Associate Director of Advancement Communication

ESU Foundation


Search  2443 - Posted August 7, 2026

The Emporia State University Alumni Association and Foundation is seeking an Associate Director of Advancement Communication to support strategic communications that inspire alumni engagement, philanthropy, stewardship, volunteerism, event participation and institutional pride.

This role is ideal for a strong writer, campaign thinker, digital communicator and collaborative strategist who enjoys turning big goals into clear plans, compelling stories and measurable communications.



The Associate Director will serve as a key member of the Advancement Communication team and will help develop and execute integrated communications campaigns across email, web, social media, print and collateral. This position plays a central role in translating alumni engagement and fundraising priorities into audience-centered messaging, coordinated campaign plans, digital content, storytelling assets and performance insights.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead campaign communication

  • You will develop communications plans for alumni engagement, fundraising, stewardship, events and other advancement priorities.
  • This includes building campaign timelines, email sequences, social plans, web updates, calls to action, audience recommendations, draft copy, review deadlines and reporting plans.


Write compelling advancement content

  • You will write and edit content that connects alumni, donors and friends of ESU to the impact of philanthropy and engagement.
  • Content may include: Fundraising and event emails, Alumni newsletters, Donor impact stories, Giving society messages, Web copy, Alumni profiles, Student impact stories, News release drafts for major gifts


Guide digital communications

  • You will help lead day-to-day digital communications strategy for advancement email, web and social content.
  • This includes: Email performance strategy, Web content strategy, Social content direction, Audience segmentation recommendations, Subject line and call-to-action testing, Landing page and registration flow recommendations, Digital campaign sequencing, Performance tracking, and optimization


Support fundraising and alumni engagement partners

  • You will serve as a communications partner to colleagues in alumni engagement, annual giving, stewardship, major gifts, planned giving, events and campus partner areas.


Build a campaign-ready story pipeline

  • You will help develop and maintain a pipeline of donor, alumni, student, scholarship, volunteer, and philanthropic impact stories that can support: Campaign readiness, Giving Day, Stewardship, Major gift cultivation, Annual giving, Website content, Social media, Email campaigns, Spotlight magazine, Donor proposals, Event remarks, and follow-up communications

 

Support Spotlight magazine

  • You will support Spotlight magazine through story development, interviews, first drafts, editing support, captions, fact-checking and digital repurposing.
  • The Director of Advancement Communication serves as Editor, and this role is an important editorial and storytelling partner in producing the magazine.


Use data to improve communications

  • You will track and report on campaign performance, including email engagement, web engagement, giving participation, event registrations, volunteer sign-ups and other communications outcomes.


QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Communication, Marketing, Public Relations, English, or a related field; or 4 years of related experience in lieu of degree
  • Experience in advancement communication, nonprofit communication, or higher education communication
  • Strong writing, editing, interviewing and storytelling skills
  • Experience creating content for multiple channels, such as email, web, social media, print and collateral
  • Manage multiple projects, deadlines, stakeholders and priorities



Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in higher education, advancement, alumni relations, fundraising, nonprofit communication, donor communication or stewardship communication
  • Experience writing fundraising, donor impact, alumni engagement, stewardship or campaign communications
  • Experience with email marketing platforms, content management systems, analytics platforms, CRM/data request processes, or project management systems
  • Familiarity with AP style
  • Experience conducting interviews and developing donor, alumni, student or impact stories
  • Experience supporting magazine, campaign, annual report or long-form editorial projects
  • Experience with audience segmentation, A/B testing, email performance or campaign reporting 

COMPENSATION:

Annual Salary: $70,000 - $77,000 depending on qualifications.

BENEFITS:

Base pay is one component of Emporia State University’s total rewards package. We are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family that include:

  • Health Insurance
  • Free Dental insurance for employees
  • Retirement through the Kansas Board of Regents
  • Paid parental leave
  • Up to 31 days paid vacation and holiday days
  • Tuition reduction and tuition assistance
  • Dependent tuition waiver
  • For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit here. 

APPLY:

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and contact information of three references here. 


Consideration of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled.


A background check is required prior to hire.



For more information

Human Resources

humres@emporia.edu

(620) 341-5379

Emporia State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other factors which cannot be considered by law.