Associate Director, Marketing and Communications (Hybrid)

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

For full consideration, please submit a cover letter with your application.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $75,000-$80,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Job Summary:

The associate director of marketing and communications is an accomplished writer, editor, and project manager with broad-based responsibilities for planning, overseeing, and implementing a wide range of communications on behalf of Northwestern Alumni Relations and Development (ARD), including the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). The associate director manages a portfolio of projects in a fast-paced environment, collaborating with team members and interacting with ARD and University partners, and coordinating freelance writers, editors, and photographers as needed. Projects include print and digital communications for alumni and donor engagement, such as event marketing materials, magazine stories, press releases, gift announcements, social media copy, fundraising solicitations, and stewardship materials. The associate director also manages weekly project assignment meetings with project management software oversight.

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $75,000 - $80,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Review, copyedit, and proofread print and digital communications materials.
• Enforce editorial and brand guidelines
• Adapt messaging and tone as appropriate for different circumstances and audiences
• Decipher complex concepts and translate them to accessible language for general audiences
• Work with director to maintain and develop smooth and efficient processes for the marketing and communications team
• Audit editorial quality and identify opportunities to improve communication effectiveness
• Collaborate with team members to develop new communications, from concept through execution
• Serve as the strategic project lead for individual projects and integrated, multi-faceted programs, managing partner relations and communication plan development (goal, strategy, target, channel mix, schedules, and budget)
• Collaborate with team members (including design, social, digital, and video) and ARD and University partners at all levels
• Ensure projects and programs are on strategy, on time, and on budget
• Assist in vetting and hiring freelance writers, and editors
• Develop short- and long-form content for a variety of strategic, engagement, fundraising, and stewardship materials, including newsletters, press releases, and magazine stories (print and digital)
• Conduct research and interviews for the development of content
• Lead weekly project assignment team meetings and oversee team's project management software usage
• Handle other projects as assigned by the director of marketing and communications

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Identify the minimum qualifications required to successfully perform the job. Qualifications include education, experience, specialized knowledge, professional certification.
• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or marketing, or the equivalent in education, experience, and training
• A minimum of eight years of professional writing and editing experience, including print and online content

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Experience managing partners or clients, complex tasks, and large-scale editorial and/or marketing projects
• Experience developing communication plans
• Exceptional communication skills: interviewing, writing, editing, and proofreading
• Experience in higher education advancement
• Experience writing fundraising solicitations
• Experience in Chicago Manual of Style
• Experience in a project management workflow system such as Smartsheet
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and completing them under tight deadlines
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, collaborate, and demonstrate attention to detail
• Strong portfolio of writing that is clear, accurate, and compelling
• Ability to adapt writing styles to different tonalities and voices

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Track Changes

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.