Associate Vice President for Advancement Communications, Marketing and
Campaign Director
Position Description:
The Associate Vice President for Advancement Communications, Marketing and
Campaign Director provides senior-level leadership for Merrimack College's
advancement communications and marketing strategy and serves as director of
the College's comprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chief
Advancement Officer (CAO), the Associate Vice President is a leader on the
Institutional Advancement leadership team and works closely with the Senior
Vice President and CAO and Advancement leadership to establish campaign
strategy, communications priorities, messaging and integrated engagement plans
that advance fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations and campaign
Objectives.
The Associate Vice President is responsible for translating Merrimack's
strategic priorities, institutional progress and philanthropic aspirations
into compelling communications that engage alumni, donors, parents, prospects
and other key audiences. The position leads the development of campaign
narratives, donor and alumni stories, impact communications and marketing
initiatives designed to deepen engagement and inspire philanthropic
investment.
Advancement-generated content will also serve as an important source of
stories, messages and proof points for Merrimack's broader institutional
communications and marketing efforts.
Primary Responsibilities:
Campaign Leadership and Strategy
Serve as director of Merrimack College's comprehensive fundraising
campaign, Together We Rise.
Lead campaign planning, organization, implementation, communications,
marketing and evaluation.
Develop and maintain an integrated campaign plan, including phases,
timelines, milestones, audience strategies, communications priorities,
responsibilities and accountability.
Partner with the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement and
CAO and Advancement leadership to establish campaign priorities, goals and
strategies.
Develop and maintain the Together We Rise case for support, campaign
narrative, key messages and communications strategy.
Ensure campaign priorities are clearly articulated, compellingly presented
and aligned with Merrimack's strategic priorities and philanthropic
aspirations.
Lead communications and marketing supporting campaign launches,
priorities, leadership gifts, milestones, celebrations and campaign
conclusion.
Maintain campaign visibility, momentum and a strong sense of progress
throughout the life of Together We Rise.
Partner with institutional communications and marketing colleagues to
extend campaign stories and messages through broader College channels and
audiences.
Advancement Communications, Marketing and Content Strategy
Establish and lead an integrated Advancement communications and marketing
strategy supporting fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations,
stewardship and Together We Rise.
Translate Merrimack's priorities, progress and philanthropic opportunities
into compelling communications for alumni, donors, parents, prospects and
other Advancement audiences.
Establish editorial and content priorities based on Advancement and
campaign objectives.
Lead the development of stories featuring students, alumni, faculty,
donors, research, career outcomes, athletics, mission and community impact
through an Advancement and philanthropic lens.
Lead and oversee major Advancement content, including donor-impact
stories, alumni profiles, videos, digital features, newsletters,
publications and the quarterly Merrimack Magazine.
Maintain a coordinated Advancement editorial calendar and repository of
approved stories, testimonials, data, photography, campaign proof points
and donor-impact content.
Ensure Advancement communications are consistent in voice, message,
quality and visual presentation.
Partner with Advancement Services and other colleagues to use audience
segmentation, analytics and performance data to strengthen communications
effectiveness.
Test and refine messaging, content and channels based on audience
engagement and results.
Donor, Alumni and Fundraising Communications
Lead communications strategies supporting donor engagement, alumni
engagement, stewardship and philanthropic participation.
Develop donor-centered communications that demonstrate the impact of
philanthropy and inspire continued investment.
Partner with fundraising leadership and frontline gift officers to develop
proposals, presentations, cases, talking points and other communications
supporting cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
Ensure fundraising teams have the stories, messages, data and tools
necessary to engage donors and prospects effectively.
Partner with alumni relations and advancement colleagues to align
communications with recognition, stewardship and donor experience
strategies.
Develop communications that strengthen alumni connection to Merrimack and
create pathways toward deeper engagement, volunteer participation and
philanthropy.
Ensure alumni, parent, prospect and donor communications are coordinated
and aligned with Advancement and campaign priorities.
Digital, Social and Event Communications
Lead digital and social media strategy for Advancement, alumni engagement,
donor relations.
Develop digital and social content that demonstrates philanthropic impact,
showcases student and alumni success and outcomes, celebrates donors and
alumni, and advances fundraising and campaign priorities.
Coordinate Advancement content with broader College digital and social
media channels.
Lead communications and marketing for major campaign events, donor
gatherings, alumni programs and Advancement leadership events.
Partner with Advancement and College colleagues on event objectives,
messaging, audience strategy and program development.
Develop pre-event and post-event communications that strengthen
relationships, deepen engagement and support philanthropic outcomes.
Use digital performance data and audience insights to improve reach and
effectiveness.
Leadership and Collaboration
Serve as a senior strategic advisor to the Senior Vice President for
Institutional Advancement and CAO on advancement communications,
marketing, campaign strategy and constituent engagement.
Lead and develop staff responsible for Advancement communications,
marketing, content and campaign-related initiatives.
Manage external consultants, agencies, vendors and other partners as
appropriate.
Establish clear priorities, processes, timelines and standards to ensure
high-quality and timely execution.
Build strong partnerships across Institutional Advancement and with
communications and marketing colleagues throughout the College.
Ensure Advancement-generated stories and content are shared effectively
with institutional partners for broader use when appropriate.
Represent Institutional Advancement on College-wide initiatives requiring
communications, marketing, campaign or philanthropic expertise.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in advancement
communications, marketing, campaign communications, fundraising, alumni
engagement, strategic communications or a related field.
Significant experience supporting, planning or managing a comprehensive
fundraising campaign strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success developing campaign cases for support, campaign
narratives, messaging frameworks and integrated fundraising communications
and marketing strategies.
Experience developing communications and marketing strategies for alumni,
donors, prospects, parents or other constituent audiences.
Strong understanding of fundraising strategy, donor engagement, alumni
relations, stewardship and Advancement operations.
Demonstrated experience with digital marketing, email communications,
social media, web content, publications, video and audience engagement
strategies.
Experience using data, segmentation, analytics and audience insights to
strengthen communications and marketing performance.
Exceptional writing, editing, messaging and presentation skills, with the
ability to translate complex institutional priorities into clear,
compelling and audience-focused communications.
Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives and
managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
Experience managing professional staff, consultants, agencies, vendors and
budgets.
Experience working effectively with presidents, senior executives,
trustees, donors, alumni and volunteer leaders.
Strong executive judgment, discretion and political awareness.
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to lead
effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative and highly visible environment.
Experience in higher education, advancement or a mission-driven
organization preferred.
Evening and weekend work required for events and College activities as
well as availability outside of normal business hours when necessary to
support time sensitive initiatives.
Application Materials Should Include:
Resume
Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing
experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with,
and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background
check.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education
committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to
enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our
Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry
and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute
to Merrimack's Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should
describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our
mission.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New
England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational
institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50
doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more
than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all
taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and
student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering
and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social
policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling
and social work. The College's suburban 220-acre campus is just north of
Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master's Colleges and
Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification
of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing
educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the
U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the
Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I
athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
