Advancement - Director of Advancement Strategic Communications

Working at Cedarville University is more than a job, it's a calling. A call to help equip students to go into the world and do great things for the Kingdom. A call to use the gifts God has given you to make the most of every day. A call to work as unto the Lord. God is doing great things at Cedarville University and we are excited for you to be part of it.

When applying, please include a resume/CV and cover letter in PDF format. Additional documents will be requested if needed. Please do not submit documents that include dates of birth, social security numbers, or that require password access.


POSITION SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Director of Advancement Strategic Communications serves as a member of the Advancement Leadership Team and is responsible for leading the development and implementation of comprehensive communication strategies that support the fundraising, donor relations, and alumni engagement efforts of Cedarville University. This position plays a critical role in articulating and promoting the University’s mission, vision, and values to key stakeholders through compelling storytelling, digital content, print materials, and strategic messaging. This a full time, exempt position that is fully on campus and reports to the Associate Vice President of Advancement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
Strategic Communication Management and Brand Oversight
• Develop and execute a strategic communications plan that supports the goals of advancement including fundraising and alumni engagement.
• Craft compelling and creative narratives, highlighting donor impact, student success, alumni achievements, and University priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of Cedarville Advancement’s brand identity, ensuring consistent messaging and visual representation across all materials and platforms in alignment with University-wide brand and communication standards.
• Study and implement the ethical use of emerging technologies, including AI tools, to develop personalized and segmented communications strategies that enhance donor and alumni engagement while upholding the University’s doctrinal commitments and data stewardship best practices.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of advancement-related publications (print and digital) including donor reports, campaign materials, engagement collateral, and stewardship communications that support fundraising, alumni engagement, and institutional visibility.
• Develop and manage content strategy and editorial calendars for advancement channels including advancement-related web pages and social media.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of core advancement assets.
• Support the planning and promotion of key advancement events such as capital campaigns, donor recognitions events, and alumni engagement events.
• Assess engagement metrics and communication performance to inform strategy and ROI that drives continuous improvement.
Development (Fundraising) Communications Support
• Partner with development team members to craft compelling fundraising proposals and donor correspondence.
• Produce high-impact stories, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of donor support.
Communication Audit and Collaboration
• Collaborate with campus partners (Marketing and Communication, Enrollment, and Athletics) on University-wide communication content and frequency to identify gaps, redundancies and opportunities for alignment.
Campus Partner Liaison
• Serve as liaison between Advancement and the Office of Marketing and Communications, collaborating closely and partnering in monthly advancement/marketing strategy sessions.
• Support school and department advancement strategies with tailored alumni and donor communications.
• Lead and mentor a communications team of staff and students needed to produce high-quality content on time and within budget.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in strategic communications, education (higher preferred), nonprofit advancement work, or related areas.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multi-channel communication strategies and associated software and data tools.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Personal faith commitment to Jesus Christ and the local church in alignment with the University’s doctrinal statement.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Enjoys creative problem solving.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with other team members.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license