Senior Editorial Director (Higher Education / Advancement Communications)

Mediabistro; Berkeley (CA); Hybrid; USD 183,000 - 211,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Research University in Berkeley seeks a Senior Editorial Director to lead advancement communications for its development and alumni relations division, coordinating a ten-person team across print, digital, multimedia, and executive content.

The role serves as primary advancement spokesperson, guiding media relations and messaging strategy in support of campus fundraising. Hybrid work, with remote options up to 3 days per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area or equivalent experience.
• Thorough knowledge of strategic communications principles across editorial, print, digital, multimedia and media communications.
• Excellent leadership, writing, and political acumen for confidential and sensitive issues.
• Strong editorial judgment, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of digital, multimedia, video, social media, accessibility, and emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a ten-person editorial and multimedia communications team (50%).
• Providing strategic communications leadership for fundraising priorities and campaigns (25%).
• Serving as the division's primary advancement spokesperson with media relations and messaging guidance.
• Partnering with senior leadership to develop communications strategies and advise on sensitive issues.
• Collaborating with other directors to coordinate priorities and maintain brand standards.
• Representing the editorial team in campus meetings and cross-functional groups.
• Leading complex editorial and multimedia initiatives involving confidential, high-profile issues.
• Overseeing strategic communications plans, speeches, collateral, proposals, videos, reports, and event communications.

Job description

Berkeley, CA (Hybrid, up to 3 days/wk remote) | Full-Time | $183,000 - $210,900/yr

About the Role

A world-renowned public research university is hiring a Senior Editorial Director to lead advancement communications for its development and alumni relations division. The division increases support for and enhances knowledge of the university through communications, public outreach, and fundraising.

The Senior Editorial Director serves as the division's primary advancement spokesperson, leading proactive and reactive media relations in support of the campus fundraising community. The role oversees the strategy, development, and execution of communications produced by a ten-person multidisciplinary editorial and multimedia team, including print, digital, multimedia, executive, and campaign content. The position partners with senior leadership and campus clients to develop long- and short-term communications strategies and represents the editorial team in campus meetings and university-wide initiatives.

What the Role Covers

• Leading and developing a ten-person editorial and multimedia communications team, directly supervising one subordinate manager and six editors (50% of role)
• Providing strategic communications leadership for the division's fundraising priorities and comprehensive campaign, including overseeing strategy, development, and execution of all editorial team communications (25%)
• Serving as the division's primary advancement spokesperson, leading media relations and advising leadership on media strategy and public messaging
• Partnering with senior leadership to develop communications strategies and advising on complex and sensitive communications issues
• Collaborating with other communications directors and the Managing Editor to establish priorities, coordinate resources, and maintain editorial and brand standards (10%)
• Representing the editorial team in campus meetings and cross-functional workgroups (5%)
• Leading complex editorial and multimedia initiatives involving confidential, high-profile, and politically sensitive issues (5%)
• Overseeing strategic communications plans, executive messaging, speeches, campaign collateral, major gift proposals, case statements, videos, reports, and event communications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related area or equivalent experience
• Thorough knowledge of strategic communications principles and best practices across editorial, print, digital, multimedia, executive, and media communications
• Excellent ability to develop and implement strategic communications plans and advise senior leadership on complex, confidential, and sensitive issues
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and facilitation skills with the ability to build consensus and exercise sound judgment and political acumen
• Excellent leadership and personnel management skills, including hiring, coaching, developing, and evaluating professional communications staff
• Excellent editorial judgment, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Working knowledge of digital, multimedia, video, social media, accessibility, and emerging communications technologies

Preferred: Knowledge of or ability to learn university advancement priorities, organizational structure, and current issues affecting higher education and philanthropy.

Application review begins September 3, 2026. Not a visa sponsorship opportunity.