Job Abstract

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Job Summary

The Division of Advancement and Alumni Relations (AAR) fosters a thriving and engaged community. Through meaningful connections and partnerships with donors and alumni who help to advance the Institute’s mission, we ensure that financial resources are available to our faculty and students to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education.

Within a high-performance environment, your skills as an exceptional storyteller, editor, and writer are vital to communicating the essential role that philanthropy plays advancing Caltech’s mission. Applying editorial voice and standards, the Director of Advancement Communications is responsible for planning and creating content on deadline that will be used across AAR’s communications channels globally. Reporting to the Executive Director of Advancement Communications, you will work closely with the Assistant Director of Advancement Communications, communications professionals throughout AAR and with the central Office of Strategic Communications in addition to faculty, students, and third-party vendors to coordinate efforts and produce timely and effective communications.

Essential Job Duties

• Guide story selection, development, and editing of Advancement Communications projects and shape other AAR communicators’ work to maximize meaningful audience engagement and philanthropy.
• Plan content and manage the editorial process for Advancement Communications’ multichannel, print, and digital efforts, including donor impact stories, endowment reports, email announcements, newsletters, videos, websites, and social media.
• Lead through influence in order to guide editorial and brand design standards to ensure consistency in communications across all of AAR.
• Manage several freelance copywriters and graphic designers.
• Use analytics, including web page views, click throughs, and email open rates, to inform communications strategy.
• Serve as a mentor and partner to the Assistant Director of Advancement Communications.
• Continually seek out and apply innovations and best practices.
• Support special projects as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Six or more years of relevant experience in a nonprofit advancement communications office or related private sector communications office with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Ability to communicate science, engineering, or medical concepts in an easily understood manner.
• Superb editing, writing, interviewing, and research skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail, and adept at setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Comprehensive experience in developing creative and effective communications from start to finish on deadline.
• Eagerness to help accomplish goals of colleagues/clients, along with the ability to both share and receive constructive feedback.
• Excellent judgment and the ability to treat confidential information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience writing and editing science, engineering, or medical communications.
• Experience with website development and content management systems.
• Ability to communicate visually, and experience using software such as Adobe InDesign for graphic design projects.
• Experience developing earned media strategy.

Required Documents

• Resume.
• Cover Letter.