Assistant Director, Advancement Communications - University Advancement

Washington University in St. Louis; Clayton (MO); On-site; USD 49,700 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

Metro transit U‑Pass

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis is seeking an Assistant Director, Advancement Communications to lead marketing and digital communications for annual giving. You will research and write solicitations, plan a strategic annual campaign, and collaborate with the Annual Giving Programs to raise millions.

The role emphasizes creativity, fast-paced production, and cross-team coordination. The position requires a Bachelor's degree and 2 years of relevant experience, with responsibilities spanning

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in advancement communications or a related field.
• Strong research and writing skills for high-volume solicitations and campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Research and write materials for a high volume of solicitations and other annual efforts.
• Collaborate with the director of advancement communications, art director, and Annual Giving Programs to develop concepts for direct mail and electronic solicitations and plan an annual campaign.
• Provide recommendations for new strategies to market fundraising efforts.
• Manage schedules and the approval process for multiple projects to meet deadlines.
• Build solicitation and stewardship emails for large audiences, coordinating with teams.

Skills

Creativity

Research & Writing

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant Director, Advancement Communications has significant responsibility for developing and managing marketing and digital communications for Washington University’s annual giving efforts. This includes two primary areas of responsibility: (a) researching and writing print and electronic solicitation materials; and (b) collaborating closely with Annual Giving Programs as a member of the team to plan and implement a strategic annual campaign of mail and electronic publications. These activities will advance Washington University’s strategic plans to acquire and retain donors and raise tens of millions of dollars per year.

Location

SAINT LOUIS, MO 63105

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Research and write materials for a high volume of solicitations and other annual efforts. Materials include e‑newsletters, letters, postcards, and broadcast emails to a variety of constituents.
• Collaborate with the director of advancement communications, art director, and Annual Giving Programs to develop creative concepts for direct mail and electronic solicitations and to plan and implement a strategic annual campaign of print and electronic publications.
• Provide recommendations for new strategies to effectively market fundraising efforts.
• Manage schedules and the approval process for multiple projects to meet strict deadlines.
• Build solicitation and stewardship emails for large audiences, coordinating elements and timing with the art director, data analyst, and Annual Giving and Digital Strategy teams.
• Assist with creating photos or coordinating photoshoots for print pieces, emails, and newsletters in collaboration with the art director.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the director of advancement communications and assistant vice chancellor of advancement communications.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Travel may be required

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at desk or table
• Typically standing or walking

Equipment

• Office equipment

Education

Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree.

Certifications / Professional Licenses

No specific certification or professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience

Relevant Experience (2 Years)

Skills

Not Applicable

Driver's License

A driver's license is not required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional creativity demonstrated by effective communications developed for higher education, not‑for‑profit, or similar audiences.
• Strong research and writing skills demonstrated in feature, brochure, marketing, and/or direct mail copy.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high‑quality deliverables for multiple projects, manage competing priorities, and meet demanding deadlines.

More About This Job

This position is located in St. Louis, MO and the targeted hiring range for this position is $49,700 - $58,000.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U‑Pass for eligible employees.
• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan with employee and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more.

Family

• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child; additional family care resources are available for ongoing childcare needs.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate‑level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.