2017.”
U.S. News & World Report
UNCW has consistently had a prominent presence on the U.S. News list. The university is ranked 6th among public universities and 16th overall in the publication’s list of “Best Regional Universities in the South for 2017.”
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
UNCW has been named a “Best College Value for 2017” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, ranking in the top 100 public universities.
Fiske Guide to Colleges
UNCW was selected for inclusion in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2017, which highlights the nation’s “best and most interesting” colleges and universities.
Military Times
UNCW ranks 58th on a national list of “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017” by Military Times, an independent publication for members of the U.S. armed forces and their families. Among North Carolina colleges and universities, UNCW placed 3rd amid veteran-friendly colleges and universities.
More information is available at www.uncw.edu/rankings.
Diversity and Inclusion
In the pursuit of excellence, the University of North Carolina Wilmington actively fosters, encourages and promotes inclusiveness, mutual respect, acceptance and open-mindedness among students, faculty, staff and the broader community. Diversity is an educational benefit that enhances the academic experience and fosters a free exchange of ideas from multiple perspectives.
UNCW has been recognized for impressive gains in graduation rates nationally among four-year public universities from The Education Trust, having significantly improved six-year graduation rates among underrepresented minorities and reduced the gap between white and minority students over the past decade. That progress occurred even as average graduation rates improved for all students.
More information on our university-wide diversity efforts and support can be found at www.uncw.edu/diversity.
Employment
UNCW is committed to and will provide equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, gender, gender identity, sex (such as marital status or pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, political affiliation, veteran status or relationship to other university constituents, except where sex, age or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for state-funded employee benefit programs.
For more information, visit www.uncw.edu/hr.
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