Manager of Advancement Communications
SUNY Cortland - Cortland, NY
posted 1 day ago
About the position
The Manager of Advancement Communications will help execute a strategic communications plan by creating dynamic content that engages SUNY Cortland alumni, parents, faculty/staff, emeriti and friends. This individual will generate content for key Advancement communications initiatives, including email campaigns, event calendars, digital media channels, fundraising collateral, website, and more. The Manager of Advancement Communications will work closely with staff throughout Institutional Advancement to bolster major initiatives and messages, including engagement of our 88,000+ alumni, fundraising efforts, Cortaca and other institutional traditions, as well as overall Advancement and campus marketing efforts. This individual will pay close attention to key performance indicators throughout the division's digital channels to ensure the deliverability, engagement, and goal completion of campaigns. The position will also play a key role in storytelling efforts to engage alumni, donors, and the Cortland community - writing alumni news stories and profiles.
Responsibilities
- Produce comprehensive, fluid Institutional Advancement (IA) communication plan intended to improve and revitalize previous processes: web, email, event, alumni spotlights and profiles, class notes, etc.
- Serve as web and CMS system point person for content updates including redesign/restructure/content enhancement in conjunction with appropriate departments.
- Act as production coordinator for Columns magazine: work with Alumni Engagement, Communications staff and other IA colleagues as well as outside vendors to establish a production schedule for writing, editing, layout and production of Columns.
- Manage comprehensive email schedule, build and design email templates, edit and occasionally compose emails, more than three per week, on average.
- Assist in content management for letters, acknowledgements, brochures, and collateral materials produced by advancement.
- Co-manage and provide content for digital media accounts, working with other communications team members to coordinate with primary university digital media channels.
- Assist in content management and training for Institutional Advancement web pages and technology platforms.
- Maintain knowledge of existing Flickr account and archival photography and videography, serving as a resource for others' photo and video needs.
- Supervise a Graduate Assistant or Intern, which includes training and evaluating performance.
- Work together with communications team to compile and publish campus online publications to faculty, staff, students and their parents.
- Participate in weekly content meetings with the communications team and members of development and alumni engagement as needed.
- Co-lead a quarterly Institutional Advancement Story Board meeting.
- Produce stories/content as a member of the content team, with primary responsibility for alumni and development pieces.
- Review advancement communications for effectiveness and strategy. Create key advancement communications as needed.
- Work with communications team and advancement stakeholders to develop standard metrics for evaluating effectiveness of communications across all media and establish schedule for analysis.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum one year of experience in Advancement, Communications, Marketing, or Alumni Engagement
- Experience building targeted email marketing campaigns using a CMS (Constituent Management System)
- Experience managing digital media channels
- Ability to work some weekend and evening hours, and occasional travel
Nice-to-haves
- Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, business or related field
- Master's degree
- Familiarity with web and email analytics
- Knowledge of AP style
- Experience creating content in a website content management system
Benefits
- Generous benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance
- Various retirement program options
- Paid family leave and/or parental leaves
- Flexible spending and dependent care accounts
- Long term disability and tuition reimbursement
- Professional development opportunities exist through training, continuing education programs, tuition reimbursement and conference travel, based on funding
- Access to the university's state-of-the-art Student Life Center
- Child Care Center for employees and community members
