Responsibilities

• Lead the Foundation’s overall marketing and communications (marcom).
• Apply the findings from the recent marcom study, which clarified the Foundation’s top four audiences, messages, messengers, and channels, to develop the Foundation’s brand guide, visual identity, narrative, website, and a suite of new assets that effectively move our target audiences in measurable ways.
• Manage marcom contractors and proactively collaborate with System experts in the development and distribution of marcom assets to ensure amplification of priorities.
• Develop, launch, and direct new communication tools, such as a Foundation e-newsletter and LinkedIn channel, that effectively reach the target audience(s) and achieve mutually agreed upon marcom goals.
• Lead the development of the Foundation’s annual report and other assets that effectively communicate the Foundation’s strong support and positive impact for the System.
• Support the Executive Director in the preparation of presentations, briefing papers, and other materials with decision points for the marcom committee and Foundation Board.
• Determine the marcom annual operations plan with measurable objectives and tactics, and related budget requests.
• Ensure the needs and opportunities of the local community colleges in NC, the System’s statewide strategic priorities, national funder interests, and national workforce development trends continually inform the marcom strategy and execution.
• Prepare and deliver marcom reports and presentations weekly to the Executive Director, monthly to the marcom committee, and quarterly to the Foundation Board.
• Be an in-house fundraising and development expert, knowledgeable in the art and science of fundraising, and comfortable navigating prospects through the donor journey from identifying, qualifying, and cultivating of prospects, to soliciting gifts (making the “ask”), recognizing donors, and coordinating ongoing stewardship.

Requirements

• Degree from a two-year community college or four-year college or university or equivalent; Advanced degree a plus
• At least three years of strategic communications and marketing experience, ideally with higher education institutions
• Knowledge of the national higher education philanthropic landscape and familiarity with the people and organizations at the local, state, and national level leading and influencing successful community college reforms
• A proven record of success in fundraising and development, ideally at the national level securing seven figure gifts
• At least three years of project management experience, ideally demonstrating a mastery of methodology and the application of the hard and soft skills necessary to successfully manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, active and thoughtful listener, clear communicator, and engaging storyteller
• Knowledge of and experience in fundraising, development, and advancement, and taking prospective funders through the donor journey, ideally validated with professional certifications such as CFRE, CGW
• Comfort with and commitment to use technology, including Google Workspace, Bloomerang donor database and CRM, and other other tools to track performance and report on progress, and use results to inform strategy, actions, and continuous improvement

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance with individual month premium coverage
• 401k retirement plan with immediate 5% match
• paid vacation and holidays