Associate Director of Development Communications

Associate Director of Development Communications

The Associate Director of Development, Communications provides strategic communications consultation for donor-focused communications that directly support fundraising priorities and outcomes. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development Communications, this role serves as a lead editor and writer for external content and high-level internal communications. The position collaborates with faculty, institutional communications, and marketing teams to create compelling proposals, cases for support, campaign materials, and digital content. This role ensures alignment with brand standards, best practices, and donor engagement goals, strengthening relationships with donors and stakeholders through innovative storytelling and integrated communications.
Responsibilities
Develops donor-focused communications strategy
· Advises internal clients on communications needs across the cycle of giving, aligned with approved institutional fundraising priorities.
· Partners with internal clients and communications and marketing teams to ensure message alignment.
· Establishes annual communications goals and evaluates effectiveness through qualitative and quantitative measures.
Oversees content creation and campaign materials
· Partners directly with faculty and physicians to build fundraising priority-specific cases for support, articulate gift concepts, and ensure brand-aligned language.
· Translates complex academic, clinical, and research priorities into compelling benefactor-ready narratives.
· Serves as a lead writer and strategist for a full range of externally facing content across the cycle of giving, under tight deadlines and evolving priorities.
· Inputs content into designed templates and collaborates with graphic designers on custom pieces.
· Guides scripting and messaging for donor-focused events, campaigns, and leadership presentations.
Proposal and case development
· Leads development of fundraising priority-aligned cases for support and gift opportunities in collaboration with administrators, faculty, and development officers.
· Maintains methods and standards for tracking proposals-in-process (proposal log) using UT development systems or new platforms as needed.
· Serves as a project lead for transformational proposals and campaign-related materials.
· Ensures consistency and adaptability of campaign messaging across audiences and timelines.
Collaborates with institutional partners
· Works with communications and marketing teams to integrate donor messaging into broader campaigns.
· Develops internal communications strategies for the UT Dell Medicine team and the broader UT Austin Development community, keeping them informed of key UT Dell Medicine-related developments to inform their work and strengthen their outreach to donors and prospects. Liaises with campus development teams for cohesive health communications.
· Provides content and tools to support in-house and campus-wide fundraisers.
· Participates in planning sessions for major campaigns and events.
Other related functions as assigned.
Marginal or Periodic Functions:
· Supports special projects such as campaign branding refresh and creative audits.
· Assists with feasibility studies and quiet-phase campaign strategies.
· Other related duties as assigned.
· Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
· Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES
· Communicates Effectively – 10
· Strategic Mindset – 9
· Builds Effective Teams – 8
· Decision Quality – 8
· Organizational Savvy – 7
· Drives Results – 7
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree.
5 years of experience in development-related roles
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in healthcare or higher education fundraising communications.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS
Required:
None required.
Preferred:
Certification in the use of generative AI.
Salary Range

$82,329.00 depending on qualifications
Budget Responsibility

Assists in managing communications budget for creative services, technology, and vendor contracts.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT
· Standard office equipment
· Repetitive use of a keyboard
· May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing and non‑ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients, or others.
Required Materials

Resume/CV
3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
Letter of interest