AVP for Adv Comms, Marketing & Campaign Direc

PCN 2088

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.