Director of Alumni Communications and Marketing

About the position

The Director of Alumni Communications and Marketing at Yale School of Management (SOM) provides leadership to support the school's vision and mission by designing and implementing an analytics-driven marketing and communications strategy to promote the school's fundraising priorities, programs, and alumni groups to worldwide SOM community and campus partners. The Director will focus on content strategy, segmentation, and messaging for a multi-layered audience, and leverage data and relationships to inspire philanthropic support and engage alumni. Reports to the Managing Director of Alumni Relations with a secondary report to the Managing Director(s) of Development.

Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and execute a communications and marketing strategy to engage alumni.
• Develop framework and brand voice for communications across multiple platforms.
• Identify new and innovative content delivery opportunities.
• Build and execute an SOM Alumni Visibility program that amplifies distinguished alumni and their impacts for business & society.
• Represent Development and Alumni Relations to other school and university departments.
• Collaborate with SOM Communications, Dean's Office, and other campus communicators to leverage their expertise and promote SOM messages, momentum, and content of interest to alumni and friends.
• Manage relationships with internal and external vendors for graphic design, specialized content, writing, and video.
• Oversee calendar and collaborate with SOM Communications to ensure key stakeholders are aware of communications plans.
• Oversee written and visual assets for website, social channels, alumni newsletter, and digests.
• Oversee creation of content and manage outreach plans for signature programs, e.g., Reunion, chapter, affinity, and professional interest group events.
• Manage key communications for senior leadership to alumni, including content development and delivery methodology.
• Manage website bugs and enhancements.
• Supervise design and production of print and electronic materials.
• Oversee SOM Connect, a digital hub for the alumni directory, events, regional, class, and affinity/professional interest groups.
• Set engagement and activity goals.
• Oversee marketing strategies and content creation.
• Moderate user activity and troubleshoot/fix bugs.
• Produce and curate a webinar series to promote professional development and lifelong learning.
• Market monthly career webinars.
• Oversee the production of the annual philanthropy report and honor roll.
• Oversee creation of metrics, visualizations and analyze community data for marketing activities.

Requirements

• Outstanding verbal and written communications skills.
• Proven ability to produce factual, compelling, and persuasive content.
• Proven ability to think analytically and articulate ideas in various communication formats.
• Proven ability in data visualizations.
• Skilled editor across multiple media, including articles, email, websites, and social media channels.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as needed.
• Ability to build productive working relationships with staff and volunteers to achieve common goals.
• Ability to build long-term relationships with alumni and donors.
• Demonstrable track record of building, managing, and leading individuals and teams.
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing multiple projects and deadlines from conception to completion with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work successfully and creatively in a fast-paced and changing environment while maintaining composure and a sense of humor.
• Willingness to learn new tools and stay abreast of marketing analytics trends.
• Ability to participate in program events including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and track record of building and leading diverse, inclusive teams.

Nice-to-haves

• Eight + years experience in communications and marketing in higher ed, nonprofit, or corporate settings.
• Experience in content creation, marketing strategy, branding, positioning, and public relations in alumni relations and development.
• Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, Drupal or other web CMS, messaging systems & CRM platforms.
• Experience using social media for business applications.