Advancement Communications Specialist

Full-time Position - Posted 2/19/2024

Position Summary

We seek a dedicated and creative Advancement Communications Specialist to join the JBU University Advancement Team. The primary focus of this role is to help drive long-term engagement with major donors, alumni, parents, and friends of the university through the writing and coordination of effective print and digital communication campaigns. If you are a detail-oriented and innovative communicator passionate about Christian higher education, we invite you to join our team and help us advance our university's mission.

Role Qualifications

Ability to maintain positive relationships with staff, faculty, students, and community
Ability to articulate the benefits of a Christian college experience, including a clear and concise position on the issue of integration of faith, learning, and living
Commitment to the Articles of Faith, mission, and objectives of the university
Desire to be a role model for students by demonstrating an active Christian faith in personal example and work-related responsibilities.

Position Responsibilities

Develop and oversee effective fundraising campaign messaging using print, email, and online platforms, explicitly targeting major donors, occasional donors, alumni, parents, and friends to increase gifts and the number of donors who participate.
Write and manage the production of compelling alumni, parent, and fundraising communication materials in collaboration with graphic designers, university leaders, and key personnel. This role involves creating cohesive content for various channels, including personal correspondence, presentations, speeches, grant proposals, donor meetings, and digital platforms such as emails, social media, and website updates, ensuring consistency with the university's brand and messaging standards.
Create and implement video content and campaign strategies that align with major fundraising and donor stewardship initiatives, including personalized video content and tailored messages for specific donor segments, and the Goodkind video messaging platform management.
Drive Founder’s Circle communication to further establish leadership giving.
Edit and proofread materials to maintain a high standard of accuracy, consistency, and professionalism. This may include foundation grants and other fundraising materials and copy.
Assist grant writers in drafting and editing proposals.
Monitor and report on the success of communication initiatives, using data to make informed decisions and optimize strategies.
Create and implement effective messaging for Annual Fund and Alumni and Parent Engagement offices through multiple communication channels.
Support signature alumni events and annual giving campaigns.
Design and implement an alumni engagement plan encouraging current students to connect with various alumni programs.
Act as liaison between Advancement and University Marketing & Communications on marketing projects and media releases.
Stay updated with industry trends and best practices in advancement, fundraising communications, and email marketing.
Identify, recruit, and leverage digital influencers to engage them with the university and assist in meaningful ways.
Other duties as assigned.

Essential skills and experience

Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, marketing, or a related field.
Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading abilities with a keen eye for detail.
Strong project management skills and the ability to work collaboratively and independently.
Proven experience in communications, writing, or a related role, with a strong portfolio showcasing writing and content creation skills.
Comfortable with various technology platforms (email, CMS, social media, Canva) and a demonstrated ability to quickly learn new software and tools.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree Required

Physical demands and work environment

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to walk; stand; sit; use hands; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

The employee is expected to adhere to all University policies.

Diversity

JBU desires to increase the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students to honor how all humans are created in the image of God, to reflect better the diversity of the Kingdom of God, to further our Christian commitment to justice, and to increase the quality of our educational experience. JBU is pursuing the goal of teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from ethnic minorities and women. For more information, visit our diversity webpage.

About JBU

Information describing the university is available online.

Apply

To apply, please upload the following documents to the "Upload Your Documents" page:

Cover Letter
Your resume
Staff Application (completed and signed)

Only complete materials will be reviewed. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by the university.

Contact information:
Office of Human Resources
John Brown University
2000 West University Street
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
Phone: 479.524.7197
e-mail: jobs@jbu.edu