Development Specialist

As part of this effort the University’s central Annual Giving team, within Alumni Relations Office under the University Advancement division, is hiring a Marketing and Communications Specialist. Reporting to the Associate Director of Annual Giving, the Marketing and Communications Specialist position will be an integral member of the Annual Giving team. Annual Giving dual reports and works directly with the Alumni Relations and central University Advancement team to serve and collaborate with the various university partners and stakeholders.
The Specialist will help increase the number of donors and philanthropic dollars raised through online engagement and solicitation efforts. This person will be charged with improving current and developing new digital engagement and solicitation strategies through a variety of communication channels and tools.Responsibilities

• Working with the Assistant Director of Annual Giving develop and enhance a robust online social media engagement plan.

• Responsible for creating and maintaining digital communications, Thankview platform, social media content, and digital ads.

• Responsible for planning and implementing social media engagement efforts.

• Responsible for managing the Student Digital Content Team – which consists of 3 – 5 student employees and interns who work to provide content for annual giving and maintain the social media channels.

• Work with the Student Giving Day Committee and with the Student Philanthropy and Engagement Center Manager to promote Giving Day.

• Helps to manage and create a digital marketing strategy for Giving Day, Micro-campaigns, annual fundraising campaigns, Thankview campaigns, and stewardship projects.

• Promote crowdfunding platform to campus partners and student groups.

• Participate in creative meetings and planning sessions.

• Work closely with University Marketing and Communications and U Alumni to ensure fundraising impact stories are being shared across the university’s social media platforms.

• Willingly share and accept feedback from the Annual Giving team and other campus partners.

• Stay up to date with current industry trends and learn from our peer institutions in higher education.

• Maintain a digital communication/engagement calendar that Annual Giving can leverage and share with our campus partners.

• Prepare and distribute regular reports on online engagement and solicitation results.

Minimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Graphic Design, or a related field, or equivalency; and demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills required.

Experience which includes fundraising, including raising donations through online engagement and solicitation preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.Preferences

• Experience with an email platform, specifically email creation, list management, and campaign plans (Such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud, MyEmma, MailChimp, Constant Contact, etc…)

• Highly skilled in Adobe Suite including Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Lightroom

• Proficient in videography and video editing using Adobe Premiere or similar

• Expert in social media platforms, specifically Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and schedulers

• Familiarity with designing and purchasing digital ads

• Experience working within higher education annual giving or development

• Experience with or an understanding of the organizational structure of a large public university

• Strong organizational, communication, and analytical skills

• Superb editing and proof-reading skills

Type Benefited Staff Special Instructions SummaryAs a part of the University of Utah, the University Advancement division is deeply committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). We embrace this commitment to grow and maintain a diverse, safe, and inclusive workplace culture for all employees in University Advancement. With an increasingly diverse population of alumni and donors, we recognize that nationally the most successful advancement offices employ individuals who can connect with these diverse communities and understand approaches that mirror a broad perspective of cultures, values, and experiences. The long-term strength and viability of the University of Utah stem from the ongoing EDI practices, and we work intentionally to ensure these efforts are reflected in all aspects of our fundraising and advancement work. We highly encourage applications from historically underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons who have served in the military, and others who would bring additional dimensions of education and experience to our team.