Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Communication Specialist is a vital member of the Office of Alumni and Donor Engagement. This role is primarily responsible for the creation and execution of departmental messaging to internal and external stakeholders, while working collaboratively with colleagues within the department and across campus. This position is also tasked with the creation of an annual family of publications – print and electronic collateral for a wide variety of friend-raising and fundraising initiatives (cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, etc.) in support of the mission and strategic priorities of West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Primary Duties And Responsibilities Include
- Oversight of departmental communication calendar and associated processes.
- Strategic development of annual departmental messaging for consistency (branding).
- Serve as the primary story-teller for advancement in an effort to share impact of giving related to donor-specific projects/initiatives, current events from across campus, and student/faculty/staff achievements.
- Collaboratively develop and lead writing of Sundial alumni magazine every 9-12 months.
- Create periodic communication outreach for major donors (Wesleyan Society and Reger Society), such as printed and e-newsletters.
- Coordinate monthly e-newsletter to all alumni and current friend donors, in addition to distribution of periodic blast emails to select alumni and donor groups.
- Create alumni and donor spotlights to celebrate accomplishments for print and online.
- Assist with intentional and strategic social media messages for alumni and donors.
- Serve as a resource and assist with hosting virtual events specifically for alumni and donors.
- Develop concept papers for major fundraising initiatives (personalized for each specific donor) and general one-pagers for primary areas of fundraising (annual fund, leadership giving society, planned giving, etc.).
- Design postcards and in-house mailings, as well as coordinate with outsourced designers for larger projects (Emeritus Club newsletter, Homecoming brochure, etc.).
- Maintain content of alumni and donor websites for timeliness and accuracy.
- Create and execute annual impact report and online honor roll of donors in collaboration with advancement colleagues.
- Assist with messaging and related solicitation (print, social, email, etc.) for two separate annual giving days (1890 Challenge in the fall and My Home Among the Hills Challenge in the spring), as well as serve as a resource for athletic department giving days and initiatives.
- Collaborate with campaign counsel to assist with preparation of the case statement and related collateral (print, video, etc.).
- Assist with writing and editing grant proposals as requested.
- Proofread and edit documents created by advancement colleagues when requested.
- Assist colleagues with maintaining a spirit of philanthropic education for stakeholders across all alumni/donor communication.
- Maintain a limited portfolio of fundraising prospects – cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts.
- Attend and fully participate in departmental special events including Homecoming and Commencement, as well as alumni, donor, and campaign events, as needed.
- Maintain active participation in campus activities that increase personal knowledge of subjects/projects/programs appropriate for highlighting among alumni and donors.
- Maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the College, including mission, vision, history, and current fundraising and friend-raising priorities ensuring effective and equal representation of all opportunities and priorities for philanthropic support of the College.
- Other duties as assigned and requested by the Vice President for Advancement.
To apply: Interested candidates shall submit a letter of interest, resume, the names and contact information of three references, and a writing sample to wvwcjobapp@wvwc.edu. On the subject of the email, please enter: ##16## – Advancement Communication Specialist. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
West Virginia Wesleyan College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, creed, ancestry, marital/family status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, religion, age, disability or blindness, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law , to include Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, and the Age Discrimination Act, in the administration of its admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, educational programs, employment, athletic programs, co-curricular activities, or other College administered programs. WVWC’s nondiscrimination polices may be accessed at https://www.wvwc.edu/title-ix/. For inquiries about the application of these laws in WVWC’s programs activities or to file a report, contact the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@wvwc.edu or 304-621-1316.