Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

Job Description

Job Description

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation is seeking a strategic, creative, and collaborative Associate Director of Marketing & Communications to help tell the stories, promote the experiences, and create the connections that engage students, alumni, donors, and friends of the University of North Dakota.

In this role, you’ll lead and coordinate marketing and communication initiatives across a variety of channels—including digital, social media, web, print, events, and more. You’ll help shape engagement strategies for students and young alumni, promote signature events and sponsorship opportunities, strengthen alumni and donor relationships, and collaborate with colleagues and campus partners to bring meaningful ideas to life.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and brings strong strategic thinking, project management, communication, and marketing skills to the table.

If you’re passionate about connecting people to a mission, building engagement, and creating marketing that makes an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Join us in helping alumni and friends stay connected to UND for life! POSITION SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Marketing & Communications develops, executes, and manages strategic marketing and communication initiatives that support the goals of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF). Working closely with the Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications, this position serves as a key coordinator for organization-wide marketing efforts, including alumni and donor engagement initiatives, event promotion, student and young alumni engagement strategies, website strategy, and cross-channel communication campaigns. This position plays an important role in fostering lifelong connections with the University of North Dakota, beginning with the student experience and extending through the early alumni years.

This individual collaborates with stakeholders to develop marketing plans, coordinate timelines, and ensure consistent messaging across print, digital, social media, web, and event communications. The Associate Director plays a leading role in connecting alumni and donors with the mission of the UNDAAF through thoughtful, audience-centered marketing strategies.

A demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in a creative, collaborative, and fast-paced environment is essential to this position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

1. Develop and implement marketing and communication plans for alumni engagement initiatives, events, and organizational priorities.
2. Manage the organization’s marketing and communications project calendar, overseeing timelines and priorities while facilitating collaboration to ensure initiatives remain aligned with strategic goals.
3. Lead student and young alumni engagement efforts by collaborating with campus partners and UNDAAF colleagues, evaluating participation data, and developing strategies that increase involvement, foster affinity, and support the transition from student to alumni.
4. Provide strategic marketing guidance and support for engagement events, including alumni gatherings, campaign events, athletic reunions, student programs, and donor recognition activities.
5. Partner with event planners, development staff, and stakeholders to develop and market event sponsorship opportunities, including sponsorship packages, promotional materials, and communication strategies that support revenue and engagement goals.
6. Partner with Annual Giving and Stewardship teams to develop meaningful engagement touchpoints that strengthen alumni and donor relationships and support participation, retention, and long-term giving.
7. Work with Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications to ensure organizational marketing priorities align with strategic goals and audience needs.
8. As needed, write content for marketing campaigns, event promotions, website and social media, print and other communication channels.
9. Strategize and plan web content to support engagement, fundraising, and brand objectives. Collaborate with stakeholders to identify audience needs, establish content priorities, evaluate site effectiveness, and recommend enhancements to the user experience and site functionality.
10. Employ knowledge of target audiences, marketing trends, and communication practices to determine effective strategies and tactics. 
11. Stay informed about university initiatives, alumni achievements, donor impact stories, and campus developments to identify meaningful storytelling opportunities. 
12. Collaborate with internal teams and campus partners to ensure successful execution of marketing and communication projects.
13. Remain current on emerging communication technologies, engagement strategies, and industry trends.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, management or communications preferred.

Experience: 5-7 years of relevant experience preferred. 

PHYSICAL & COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS

Ability to operate computers, telephones, and other standard office equipment. Ability to focus and complete work in a timely manner. Ability to travel independently via car and air. Ability to occasionally bend, stoop, squat, and lift or move objects up to 10 pounds.

COMPETENCIES

Excellent organizational skills and strong sense of attention to detail

Exceptional communication, analytical, planning, and implementation skills

Strong project management skills and the ability to manage complex timelines and multiple projects

Ability to build consensus, facilitate collaboration, and manage projects across multiple stakeholders and departments

Ability to work in groups and independently while managing multiple tasks and deadlines

Energetic, forward-thinking and creative with high ethical standards

Appropriate professional image

Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with appropriate discretion

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Self-motivated and confident

Strong sense of teamwork

Resourceful and willing to take initiative

Demonstrated skills at building collaborative relationships with colleagues and students

Excellent customer service skills

Detail oriented

Knowledge of social media channels and online documents

Writing and editing experience 

Benefits:

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation supports employees through a highly competitive total compensation package that includes competitive pay and an excellent benefits package, along with career growth opportunities, and supports work-life blend for our employees. 

Benefits at UNDAAF includes health insurance with employer contributions towards premium, retirement plan with generous employer contributions, employer paid life and long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, generous paid time off policy, paid volunteer opportunities, EAP, UND tuition waiver, summer hours. Other elective benefits available: flexible benefits plans, dental, vision, STD, cancer care, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, voluntary life insurance for spouse and dependents.

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation recognizes that work-life blend is an important component of a larger picture of life responsibilities, obligations, goals and interests. We will make every effort in creating a work-life blend model that reflects life situations while also ensuring maximum productivity.

Statement:

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support Visa sponsorship for continued employment.

 

This position will be an in-office position.