Assistant Director of Communications

Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) supports Johns Hopkins’ focus on research, teaching and patient care, and its role as a national and global leader in higher education. We create and foster enduring relationships that result in advocacy and philanthropic support for Johns Hopkins University & Medicine; strengthening the institution through partnerships with donors, alumni, volunteer leaders, faculty, students, staff, and patients.

 

Johns Hopkins University supports a flexible work model which includes four different work modalities. This role has a hybrid work arrangement with an onsite presence of 3 days per week. The manager will confirm the team’s core onsite days where the majority/all team members will work in the office. Employees who travel on university business can count those days towards their onsite days.

 

The Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Development and Relations Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) helps Johns Hopkins realize its mission of providing knowledge for the world by communicating the successes and priorities of the Johns Hopkins Institutions.

 

The Assistant Director is a senior writer responsible for increasing awareness of the philanthropic impact, and opportunities and helping promote giving and engagement with the Whiting School of Engineering. As a senior writer and editor, this position will have the primary duty of illustrating the role of philanthropy through impact stories, solicitations, marketing collateral for gift officers, acknowledgment letters, donor recognition programs, and stewardship materials for students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the institution.

 

This highly visible position requires integrity, strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

 

• Development and production of impact stories for use in WSE updates, divisional, and university publications related to philanthropic activities and opportunities (digital and print)
• Source content by interviewing donors, faculty members, volunteer leaders, and others as needed
• Research, write, revise, and obtain approval for publication
• Procure and research images
• Gain knowledge of the WSE faculty departments, institutes, and centers.
• The Assistant Director will work closely with the members of WSE Marketing and Communications team along with DAR Communications team to collaborate with development and communications colleagues across the Johns Hopkins enterprise.
• Generate channel appropriate content for newsletters, magazines, email, social media, web copy, proposals, letters, briefings and more.
• Know the formal and informal departmental goals, standards, policies and procedures
• Exchange non-routine, and at times confidential information with a high level of professionalism and tactful approach
• Partner with the Office of Annual Giving, and Hopkins Fund gift officers to provide WSE specific content.
• Work with freelance writers, photographers, and designers as needed
• This individual will serve as an ambassador for WSE and for Johns Hopkins at large, engaging various constituencies, including donors, volunteers, alumni, and community members.

 

This position requires a critical thinker with strong analytical and research skills. The successful candidate will need to be a detail-oriented individual who can consistently meet the deadlines and editorial standards of the Office of WSE External Relations. The successful candidate will represent our office and our division in meetings with colleagues, faculty, donors, staff, patients, students, and others on various Johns Hopkins campuses.

 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Three years related experience. Writing samples may be requested during the selection process.

Preferred Qualifications

The successful candidate must be able to draw on a minimum of five years of writing experience in fundraising communications, print/online journalism, marketing communications, or public relations; demonstrated progression to more responsible roles over time is desirable. The candidate must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, marketing, or communications; Knowledge of academic fundraising is desirable.

 

 

The successful candidate for this position will be a versatile, creative, team-oriented, and highly productive individual who can organize workflow, set priorities, and thrive in a fluid, deadline driven and decentralized environment. The professional must be comfortable working independently and cooperatively with others and managing multiple projects at once with minimal supervision.

 

The candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office, major social media platforms, and website content management systems.

 

All applicants are expected to uphold the university’s core values which includes diversity and inclusion. All staff treat people with dignity and respect by being fair and consistent. We demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people regardless of their race, gender, age, national origin, religion, ethnicity, disability status or other characteristics. We show respect for the beliefs and traditions of others; encourage and promote practices that support cultural diversity; and discourage behaviors or practices that may be perceived as unfair, biased, or critical toward people with certain backgrounds.