Associate Director of Annual Giving Content and Communications

California Institute of Technology; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) seeks an Associate Director of Content and Communications to lead the Caltech Fund’s integrated content strategy across fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement. You will oversee content development for direct mail, email, web, social media, SMS, and other channels, ensuring voice and brand consistency.

Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving Programs, you will partner with campus colleagues and freelancers to translate fundraising priorities

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related work.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, content strategy, marketing, public relations, or related fields, with demonstrated success in developing integrated, multi-channel communications.
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated communications strategies and multi-channel campaigns.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Working knowledge of Adobe applications, especially Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Enthusiasm, passion, and curiosity about higher education development and nonprofit fundraising.
• Authentic curiosity about science and technology.
• Demonstrate the ability to practice and adhere to AAR's Guiding Principles.

Responsibilities

• Write, edit, and produce original written content for Annual Giving fundraising, stewardship, and engagement campaigns.
• Develop and oversee multichannel content marketing and communications strategies that drive revenue and support fundraising goals.
• Develop and manage the Caltech Fund's messaging strategy and maintain brand consistency.
• Own development and production schedules of fundraising and stewardship communications across direct mail, email, web, social media, and SMS.
• Manage multiple simultaneous communication campaign schedules against deadlines.
• Partner with the Annual Giving Specialist to source donor/stakeholder stories from Caltech's community.
• Develop and implement new digital engagement tools and strategies for website, social media, and other channels.
• Collaborate with AAR and campus partners to identify opportunities and coordinate messaging.
• Identify industry trends and performance-driven improvements to strengthen solicitations and engagement.
• Manage relationships with freelance designers, writers, photographers, and other contractors.

Skills

Writing

Editing

Project management

Microsoft Office

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Curiosity about science

Guiding Principles

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Smart Sheet

Asana

Monday

Workfront

Basecamp

Job description

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

The purpose of Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR) is to foster a thriving and engaged community of support for Caltech. By strengthening and nurturing the community of people who share and support the Institute's mission and values, we will ensure the Institute receives the necessary resources to achieve our aspirations and advocate for excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship in perpetuity.

Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving Programs, the Associate Director of Annual Giving Content and Communications leads the Caltech Fund's integrated content and communications strategy across fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement initiatives. This position oversees content development across multiple channels, including but not limited to direct mail, email, web, social media, SMS, and emerging digital channels. This role will ensure consistency in voice, messaging, and brand standards across all Caltech Fund communications.

The Associate Director of Content and Communications serves as the Caltech Fund's lead writer and multichannel communications strategist, partnering with colleagues across Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR) and the broader campus to translate fundraising priorities into compelling donor, student, and campus stories and communications. Working collaboratively with campus partners, stakeholders, and creative freelancers, this role manages concurrent communication initiatives, guiding projects from concept through production while ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality communications that advance fundraising goals and institutional priorities.

Essential Job Duties

• Write, edit, and produce original written content for Annual Giving fundraising, stewardship, and engagement campaigns, translating fundraising strategies into compelling donor communications across print and digital channels.
• Develop and oversee comprehensive multichannel content marketing and communications strategies that drive revenue growth and support the Caltech Fund's fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement goals.
• Develop and manage the Caltech Fund's messaging strategy, ensuring consistency in voice, messaging, editorial standards, and brand across all fundraising communications.
• Own the development and production schedules of Caltech Fund fundraising and stewardship communications, including but not limited to direct mail appeals, email campaigns, website content, social media, SMS, and other donor-facing communications.
• Manage multiple simultaneous communication campaign schedules against hard deadlines with specific audience goals and objectives.
• Partner with the Annual Giving Specialist to identify, interview, track, and create compelling stories sourced from the work of Caltech's students, faculty, and campus community.
• Develop and implement new digital engagement tools and strategies while managing the Caltech Fund's website content, social media presence, SMS, and other digital communication channels.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Annual Giving Data, Reporting, and Analytics to analyze campaign performance and engagement metrics and recommend improvements to communications strategy and donor engagement.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR) and the broader Institute to identify communications opportunities, source donor and student stories, coordinate messaging, and support integrated fundraising initiatives.
• Identify and recommend industry trends, best practices, and performance-driven improvements to strengthen fundraising solicitations and donor engagement.
• Manage relationships with freelance graphic designers, writers, photographers, and other creative contractors, including coordinating deliverable, maintaining quality standards, and ensuring projects remain on schedule.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent related work.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, content strategy, marketing, public relations, or related fields, with demonstrated success. developing integrated, multi-channel communications.
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated communications strategies and multi-channel campaigns.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Working knowledge of Adobe applications, especially Acrobat, InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Enthusiasm, passion, and curiosity about higher education development and nonprofit fundraising.
• Authentic curiosity about science and technology.
• Demonstrate the ability to practice and adhere to AAR's Guiding Principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an annual giving, advancement, or a comparable nonprofit fundraising environment, including the development and production of print communications such as direct mail solicitations and brochures
• Experience developing integrated fundraising communications and donor engagement strategies within higher education advancement or a comparable nonprofit fundraising environment.
• Experience in fundraising communications, annual giving campaigns, donor engagement strategies, or nonprofit storytelling.
• Experience with project management software (such as Smart Sheet, Asana, Monday, Workfront, Basecamp, or equivalent tools).
• Experience managing content and communications freelancers or cross-functional project teams.

Required Documents

• Resume.
• Cover Letter.

Hiring Range

$100,700 - $137,500 per year

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail].

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail].