Marketing and Communications Consultant (FAES)

Job Description

Under the direction of the Chief Advancement Officer for the CFAES, the Marketing and Communications Manager oversees all internal and external communications and marketing across audiences in the donor and alumni engagement space, including Ohio 4-H donor and alumni engagement. Specifically, the Marketing and Communications Manager has oversight of strategic communications, digital and print strategy; corporate and organizational communications; culture-shaping and change communications related to philanthropy and engagement. The Manager maintains collaborative and cooperative relationships with university and college level counterparts, meeting frequently to ensure and maximize coordinated efforts and cost efficiency.

Provides leadership and strategic direction for CFAES Advancement Communications and works collaboratively with University and College level Marketing and Communications and Office of Advancement. Collaboratively leads and supports the CFAES Office of Advancement as a member of the leadership team; responsible for elevating the college’s value as a destination for philanthropy, engagement, and volunteerism. Partners with internal stakeholders across the college (including college marketing and communications, academic departments, academic programs, advancement, program offices, and business partnerships) to collaborate on strategies to enhance storytelling to engage external constituents in the work of Advancement. Plays crucial role in identifying impact stories resulting from donor and constituent engagement that will retain and grow audience. Works to understand the dynamics between donor and the institution with ultimate goal of increasing engagement through time, talent, and treasure of stakeholders.

Develops marketing and communications campaign strategies to support advancement goals. As a leader in the college’s Office of Advancement, will have the ability to communicative effectively with diverse audiences; superior oral, written, editing, and presentation skills; proven ability to deliver projects that achieve strategic objectives, on-time and on-budget.

Creates persuasive, donor-centered content that resonates with alumni, partners and friends of the college, including campaign messaging, talking points, scripts, invitations and emails. Co-leads planning and production of CFAES Alumni Magazine, in partnership with members of the college’s marketing and communications team. Develops proposals, presentations, college impact and individual donor reports, briefings for major gifts, stewardship pieces for first time donors, milestone donor programs, faculty and staff giving, and annual giving solicitations across the college. Helps maintain alumni and donor website content. Coordinates alumni and donor event communication and planning including messaging, and coordination of content, design, printing, videos, photos and emails.

The Manager will work collaboratively with University Advancement to assure alignment and coordination with key messaging and program initiatives. This position does not have direct reports but will play a critical role in achieving organization goals.

All members of Advancement are part of creating an inclusive culture that inspires an exceptionally diverse and talented team and are measured on their adherence to the following core competencies: leadership, continuous improvement, teamwork and collaboration, and communication/interpersonal effectiveness.

Department Overview

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is the cornerstone college of The Ohio State University, with three mission areas dedicated to one essential purpose: We Sustain Life. CFAES is one college spread across three campuses, with our faculty and staff split evenly among the three campuses. Comprised of 10 academic units including the School of Environment and Natural Resources and Ohio State ATI, plus Ohio State University Extension, CFAES has 22 bachelor’s degree majors, 26 associate degree majors, and 34 minors. Students have the unique opportunity for hands-on learning with scholars and scientists in the field. The college encompasses more than 200,000 alumni of Ohio 4-H, over 47,000 graduates from our CFAES Wooster and Columbus campuses, and engage directly with many stakeholders throughout the state, nation, and world. The College values diversity and offers a supportive, open, and inclusive community.

Duties and Responsibilities

50%

Provides leadership and strategic direction for CFAES Advancement Communications, which is part of the college’s Office of Advancement; serves as a member of the leadership team; responsible for elevating the college’s philanthropic and engagement reputation through messaging; aligns budget and staff resources to best leverage opportunities to position The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences as the leading choice to help advance our discipline areas. Directs and implements strategy for internal and external college advancement communications that promotes community engagement, philanthropic awareness, and continues to build a culture of philanthropy across our college. Develops and implements processes and work showcasing the important work of our college and the impact that constituents can have via engagement. Works closely with college’s marketing and communications team.

30%

Partners with internal stakeholders across the college (including college marketing and communications, academic departments, academic programs, advancement, program offices, and business partnerships) to collaborate on strategies to enhance storytelling to engage external constituents in the work of Advancement. Plays crucial role in identification of impact stories.

Creates persuasive donor-centered content including campaign messaging, talking points, scripts, invitations and emails. Develops proposals, impact and individual donor reports, briefings for major gifts, and implements using design templates (inclusive of college and 4-H). Creates presentations for proposals and events. Coordinates alumni and donor event communication and planning, inclusive of messaging and coordination of execution for content, design, printing, video, photos and emails. Writes stewardship pieces for first-time donors, milestone donor programs, faculty and staff giving. Co-leads planning and production of college’s alumni magazine.

10%

Collaborates with the college’s marketing and communications team and supports communication and marketing execution of strategic initiatives.

10%

Facilitates relationship with university advancement staff to effectively align CFAES with university initiatives; leads and serves on college strategy teams and cross-functional workgroups as requested. Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience
• Experience in program planning and administration
• 4 years of relevant experience which may include marketing and communications, particularly with donor or fundraising audiences.

Desired Qualifications (We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• Knowledge and familiarity with higher education
• Experience fostering a collaborative and creative work environment
• Extensive experience in brand, marketing, and communications strategic planning and implementation across platforms and mediums.
• Prior responsibility for a marketing budget; strategic and long-range planning experience.

The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.

Commitment to Inclusion

The Office of Advancement is committed to active allyship in addressing and dismantling the inequities created by systemic racism and implicit, long-held bias. We pledge to act with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times; trust ourselves and our colleagues and empower their whole identities; and hear and see our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the diverse, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here: https://hr.osu.edu/careers/.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

To learn more about the Office of Advancement, please visit advancement.osu.edu.

The pay range for this job profile is $62,700 – $83,600. The offer for this position will fall within this range based on internal equity, the unit’s available budget, and the candidate’s qualifications.

Salary Range: $62,700 – $83,600

Function: Marketing and Communications

Sub-function: Marketing and Communications

Career Band: Individual Contributor – Specialized

Career Level: S3Regular 40 First Shift