The advancement communications manager reports to the chief development officer to develop and manage communications in support of the office of advancement. They will provide marketing expertise and vision to successfully engage Mercersburg Academy constituents (alumni, parents, and friends). Outreach efforts are designed to elicit measurable responses through a variety of channels, including direct mail, digital communications, social media, events, stewardship, video, photography, and philanthropy. Key partners across advancement include annual giving, planned giving, alumni and parent relations, stewardship, major gifts, advancement services, and campaign communications. 

Additionally, the office of marketing and communications is a key resource to ensure that all advancement communications align with Mercersburg’s brand identity, messaging, and institutional priorities. These teams collaborate to establish messaging and content development, digital and social media integration, creative and design support, event promotion, and public relations—enhancing the visibility and impact of milestone gifts, campaigns, and donor recognition.

Responsibilities 

• Assist partners in developing effective, donor-centered, communication plans that strengthen relationships between the school and its alumni, parents, students, friends and other constituents. Provide vision and writing, editing, project management, and execution for the advancement program as the primary communications resource. 
• Collaborate with the office of marketing and communications to maintain brand consistency, ensure that philanthropic messages are appropriately integrated into broader school communications, and drive the development of fundraising materials. Participate in the weekly marketing and communications meeting to share and exchange content ideas.
• Work with the office of marketing and communications on the use of photographers and videographers to produce compelling content.
• Collaborate with the office of marketing and communications on the Academy’s Magazine to develop ads, class notes, and constituent stories.
• Identify, develop, and maintain a story bank for solicitations, publications, and stewardship.
• Create template proposals, briefing documents, and craft remarks for volunteer and staff leadership, as requested.
• As needed, design templates and donor/prospect materials in support of gift-planner work, and written elements of personal stewardship plans. 
• Work with advancement staff and the marketing and communications team to develop a relevant and meaningful web presence for the office of advancement through the school website.
• In collaboration with the office of marketing and communications, collect, create, and post appropriate social media content to raise the profile of graduates, programs, events, etc. that would be of interest to constituents.
• Work with volunteer managers to support the volunteer training materials.
• Oversee and approve office of advancement communications and manage the weekly advancement communications meetings
• Ensure the smooth flow of communications.
• Propose and manage the advancement and alumni relations communications budget and timeline. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional project management facility.
• Experience and expertise in web and social media communications.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the flexibility to respond quickly and appropriately to institutional needs.
• Skilled writer with knowledge of print, electronic, and graphic communications.
• Keen sense of detail.
• Excellent proofreading skills.
• Marketing savvy to create pieces that produce measurable results.
• Experience with tools used such as Google platform, CoSchedule, Canva, Constant Contact, SmartSheets, BlackBaud NXT, Vidigami, Photoshelter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• Minimum of five years’ experience, preferably in communications or marketing with an emphasis on advancement and alumni relations.