University of Cincinnati is hiring: Athletics Advancement Writer in Cincinnati

Overview

At the University of Cincinnati Foundation, we commit to a place where everyone belongs. We care about our community while nurturing new relationships. We dream big, drive excellence, and uphold integrity in our work.

Structure

The Athletics Advancement Writer is an exempt (salaried) position employed by the University of Cincinnati Foundation (UCF) and reports to the Vice President, Strategic Communications.

Focus

The Athletics Advancement Writer creates and implements a comprehensive communications strategy for Athletics fundraising at the University of Cincinnati (UC). The Athletics Advancement Writer focuses on the donor experience and leverages communications tools to impact fundraising. This position is part of the Strategic Communications team and works in close partnership with the UCATS fundraising team and UC Athletics communications team.

Responsibilities

• FUNDRAISING COMMUNICATIONS: Develops engaging and impactful athletics fundraising collateral, including targeted major and principal gift proposals and cases for support.
• STORYTELLING: Develops and deploys content that highlights the impact of philanthropy on the UC Athletics program. Creates compelling stories and videos. Produces athletics highlights, achievements, and statistics for alumni engagement, fundraising, and communications.
• OVERSIGHT of WEBSITE CONTENT: Plans and updates UCATS website content with a content calendar. Works with UC Athletics webmaster to update pages, remove expired pages, and assess effectiveness.
• EMAIL STRATEGY: Develops and executes a targeted email strategy for major and principal donors to drive engagement and stewardship. Responds to donor feedback and ensures compliance with UC Foundation email policy.
• NEWS: Serves as lead writer for gift announcements, partnering with UC Athletics Communications on content and distribution to elevate donor recognition and highlight philanthropy’s impact.
• SCRIPTING: Supports Athletics through script writing for signature events and donor recognition. Provides content to athletics leadership to ensure philanthropic talking points are incorporated into presentations.
• Contributes writing and creative expertise across the strategic communications team to support enterprise-wide initiatives including major and principal gift fundraising, donor stewardship and events, and executive communications.
• Coordinates with partners on multi-channel communications strategy to share news releases, event promotions and philanthropic impact stories across print, video, and digital channels.
• Ensures content adheres to best writing practices, branding, and style standards.
• Develops a data dashboard with critical metrics, maintains and reports data to partners across the organization.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, electronic media, communications or related field and 3-5 years of relevant experience, or advanced degree with 2-3 years of experience.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Creative thinker with a proactive problem-solving approach.
• Team player with a collaborative mindset.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven thinking.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines; strong time management and organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with proofreading, spelling, and grammar proficiency; knowledge and application of AP style guidelines.
• Solid background as a website strategist with content strategy, project management, planning, writing, editing, and publishing.
• Experience maintaining a web/social brand in higher education and/or non-profit settings is a plus.
• Previous experience with non-profit communications is a plus.
• Understanding of HTML and ability to learn systems including BBIS and CRM, plus other software tools.
• Proficiency with MS Office, Google Analytics, HTML, CSS, Adobe Acrobat & Photoshop; QR code and Issuu experience a plus.
• Strong understanding of SEO, website architecture, and industry trends.

What We Offer

The anticipated starting salary range for the Athletics Advancement Writer role is $70,000 to $85,000 annually. When determining the final offer, UC Foundation considers factors including scope and responsibilities, candidate experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, external market data, and other market considerations.

We offer a total rewards package with a performance-based bonus and competitive health and wellness benefits, tuition remission, retirement with employer match, paid parental leave, and paid vacation, sick time, and holidays, including calendar year-end closing. To learn more, visit our careers page.

Physical Demands

This position is sedentary. Exerting up to 10 lbs of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to move objects. The position requires:

• Standing
• Walking
• Finger use
• Talking
• Hearing
• Repetitive motion of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers

Work Environment

Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (typical office environment).

Pre-Hire Requirements

Offers of full-time employment are contingent upon passing a criminal background check and drug test. Positions requiring a degree are contingent upon education verification.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is committed to equal employment opportunity and compliance with federal employment laws. For more information, review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.