Assistant Director of Advancement Communications and Content

Merrimack College; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrimack College in North Andover, MA seeks an Assistant Director of Advancement Communications and Content to craft compelling stories that advance the college’s fundraising and alumni engagement.

Reporting to the AVP for Advancement Communications, Marketing and Campaign Director, the assistant director leads content development across email, web, social, publications and donor communications, manages multiple projects, and collaborates campus‑wide to align with the Together We Rise campaign.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in communications or related area.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling across audiences, formats and channels.
• Strong interviewing and research skills; translate complex information clearly.
• Experience developing digital, email, web and social media content.
• Strong organizational and project management skills; manage multiple assignments.

Responsibilities

• Develop compelling content supporting Merrimack’s fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship and campaign priorities.
• Write and edit stories featuring students, alumni, donors, faculty, research, career outcomes, athletics and community impact.
• Identify stories that showcase outcomes and connect them to donor investment and college priorities.
• Interview students, alumni, donors, faculty and leaders to develop authentic stories.
• Translate institutional priorities into clear, audience-focused communications across channels.
• Adapt content for email, web, social media, publications and other channels.
• Support communications for the Together We Rise campaign with storytelling and donor communications.
• Develop campaign stories and donor communications based on established strategy and messaging.
• Coordinate interviews, photography, video and other assets; monitor content performance.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Storytelling

Interviewing

Content development

Digital content

Project management

Collaboration

CMS

Email marketing platforms

Social media tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, English or a related field

Tools

CMS

Job description

Merrimack College is a selective, private college in a beautiful,residential setting — just minutes from Boston,Massachusetts.

Position Overview

The AssistantDirector of Advancement Communications and Content plays a key rolein bringing Merrimack College’s advancement communications, alumniengagement, donor relations and comprehensive campaign strategiesto life through compelling content and high-qualityexecution. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for AdvancementCommunications, Marketing and Campaign Director, the AssistantDirector develops content that engages alumni, donors, parents,prospects and other key audiences; demonstrates the impact ofphilanthropy; highlights student and alumni success; and advancesthe goals of Merrimack’s comprehensive fundraising campaign,Together We Rise. Working from communications, marketing and campaign strategies established by the Associate Vice President, the Assistant Directorproduces stories, digital and social content, email communications,publications, donor communications and other Advancement materials.The position requires an excellent writer and storyteller who canidentify strong content opportunities, manage multiple projects anddeadlines, and collaborate effectively across the Office ofDevelopment and Alumni Relations and the College.

Primary Responsibilities

Content Development and Storytelling

• Develop compelling content supporting Merrimack’s fundraising,alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship and campaignpriorities.
• Write and edit stories featuring students, alumni, donors,faculty, research, career outcomes, athletics, mission andcommunity impact.
• Identify stories that showcase meaningful student and alumnioutcomes and connect those outcomes to donor investment and Collegepriorities.
• Interview students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff and Collegeleaders to develop authentic and engaging stories.
• Translate institutional priorities, programs, data and outcomesinto clear, audience-focused communications.
• Adapt content for use across email, web, social media,publications and other Advancement channels.

Campaign, Donor and Alumni Communications

• Support communications and marketing for Merrimack College’scomprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.
• Develop campaign stories, donor communications, digitalcontent, presentations and other materials based on establishedcampaign strategy and messaging.
• Support communications surrounding campaign priorities,leadership gifts, milestones, announcements and celebrations.
• Develop donor-centered communications that demonstratephilanthropic impact and inspire continued engagement andinvestment.
• Create content that strengthens alumni connection to Merrimackand encourages deeper engagement, volunteer involvement andphilanthropy.
• Ensure campaign, donor and alumni communications are accurate,audience-focused and consistent with Merrimack’s voice andbrand.

Digital, Social and Publications

• Develop digital and social content that demonstratesphilanthropic impact, showcases student and alumni success andoutcomes, celebrates donors and alumni, and advances fundraisingand campaign priorities.
• Write and produce Advancement email and web content for alumni,donors, parents, prospects and other constituent audiences.
• Create and manage content for the Office of Development andAlumni Relations social media platforms.
• Repurpose long-form stories and other Advancement contentacross digital channels.
• Support the planning, writing and manage the production ofAdvancement publications, including the quarterly MerrimackMagazine.
• Coordinate interviews, photography, video and other creativeassets needed to support Advancement content.
• Monitor content performance and help identify opportunities tostrengthen audience engagement.

Event Communications and Project Management

• Develop communications and materials supporting campaignevents, donor gatherings, alumni programs and other Advancementevents.
• Produce invitations, programs, presentations, scripts, signage,web content and pre- and post-event communications.
• Support storytelling and messaging that reinforce fundraising,campaign and alumni engagement priorities.
• Help implement the Advancement editorial and communicationscalendar.
• Manage multiple content projects, approvals and deadlines toensure high-quality and timely execution.
• Maintain organized libraries of stories, testimonials,photography, data, campaign proof points and donor-impactcontent.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Associate Vice President for AdvancementCommunications, Marketing and Campaign Director to executeAdvancement communications, marketing and campaign strategies.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Development, AlumniRelations, Advancement Services and other College departments toidentify and develop compelling stories and content.
• Partner with communications, marketing, digital and creativeteams across the College to ensure coordination and consistencywith institutional brand standards.
• Work with photographers, videographers, designers, freelancersand other external partners as needed.
• Contribute to a collaborative, creative and highly responsiveAdvancement culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing,public relations, English or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience incommunications, content development, marketing, journalism, publicrelations, advancement communications or a related area.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills across avariety of audiences, formats and channels.
• Strong interviewing and research skills and the ability totranslate complex information into clear, engaging content.
• Experience developing digital, email, web and social mediacontent.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with theability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments andlevels of an organization.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with donors, alumni,students and sensitive information.
• Experience in higher education, advancement, nonprofitcommunications or a mission-driven organization preferred.
• Familiarity with content management systems, email marketingplatforms, social media tools and basic analytics preferred.
• Experience working with photography, video, publications orcreative production partners is a plus.
• Evening and weekend work required for events and Collegeactivities as well as availability outside of normal business hourswhen necessary to support time-sensitive initiatives.

Application Materials Should Include

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position,citing experience relevant to the qualifications and includingexperience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinianmission and our values.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position asemployees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus,residential college experience for our students and thecommunity. This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminalbackground check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truththrough inquiry and dialogue. Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and cancontribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. Allcandidates should describe in their application how they willfoster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinianinstitution of higher education in New England, Merrimack Collegeis a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoralstudents from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features morethan 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduateprograms, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionateabout their subject and student success. The College has sixschools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences,nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, theGirard school of business and the graduate school of counseling andsocial work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just northof Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’sColleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in theCarnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions inthe country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News &World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in theRegional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAADivision I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary Range

• $65,000
• - $70,000