Assist Dir of Advancement Comms & Content

Position Overview:

The Assistant Director of Advancement Communications and Content plays a key role in bringing Merrimack College’s advancement communications, alumni engagement, donor relations and comprehensive campaign strategies to life through compelling content and high-quality execution.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement Communications, Marketing and Campaign Director, the Assistant Director develops content that engages alumni, donors, parents, prospects and other key audiences; demonstrates the impact of philanthropy; highlights student and alumni success; and advances the goals of Merrimack’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.

Working from communications, marketing and campaign strategies established by the Associate Vice President, the Assistant Director produces stories, digital and social content, email communications, publications, donor communications and other Advancement materials. The position requires an excellent writer and storyteller who can identify strong content opportunities, manage multiple projects and deadlines, and collaborate effectively across the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the College.

Primary Responsibilities

Content Development and Storytelling

• Develop compelling content supporting Merrimack’s fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relations, stewardship and campaign priorities.

• Write and edit stories featuring students, alumni, donors, faculty, research, career outcomes, athletics, mission and community impact.

• Identify stories that showcase meaningful student and alumni outcomes and connect those outcomes to donor investment and College priorities.

• Interview students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff and College leaders to develop authentic and engaging stories.

• Translate institutional priorities, programs, data and outcomes into clear, audience-focused communications.

• Adapt content for use across email, web, social media, publications and other Advancement channels.

Campaign, Donor and Alumni Communications

• Support communications and marketing for Merrimack College’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Together We Rise.

• Develop campaign stories, donor communications, digital content, presentations and other materials based on established campaign strategy and messaging.

• Support communications surrounding campaign priorities, leadership gifts, milestones, announcements and celebrations.

• Develop donor-centered communications that demonstrate philanthropic impact and inspire continued engagement and investment.

• Create content that strengthens alumni connection to Merrimack and encourages deeper engagement, volunteer involvement and philanthropy.

• Ensure campaign, donor and alumni communications are accurate, audience-focused and consistent with Merrimack’s voice and brand.

Digital, Social and Publications

• 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.

• Write and produce Advancement email and web content for alumni, donors, parents, prospects and other constituent audiences.

• Create and manage content for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations social media platforms.

• Repurpose long-form stories and other Advancement content across digital channels.

• Support the planning, writing and manage the production of Advancement publications, including the quarterly Merrimack Magazine.

• Coordinate interviews, photography, video and other creative assets needed to support Advancement content.

• Monitor content performance and help identify opportunities to strengthen audience engagement.

Event Communications and Project Management

• Develop communications and materials supporting campaign events, donor gatherings, alumni programs and other Advancement events.

• Produce invitations, programs, presentations, scripts, signage, web content and pre- and post-event communications.

• Support storytelling and messaging that reinforce fundraising, campaign and alumni engagement priorities.

• Help implement the Advancement editorial and communications calendar.

• Manage multiple content projects, approvals and deadlines to ensure high-quality and timely execution.

• Maintain organized libraries of stories, testimonials, photography, data, campaign proof points and donor-impact content.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Associate Vice President for Advancement Communications, Marketing and Campaign Director to execute Advancement communications, marketing and campaign strategies.

• Collaborate with colleagues across Development, Alumni Relations, Advancement Services and other College departments to identify and develop compelling stories and content.

• Partner with communications, marketing, digital and creative teams across the College to ensure coordination and consistency with institutional brand standards.

• Work with photographers, videographers, designers, freelancers and other external partners as needed.

• Contribute to a collaborative, creative and highly responsive Advancement culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, English or a related field.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in communications, content development, marketing, journalism, public relations, advancement communications or a related area.

• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills across a variety of audiences, formats and channels.

• Strong interviewing and research skills and the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging content.

• Experience developing digital, email, web and social media content.

• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.

• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy and quality.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of an organization.

• Sound judgment and discretion when working with donors, alumni, students and sensitive information.

• Experience in higher education, advancement, nonprofit communications or a mission-driven organization preferred.

• Familiarity with content management systems, email marketing platforms, social media tools and basic analytics preferred.

• Experience working with photography, video, publications or creative production partners is a plus.

• 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 or CV

• 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.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

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.