Details
Posted: 02-Feb-25
Location: San Francisco, California
Type: Full-time
** Initial application review begins March 17, 2025 **
Are you a persuasive writer who can translate complex science into meaningful content for a lay audience? Can you track down that elusive scientist, craft your copy and hit your deadlines? The Senior Communications Specialist is a lead development writer for UCSF's fundraising team, with a strong emphasis on neuroscience writing. Under the supervision of the Director of Marketing and Communications, and in close collaboration with the Senior Director of Donor Relations, the incumbent will develop relationships with many of the world's leading researchers and clinicians; they will conduct interviews, carry out background research, and gather information to write stewardship reports for the neurosciences team and other programs, stories for UCSF Magazine, gift stories for UCSF News; concept papers, case statements, brochures; and sometimes write and manage digital and video content. They will play a key role in determining best practices for the Advancement Communications team across a wide variety of writing projects. Above all, this position requires an experienced, versatile, and dependable writer, equally committed to the craft of powerful storytelling as well as scientific accuracy. This position will have the opportunity to oversee the work of freelancers and the ability to provide strategic communications support to other writers on the team and leadership when needed.
The incumbent will be responsible for writing communications that engage and retain UCSF donors at all levels. This position requires strong project management skills, the ability to work on multiple projects with competing deadlines, using project management software, and the ability to effectively translate medical terminology into compelling, donor-friendly narratives that demonstrate the impact of the donor's philanthropy, and the innovative research conducted at UCSF. Utilizing the UCSF and UDAR style guides and other reference materials, the incumbent will ensure that the campus's highest standards of quality and accuracy are met. Taking into consideration the various forms of communication, purpose and audience for each, the incumbent will ensure that concepts are expressed appropriately and in the proper context, bearing in mind the strategy and objectives of the communication.
The incumbent's work will impact the success of UCSF's fundraising, stewardship, and events programs by building relationships with and securing support from the campus's external audiences.
As a Senior Communications Specialist, in your first three months, you'll forge productive relationships within the Advancement Communications team, familiarize yourself with UDAR and our software (Salesforce, WorkFront, Box, Slack, and Paperflite among others), and begin stewardship projects with our fundraising teams, including our neurosciences fundraisers.
Within six months, you'll be managing a portfolio of assignments, meeting regularly with faculty and fundraisers, and learning all about the groundbreaking science happening only at UCSF, while stewarding nine-figure gifts to our innovative UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience.
Within a year, you'll be delivering on your project portfolio, picking up a diverse array of writing opportunities, and leveraging your partnerships to brainstorm and create new ways to engage our prospects and steward our donors.
Please click here to view some of the kinds of communications projects this role will deliver: https://secureshare.ucsf.edu/collections/6786ed23073dff32439d932c?utm_source=Paperflite%20Link
The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.
Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.
The salary range for this position is $100,800 - $151,200 (Annual Rate).
To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html