Associate Director of Donor Relations/Writer - College of the Holy Cross

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, in the Office of Stewardship Programs, the Associate Director of Donor Relations/Writer will be the primary lead in the office of Advancement charged with preparing correspondence for the President of the College to include condolence letters, replies to alumni/friend correspondence, promotion and awards letters, personalized acknowledgement letters on behalf of the President and the Vice President of Advancement, and as needed response letters on behalf of the President, as circumstances warrant. The writer also will oversee the preparation and update of template letters on quarterly basis, to include all acknowledgement templates, the promotion/awards template, electronic receipts, branded receipts specific to initiative and others as needed, to include messaging and photographs. The writer will research and prepare donor impact stories, student and faculty bios, and programmatic impact stories for the website, annual donor reports and newsletters, as well as all tasks associated with student and faculty correspondence obtained to thank their respective donors. This position is responsible for the research and preparation of high-level donor recognition text and materials, including Cornerstone, In Hoc Signo and P. Kevin Condron award citations, and will work closely with Advancement communications staff on the writing and production of the newsletters. In addition, this position will oversee production of individualized videos and other media-based stewardship for the college's top donors. This position will oversee writing and production programmatic brochures to accompany annual fall reports, and serve as technical lead in the preparation of PDF'd reports, upload and interaction platform representatives. The stewardship writer will understand stewardship and donor relations best practices, particularly confidentiality issues involving donor and beneficiary information, and create efficiencies in the Office of Stewardship Programs. The writer will attend campaign and informational departmental meetings as needed, as well as campus wide programs and/or seminars related to funds stewarded by the department.

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Write high-quality correspondence on behalf of the president, and copy for use in a variety of reports, newsletters and the web site, with exemplary proofing and editorial skills. This position will be called upon to track and respond to controversial correspondence on behalf of the President and other Leadership as needed.
• Project management skills are essential. The volume of demand will be substantial and the writer will be required to budget and manage their time effectively and demonstrate a high level of initiative to ensure that projects are completed well and on time.
• Exemplary research skills are expected, in relation to historical events of the College, donor histories and/or controversies for example, in order to complete tasks of the position, which will also require a strong knowledge of administrative personnel and the College Archives.
• An understanding of social media platforms, marketing strategies and trends in higher education regarding stewardship communications is important, as is a willingness to learn new programs and/or processes as needed.
• Proficient in research, copy drafting/editing, digital photography, media capture, basic video editing and web-based video sharing platforms.
• Adept at monitoring/recording metric data, including time spent on projects and initiatives, the volume of regular tasks, and accessing automated analytics information (where available), as well as summarizing key takeaways.
• Work closely with gift officers and other administrators throughout campus, including members of the President's Office.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience in advancement/development or a related field (marketing, publishing, and journalism) is required.
• Proficiency in MS Office (MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint)
• Proficient project management skills with a track record of taking projects from concept to completion, understanding process implications with the ability to identify gaps and/or areas of opportunity.
• Excellent writing skills are essential, to include proofing and editorial expertise. Must be able to manage a complex set of writing assignments, produce clear and convincing written communications, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet time deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills required.
• Must have a familiarity with and commitment to the mission of the College of the Holy Cross.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in College/University Advancement/Fundraising departments
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High level of computer literacy
• Working knowledge of effective social media engagement, with an ability to create, advise and implement comprehensive social media campaigns

Core Competencies

• Strong customer service orientation
• Exemplifies Holy Cross Values and Mission
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Good judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work on a team and independently
• Ability to handle various special projects on an ongoing basis while addressing daily needs for the office
• Flexibility and adaptability to evolving campaign needs and priorities
• Ability to collaborate and work with others toward successful results
• Understands, values and respects diversity as an individual, in a team and within groups while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment

To mitigate the spread and effects of COVID-19, and as an integral part of its public health and safety measures, College of the Holy Cross requires that all successful applicants show proof of full, up-to-date vaccination (including a booster dose once eligible) by an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine before beginning employment, unless an accommodation exempting the applicant from this policy has been granted. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation based on a disability or sincerely-held religious belief should inform Human Resources after an offer of employment is extended; please do not include any medical, genetic, or religious information in your application materials.

This is a full-time, exempt level position. The College is committed to providing competitive market pay for its employees. The College also offers a competitive benefits package for full-time staff, including:

• 10% College contribution to the 403(b) Retirement Plan (1 year wait waiver available)
• Hybrid work
• NEW - condensed summer 4-day work week
• Tuition benefits
• Wellness programs & ongoing Training and Development opportunities
• Generous paid time off
• Free parking and free use of the athletic/fitness facilities.
• Click here to learn more.

College Description

The College of the Holy Cross is a private, Jesuit Catholic, undergraduate institution serving approximately 3,100 students. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England and has a tradition of academic excellence. It is located atop Mount Saint James in Worcester, Massachusetts. The picturesque, 174-acre campus is an award-winning and registered arboretum.

Region Description

Worcester is a city of approximately 200,000 people centrally located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is approximately one hour from Boston, Hartford, and Providence, and three hours from New York City. Worcester is known as the Heart of the Commonwealth. Worcester offers many cultural and recreational opportunities which you can read more about here.

The College of the Holy Cross is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer.

A member of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA).

To review our Employee Benefit Options, please go to: https://www.holycross.edu/human-resources/benefits

Holy Cross Benefits at a Glance PDF for download: click here