Carleton College

Job Title: Communications Manager for Development and Alumni Relations

Department: Development and Alumni Relations

Classification: Exempt

Grade: 12

FTE/Working Schedule: 1.0

Compensation:

The expected starting salary range for this position is between $74,000 and $78,100. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility.

Position Overview:

The Communications Manager is a member of a successful Division of Development and Alumni Relations team, which is collectively responsible for raising more than $40 million annually from alumni, parents, friends and foundations, and working closely with alumni and parent volunteers who help advance the College’s engagement and fundraising efforts. 

The Manager will work within a highly collaborative environment to develop and execute strategies for effective communications with alumni, parents, students, and friends to encourage fundraising success, alumni connections, engagement, and a sense of community. Working collaboratively with Carleton’s Division of Communications, the Manager is responsible for the creation, collection, and dissemination of engaging, compelling, and creative multi-channel communications to support the priorities and fundraising goals of Development and Alumni Relations. 

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead primary and secondary messaging focus across all functions of Development and Alumni Relations.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify and coordinate messages around college fundraising priorities and successes, and create strategies for related effective storytelling. Key staff collaborators will include the Vice President’s leadership team and staff from Alumni Relations, Annual Fund, Grants, Major and Planned Giving, Milestone Reunions and Stewardship departments.
• Lead strategic communications planning across the division, including defining shared goals, prioritizing projects, and identifying solutions to meet multiple objectives for individual departments and for the division broadly.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of a fiscal year communications plan for the division, identifying and reconciling overlap between timing and audience. Align plans to division’s communications budget.
• Write creative briefs, lead project kickoff meetings, write copy, develop, review and approve marketing and communications materials, and work closely with stakeholders in executing projects.
• Coordinate regular content for external constituents, such as the e-newsletters for alumni and parents, as well as divisional internal communications.
• Advise the Volunteer Managers Group (which includes Admissions and the Career Center) on development of volunteer-focused communications and toolkits. 
• Coordinate with divisional and campus partners to ensure maximum impact of social media efforts and website content, including working closely with Communications staff. 
• Stay current with national best practices and trends in solicitation and messaging impact.
• Oversee project responsibilities and delegate/assign/monitor work of designated support staff as appropriate.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

Required:

• A bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in fundraising, marketing, communications, or related fields
• Exceptional writing, editing, content development and project management skills; demonstrated experience writing fundraising messages and creating communications that produce results
• Interest in thinking creatively and strategically about how messaging about an organization intersects with engagement, philanthropy, and volunteerism
• Commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity, and attentiveness to inclusive marketing and communications practices
• Interest in working in a volunteer-driven program with high alumni and parent engagement
• Success working collegially and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to generate novel and creative approaches to problem solving and to respond appropriately to changes in priorities and schedules
• Experience working with all forms of media tools (electronic, social, print and oral remarks)
• Experience with design, communications and website tools and platforms
• Ability to analyze data to identify trends, issues and opportunities
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and Zoom

Preferred:

• Experience in a higher education or non-profit setting
• Experience with Slate Advancement, Asana, WordPress, Emma, GiveCampus, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Analytics is a plus, as is familiarity with HTML

Physical Requirements:

Moderate travel, as well as occasional evening and weekend work, is expected.

Must have the ability to understand and follow written and oral work instructions, operations, safety procedures, and hazardous labels. 

Note: This job description is not intended to be all inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the hire is complete. We accept only online applications.

Carleton College is an AA/EEO Employer: We are committed to developing our staff to better reflect the diversity of our student body and American society. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including: A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution. Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Paid time-off, including 20 vacation days, 8 paid holidays, 3, floating holidays, 2 weather days, and extra days at the end of the calendar year to make a continuous week off before New Year’s. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees. A dependent tuition program after six years of service.

Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college of roughly 2,000 students located in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota. Carleton College occupies more than 1,000 scenic acres of campus, arboretum, over 100 campus buildings, and athletic fields. Located 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Carleton offers access to the cultural advantages of a major metropolitan area.