Strategic Dev Comm Director-28528

Rush University Medical Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Rush University Medical Center is seeking a Director of Strategic Development Communications to lead content strategy and editorial support for philanthropic proposals, reports, and donor communications. This role focuses on gifts ranging from $1 million to $10 million and collaborates with Individual Giving, Corporate and Foundation Relations, and Campaign teams.

The position requires a Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of philanthropy writing experience, with strong writing,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, English or related field.
• Seven years’ experience with philanthropy writing and gift proposals of $1M+; health care or higher education preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication; able to articulate mission and campaign vision with diplomacy.
• Professional demeanor with strong collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Transform philanthropic propositions into proposals, cases for support, talking points and presentations for donors.
• Oversee quality and consistency of donor communications within the Donor Communications area.
• Lead strategy for a defined segment of strategic development communications and monitor performance.
• Coach junior gift officers on best practices for strategic communications and editorial review.
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality donor communications that advance fundraising goals.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Interviewing skills

AP style familiar

Professional demeanor

Team leadership

Healthcare philanthropy knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism/marketing/english or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: Philanthropy
Work Type: Full Time
Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).

Pay Range: $38.02 - $55.18 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This role has a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors. incentive compensation and additional benefits can be found on our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits)

Summary

The Director, Strategic Development Communications, supports the fundraising and engagement initiatives of Rush’s Office of Philanthropy by providing content strategy, writing and editorial support for philanthropic proposals, reports and other communications deliverables in Rush strategic priorities, with emphasis on commitments at the $1 million to $10 million level. The Director works simultaneously on multiple projects supporting the qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts from individuals, families, corporations and foundations. This position reports to the Senior Director of Strategic Development Communications, manages at least 1.0 FTE and works closely with colleagues from all other units, with a special focus on the Individual Giving and Corporate and Foundation Relations teams. The Director exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Other Information

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in journalism, marketing, English or a related field.
• A minimum of seven years’ experience with philanthropy writing, including gift proposal development of $1 million or more, with experience in health care and/or higher education preferred.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to articulate Rush’s mission and campaign vision to a variety of constituencies with poise and diplomacy.
• Professional demeanor.
• Strong analytical and interviewing skills. Curiosity about health care and the biomedical sciences. Ability to master and then convey complex concepts, synthesizing information from multiple sources to produce original, lay-friendly, persuasive prose.
• Broad experience working collaboratively on communication-related deliverables; welcomes constructive criticism and strives for continuous improvement.
• A track record of shepherding multiple projects with overlapping deadlines from inception to delivery.
• Poise in interacting with and eliciting information from clinicians, researchers, administrators and senior leaders.
• Familiarity with Associated Press style and willingness to learn and apply best practices for inclusive and equitable language.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint required, as is willingness to learn new technology.
• Resourcefulness and self-direction in leveraging available data and tools.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• At least one year of management experience.

Disclaimer: The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Responsibilities

• Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship Deliverables: Work directly with Philanthropy leadership, Individual Giving officers, the Corporate and Foundation Relations team, the Campaign Management team and the Stewardship team to transform philanthropic propositions into proposals, cases for support, talking points and presentations, and other written communications that will help move prospective and current donors through the fundraising cycle. Ensure donors are effectively stewarded through the development of reports and other materials, as requested. Give priority attention to gift solicitations and stewardship reports at the $1 million to $10 million levels.
• Strategy and Process Oversight: Lead and evolve strategy for a defined segment of strategic development communications within the donor cycle. In close partnership with the Senior Director and Philanthropy Leadership Team, shape and adapt approaches to align with donor and organizational needs. Oversee quality and consistency of deliverables and processes within your area of responsibility, monitor performance through benchmarking and by staying abreast of industry trends, and advise colleagues on how to leverage communications to achieve favorable outcomes in your area of responsibility.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on select Rush strategic priorities. Develop a firm understanding of current themes and Rush priorities in clinical care, research, education and health equity. Develop strong working relationships with key faculty partners, and collaborate with gift officers to manage information-gathering and reviews during the content development process.
• Best Practices: In partnership with the Senior Director, hone and reinforce policies and best practices around content development and editorial review for all targeted donor communications. In partnership with Strategic Communications, Leadership Annual Giving, Individual Giving, and Corporate and Foundation Relations Executive and Senior Directors, provide coaching support to junior gift officers on best practices for Strategic Communications and working with the team. Shape the Strategic Communications team’s development of templates and toolkits for frontline fundraisers.
• Leadership: Provide direct oversight of at least one FTE. Provide coaching; help with problem-solving and escalation; workshop writing and creative ideas; and provide strategic editorial review. Ensure timely delivery of high-quality donor communications that advance Rush’s fundraising goals. In partnership with the Senior Director, suggest professional development activities for the team and promote the team’s adherence to best practices in donor communications and innovation, piloting new platforms and ideas as appropriate.
• Messaging Development and Consultation: Drive strategy with gift officers and other Philanthropy and Marketing Communications colleagues around messaging positioning relative to Rush’s philanthropic priority areas. Provide support for executive communications pertinent to the need for and impact of philanthropic support, such as talking points and briefings for Rush senior leaders and key faculty partners. Write and evaluate donor communications content for alignment with institutional priorities, adherence to Rush guidelines, and best practices for inclusive and equitable language. Follow Rush guidelines for editorial style and branding.
• Content Sharing and Distribution: Ensure approved content and communications deliverables are well-organized and easily accessible to Philanthropy and Marketing Communications colleagues; proactively distribute finalized content to key stakeholders. In partnership with Philanthropy Communications’ Project Manager, create and maintain a library of information on Rush strategic priorities.
• Communications Collaboration: Act as one of Philanthropy’s departmental liaisons to the Rush Marketing Communications team, sharing information and contributing to projects with Marketing colleagues and representing Philanthropy on cross-functional working groups as needed. In partnership with the Senior Director, liaise and develop productive working relationships with collaborators across Rush departments. In addition to faculty, this includes department administrators, financial, information services, clinical, research and other key staff members.
• Other duties as assigned.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.