| Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE: Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges. POSITION SUMMARY Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the incoming Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events will step into a newly created role at an exciting time for the college. With new leadership in place, and a strategic plan that will function as the platform for the next capital campaign, the incoming Senior Director will use a collaborative and inclusive approach to create and implement an integrated multimedia advancement communications and events plan. The plan will include a clearly articulated strategy for the upcoming comprehensive capital campaign, as well as an emphasis on elevating Pomona College’s overall alumni engagement and annual fund communication, major gift, donor stewardship, planned giving and Pomona Plan, and marketing efforts. The College is in the pre-campaign planning for the most ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign in the history of the College. The Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events must be a seasoned professional who possesses a genuine passion for Pomona’s mission and an intellectual interest in educational issues. In this highly visible position, the Senior Director will forge partnerships across the campus and play an integral role in shaping the future at a historic college that remains vital, innovative and best in class. The Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events is responsible for overseeing a development communications and events program that targets donors, alumni, and key external audiences and generates support for the College’s priorities. Leading a multi-function in-house and freelance team, the Senior Director will work closely with the Vice President of Advancement and Assistant Vice President of Communications to promote the reputation of the College and foster engagement among its supporters and alumni. The Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events will also work cross functionally with every department on campus, as well as with donors, community leaders, board members and VIP guests, requiring refined relationship? management skills. Working in close collaboration with the College’s Central Communications team led by the Assistant Vice President for Communications, the ideal candidate will be a strong team leader and natural strategist, providing innovation and direction in creating and executing effective communication and media strategies, and impactful events to generate awareness, build relationships and shape behaviors among members of Pomona College's external and internal audiences, including current students, faculty, staff, alumni, and current and prospective donors. In preparation for the comprehensive fundraising campaign, the division is conducting a feasibility study and an alumni multi-year attitudinal study that will guide the development of the creative messaging and case for support for the campaign. The Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events will help convert these concepts into strategic, multi-platform campaigns and collateral that will resonate with key constituents. The Advancement Communications and Events Department is a group of creative thinkers and leaders who care deeply about providing quality materials, powerful digital storytelling, integrated communication strategies and outstanding donor event experiences for Pomona College’s Sagehen community of donors, alumni and parents. The office culture is fast?paced, collaborative, respectful and professional, with some humor and a lot of creative brainstorming intertwined. The team takes great pride in the tremendous responsibility of managing the College brand, and the team members bring their best every day to ensure that they are creating exceptional work for the College. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement and a leader within the Division, the Senior Director of Advancement Communications and Events manages a team of five (Associate Director of Communications (2), Assistant Director of Communications, Communications Manager, and Associate Director of Events, as well as seasonal student workers) that brings a high level of creativity, strategic thinking, and branding knowledge, as well as the ability to curate content and events within a highly collaborative environment. QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, business administration, a liberal arts field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Master’s degree is preferred. Experience: Ten years of professional experience in a communications/marketing position that includes a trajectory of increased leadership, including a minimum of two years of management overseeing at least two employees, in addition to strong communication and marketing skills and significant writing responsibilities, along with a strong portfolio of development communications projects, preferably in higher education. - Excellent written and oral communication skills and previous management experience required.
- Requires excellent professional judgment, and the ability to communicate with tact and sensitivity with a broad range of constituencies including donors, faculty and senior administrators.
- Highly creative and organized, with a proven ability to balance multiple concurrent priorities and work effectively in a large, complex institutional setting.
- Value the core values of a liberal arts education and reflect the core operating values of the Pomona College Office of Advancement, which include: demonstrated mutual commitment to excellence; professionalism, creativity and adaptability; respect for the roles and responsibilities of individual members of the Pomona College team; a collaborative and collegial style, and transparency in communication.
- Experience with project management systems a plus.
REQUIRED HOURS: The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Holiday, weekend and evening work hours will be required. Travel will be required with a typical year having 50 – 70 travel days to complete 100 – 125 prospect visits. Regular hours may vary due to needs of the College or division. ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS: For a full description of the position, please view the job posting on line. Apply online and submit your resume and cover letter. https://theclaremontcolleges.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/POM_Careers/job/Claremont/Senior-Director-of-Advancement-Communications-and-Events_REQ-2573 POMONA COLLEGE REWARDS: Pomona College offers a wide variety of benefits and perks including health, dental, and vision plan options; paid time off; flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits; tuition assistance; fitness and wellness programs; rideshare incentives; and so much more! Pomona College prides itself in being an open, competitive, and equal opportunity employer. |
