Director of Creative Services

The Director of Creative Services oversees the communications, marketing, and creative needs of the Foundation. This position produces and manages external and internal content for a range of projects and stakeholders. Projects including but are not limited to gift proposals and concept papers, case statements, personalized stewardship, endowment reports, press releases/announcements, direct and digital marketing, digital communication, print and digital issues of NDSU Foundation Magazine, scripting, marketing, and creative needs for organization events. This is a highly collaborative, service-oriented position that requires strong relationship management with all stakeholders, and an understanding of the Foundation’s overall communication, creative services, marketing strategy, and stakeholder needs.

Unit and Program Management

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Foundation’s brand including website, social media, print, digital communication, marketing, annual giving appeal letters, Giving Day, Crowdfunding, etc.

• Collaborate with all units of the Foundation to meet creative service and marketing needs

• Evaluate unit goals and objectives

• Collaborate with all units to execute fundraising strategies

• Serve as a staff liaison to the Foundation Trustee’s Outreach Committee

• Delegate projects as necessary to reach Foundation creative service and marketing needs

Leadership and Personnel Management

• Ensure successful performance by developing a competent, well-educated staff through ongoing communication, training, and coaching

• Coordinate with internal and external constituencies to determine specific goals and objectives

• Foster a positive work environment, characterized by open communication, collegiality, support, accountability and motivation to optimize staff performance, satisfaction/morale and retention

• Research and educate staff on best practices, evaluate new trends, develop and pilot new programs, and establish metrics for tracking success

• Develop and/or assist in managing of the annual budget for communication, marketing, and office stationery

• Orient, train, mentor, coach, and develop team members, encouraging an appropriate level of independence supporting professional growth

• Communicate, support and apply Foundation policies and procedures in collaboration with Human Resources and other management team members

Communications, Creative Services Strategies, Marketing, and Project Management

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, journalism, communication, or related field

• 4 years’ experience in writing/editing field, including experience with interviewing and persuasive writing

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team

• Advanced proofreading and editing skills with knowledge of AP Style

• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to high-quality outcomes

• Ability to function in a fast-paced, multi-task environment

• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to the Foundation, its subsidiaries and University business and confidential prospect information

• Proficiency with technology (i.e. with emphasis and experience with Microsoft Office Suite products)

• Master’s degree in public relations, marketing, journalism, communication or related field

• 7 years of experience in writing/editing field, including experience with interviewing

• Experience executing successful creative strategies for a company or organization

• Experience in a higher education or nonprofit setting

• Fundraising and marketing knowledge and/or experience

• Experience leading collaboration and delivering excellent customer service to a diverse population

Physical Demands:
Constantly operates a computer/smartphone/tablet. Regularly required to maintain a stationary position, move about the office, determine what others have said or written, critical thinking and converse with others and exchange accurate information. Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about the office and within the community. May also include occasional bending, stooping, squatting, and/or pushing and pulling or moving objects. Occasionally required to move, raise, reach and/or retrieve binders, books, boxes, and files up to ten (10) pounds.

The position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job responsibilities, duties, and requirements: but to describe the standard level of work being performed. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned or as required by the needs of the business. The NDSU Foundation reserves the right to add or change the duties of the position at any time.

The NDSU Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender expression/identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, public assistance status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, status as a U.S. veteran, or participation in lawful activity off the employer's premises, as applicable.