Executive Director, Communications and Stewardship, Penn Medicine

University of Pennsylvania; United (PA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia seeks an Executive Director of Communications and Stewardship for Penn Medicine Development and Alumni Relations. You will set vision, strategy, and priorities for leadership communications, alumni relations, clinical care campaigns, and biomedical research initiatives, guiding a 20-person staff to advance fundraising goals.

Reporting to the Senior Executive Director, you will manage content creation, publications, newsletters, and digital media;

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; Masters preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising/communications experience.
• Experience leading a team in academic/healthcare settings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversight and management for PMDAR-wide development communications, stewardship, and digital media efforts; set goals and long-term planning.
• Direct workflow and priorities for all communications team members; track metrics and analytics.
• Leads comprehensive stewardship program for Penn Medicine; review and approve material as needed.
• Collaborates with DAR Communications, UPHS Marketing, PR, and teams to align internal communications and stewardship programs.
• Advise senior PMDAR leaders on strategic communications and leadership messaging; lead special projects as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic communications

Fundraising

Public relations

Writing

Education

Bachelor's degree / MS or MA

Job description

Executive Director, Communications and Stewardship, PennMedicine

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, PennMedicine

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 Developmentand Alumni Relations. This includes establishing the vision,strategy, and priorities for an integrated, multidisciplinarycommunications 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 inplanning and implementing effective communications, marketingstrategies, and stewardship to support Penn Medicine's fundraisinggoals. Manages a staff of 20 including eight direct reports and one dotted line report whose responsibilities include proposal writingfor major and principal gifts, editing, publications,acknowledgements and other correspondence, remarks, newsletters,digital media, council communications, leadership messaging, andother media as requested. Reports to the Senior Executive Director, Communications &External Affairs.

Job Responsibilities

• Oversight and management for PMDAR wide developmentcommunications, stewardship, and digital media efforts. Thisincludes all activities across Leadership Communications, AlumniRelations, UPHS Clinical Care, Abramson Cancer Center, CampaignInitiatives, Biomedical Research, and Operations teams. Set goalsand best practices, react to ongoing requests, and develop strategyand long-term planning to adapt the department to the changingneeds of PMDAR. Guide all career development for this largeteam.
• Directing workflow and priorities for all communications teammembers. Oversee all tracking and metrics for all activity anddevelopment of analytics (both qualitative and quantitative) toassure 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 internalcommunications and stewardship programs as well as ensure alignmentof strategy for PMDAR.
• Advise senior PMDAR leaders on strategic communications,leadership messaging, and sensitive or emerging issues. Leadspecial communications projects and initiatives in response torequests from CAO and other University and Penn Medicineleadership. Report directly to CAO in scheduled updates.
• Oversee the budget and communications calendar ofdeliverables.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree 7 to 10 of progressively responsibleexperience 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 ofeducation and experience is required.
• Strong background in managing a team.
• Experience in an academic or healthcare institution stronglypreferred.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills,and an ability to manage multiple tasks and projects underdeadline.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with a wide range ofconstituencies both within and outside of Penn Medicine.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$135,327.00 - $160,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications,experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to therequirements of the position, and in alignment with salary rangesbased on external market data for the job's level. Internalorganization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve useof non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay