Executive Director, Communications and Stewardship, Penn Medicine

Trustees of University of Pennsylvania; Market (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania seeks an Executive Director of Communications and Stewardship for Penn Medicine Development and Alumni Relations. You will provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the communications and stewardship team, shaping vision and priorities across Leadership Communications, Alumni Relations and related programs.

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, Communications & External Affairs, you will lead messaging, fundraising communications, and staff

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in fundraising, communications, public relations, marketing, or related field.
• 7–10 years progressive fundraising/communications experience.
• Experience leading a team in academic or healthcare setting.
• Strong writing and editing skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversight and management for PMDAR wide development communications, stewardship, and digital media efforts.
• Directing workflow and priorities for all communications team members.
• Leads comprehensive stewardship program for Penn Medicine.
• Collaborates with the DAR Communications, UPHS Marketing, PR, and teams to provide resources needed to support internal communications and stewardship programs.
• Advise senior PMDAR leaders on strategic communications and leadership messaging.
• Oversee the budget and communications calendar of deliverables.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong writing & editing

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Team leadership

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master of Science

Master of Arts

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Executive Director, Communications and Stewardship, Penn Medicine

Job Profile Title

Director D, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing

Job Description Summary

The Executive Director of Communications and Stewardship provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Communications and Stewardship team for Penn Medicine Development and Alumni Relations. This includes establishing the vision, strategy, and priorities for an integrated, multidisciplinary communications function supporting Leadership Communications, Alumni Relations, UPHS Clinical Care, Abramson Cancer Center, Campaign Initiatives, Biomedical Research, and Operations teams.

The Executive Director will provide leadership and vision in planning and implementing effective communications, marketing strategies, and stewardship to support Penn Medicine's fundraising goals. Manages a staff of 20 including eight direct reports and one dotted line report whose responsibilities include proposal writing for major and principal gifts, editing, publications, acknowledgements and other correspondence, remarks, newsletters, digital media, council communications, leadership messaging, and other media as requested.

Reports to the Senior Executive Director, Communications & External Affairs.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Oversight and management for PMDAR wide development communications, stewardship, and digital media efforts. This includes all activities across Leadership Communications, Alumni Relations, UPHS Clinical Care, Abramson Cancer Center, Campaign Initiatives, Biomedical Research, and Operations teams. Set goals and best practices, react to ongoing requests, and develop strategy and long‑term planning to adapt the department to the changing needs of PMDAR. Guide all career development for this large team.
• Directing workflow and priorities for all communications team members. Oversee all tracking and metrics for all activity and development of analytics (both qualitative and quantitative) to assure program's success.
• Leads comprehensive stewardship program for Penn Medicine. Review and approve material as needed.
• Collaborates with the DAR Communications, UPHS Marketing, PR, and teams to provide the resources needed to support our internal communications and stewardship programs as well as ensure alignment of strategy for PMDAR.
• Advise senior PMDAR leaders on strategic communications, leadership messaging, and sensitive or emerging issues. Lead special communications projects and initiatives in response to requests from CAO and other University and Penn Medicine leadership. Report directly to CAO in scheduled updates.
• Oversee the budget and communications calendar of deliverables.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree 7 to 10 of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, communications, public relations, marketing, or related field or Master of Science, Master of Arts, and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Strong background in managing a team. Experience in an academic or healthcare institution strongly preferred. Excellent writing and editing skills. Excellent interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills, and an ability to manage multiple tasks and projects under deadline. Ability to develop strong relationships with a wide range of constit