Director of Communications and Engagement

Overview:

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is a multidenominational, evangelical graduate school committed to equipping Christian leaders to think theologically, engage globally, and live biblically. With nearly 1,400 students across campuses in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, and online, Gordon-Conwell’s student body represents more than eighty-five denominations and fifty countries. The seminary offers master’s and doctoral programs—delivered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese—that combine academic excellence, spiritual formation, and a deep commitment to Scripture. Its 12,000 alumni serve Christ through ministry in the church, the academy, and the workplace. Gordon-Conwell is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Position Summary

The Director of Communications & Engagement is a strategic, collaborative leader who guides the seminary’s communications and engagement work. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement, the Director translates institutional strategy into an integrated plan that shares the impact of the seminary and deepens relationships with alumni, prospective students, and the wider church. A central part of the role is leading the work of the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Lead Nurturing Specialist. 

Key Responsibilities

•    Develop and implement an annual communications and engagement plan that advances institutional strategic goals as defined by the Vice President and reflects internal and external communication needs and opportunities.

•    Own the seminary’s multichannel editorial calendar, adjusting priorities as new needs and opportunities arise. Recommend, solicit, and review written content, from announcements to blogs and devotionals and reflections, across the website, blog, email, social media, digital media, and print. 

•    Supervise, mentor, and evaluate the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, and the Lead Nurturing Specialist, setting individual KPIs and aligning their work as segmentation is implemented.

•    Manage workflow for the communications and engagement team, including project intake, prioritization, and timelines. Coordinate with the Art Director and Web Developer on design and web requests so that shared projects stay on track.

•    Plan and lead engagement initiatives that build lasting relationships with alumni, prospective students, churches, and ministry partners, in collaboration with Admissions and Advancement.

•    Evaluate the effectiveness of communications and engagement efforts using the analytics the team gathers, and report results and recommendations to the Vice President.

•    Stay current with evolving trends, platforms, and best practices in communications, marketing, and engagement, and bring new approaches to the team.

•    Provide additional as-needed support.

Key Qualifications

·    Administrative Skills: Exceptional organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities in short-term and long-term objectives.

·    Leadership: Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop staff, and to manage the work of a team with varied responsibilities and competing deadlines.

·    Knowledge and Discernment: Must have meticulous attention to detail and maintain confidentiality.

·    Cultural Intelligence: Commitment to collegiality, diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Demonstrated ability to collaborate, serve, and lead in a team environment that requires collegiality and regular collaboration across matrixed, multi-campus environment.

·    Communication and Interpersonal Effectiveness: Must have exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including editing skills. Demonstrated ability writing news releases and blog posts. Must possess the ability to collaborate and serve in a team environment that requires collegiality and regular collaboration across multiple locations and modalities. 

·    Technical Knowledge: Experience with project management tools (e.g., Monday.com, Trello, or Asana), CRM and marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot), and web content management systems (e.g., WordPress). Required competency with Microsoft Office and web conferencing software (e.g., Zoom) preferred.

·    Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and willingness to abide by the Seminary’s Statement of Faith and Community Life Statement.

Education & Experience:

•    Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, business, or a related field. Commensurate experience to be evaluated. 

•    5+ years of experience in marketing and communications, including at least 3+ years managing a marketing or communications department and supervising staff.

•    Experience in higher education, theological education, or a ministry setting preferred.

•    Demonstrated experience developing communications plans and outreach and engagement initiatives across multiple channels.

Application Process:

Please apply through Gordon-Conwell’s Career Center available here: https://www.gordonconwell.edu/employment/

Please include these documents in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats:

•    A cover letter explaining your interest in the position required.

•    A formal CV that includes the names of at least three references required.

•    Samples of work, including writing samples and examples of communications or engagement strategies you have led required. 

No hard copy materials, please. Opportunities to interview will be made available at the search committee’s initiative. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.