Vice President, Associate, Marketing, Communications & the GTCC Foundation
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The incumbent in this job is expected to assist the College in achieving its vision and mission. Customer focus, college service, and a willingness to assist as needed are expectations for all employees. This position reports directly to the President.
The Associate Vice President (AVP) of Marketing, Communications & the GTCC Foundation provides overall leadership to the internal and external communications and fundraising functions of the college. The position is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities aligned with the strategic direction and market positioning of the college. The position supports the president in advancing the college’s prominence and visibility with relevant constituents, as well as to encourage broader awareness and donor support for the organization. The AVP develops and implements college policies and procedures to ensure that the college’s communications, marketing, messaging, branding and fundraising initiatives are effectively contributing to the achievement of the college’s vision, mission, and strategic plan. As such, the position is responsible for translating the strategy, tactics and programs to create interest, demand and recognition relative to the college through the use of varied and integrated communications products and services including: (a) newsletters and other print publications, (b) web, e-news and other online communications, © media and public relations (d) and marketing. The AVP works with external partners to promote college programs and services to increase the number of individuals and organizations that the college serves.
The AVP is also responsible for leading and strengthening the comprehensive fundraising program in support of the GTCC Foundation’s mission and goals. Specific emphases are focused on annual giving, major giving, planned giving, grants and fundraising events. The AVP will work to build broader visibility, understanding and support for both the college’s and foundation’s mission, vision and goals. As a face of the foundation, he/she builds and maintains long-term relationships with key donors and potential donors. The position works closely with the college President and the Board to initiate and coordinate effective fundraising initiatives, including the GTCC Annual Campaign. The AVP provides leadership and direction for the continuous assessment and improvement of communications and fundraising efforts to effectively use college and GTCC Foundation resources. Areas reporting to the Associate Vice President include Marketing and the GTCC Foundation.
• Works closely with the President to accomplish the College’s goals, objectives and strategic plans, established in collaboration with the Board of Trustees.
• Provides executive level leadership and vision in developing and implementing comprehensive communications and fundraising plans within the college’s strategic plan and goals to meet the needs of students, employers and the community.
• Responsible for the development and management of the communications/marketing and the GTCC Foundation budgets.
• Ensures division compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, accrediting commissions, licensing requirements, and with administrative regulations and Board policies as appropriate.
• Uses data to evaluate the effectiveness of communications/marketing and GTCC Foundation fundraising activities.
• Serves as College representative on various statewide, local and College committees and attends events as appropriate.
• Serves on the College Leadership Team.
• Demonstrates and models the College’s values: collaboration, learning, accessibility, excellence, integrity, and inclusion.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.
Marketing / Communications
• Develops and executes a comprehensive, long-term and proactive college-wide communications, marketing, and branding strategy consistent with the vision, mission, and strategic goals and plans of the college.
• Leads the development and implementation of the GTCC’s brand, vision, strategy, and public relations campaigns to attract and retain students, motivate alumni and donors, recruit high quality faculty, and staff and ensure that GTCC is portrayed fairly in the news media.
• Coordinates the implementation of the marketing/communications plan by setting goals, establishing priorities, meeting deadlines, and developing departmental processes and procedures to develop a high-quality product.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with all areas of the college to implement effective communications and marketing initiatives.
• Manages and evaluates third party agreements in providing communications, marketing and fundraising services.
• Manages the design and production of all marketing, public relations, and communication products.
• Forecasts operating requirements, prepares budget requests, monitors and approves expenditures and initiates budget changes as needed.
• Communicates the college’s position and polices on a variety of issues to specific media and to various college constituencies, to include serving as the college spokesperson with the media, as appropriate.
• Develops speeches and presentations for the President as requested, utilizing the strategic brand and communications plan to ensure continuity of the college’s message and maximum impact on the appropriate constituencies.
• Develops a strategic engagement plan for the President to engage with regional, state and national audiences to represent the college on issues for community colleges.
• Assists in crisis communications for the college.
GTCC Foundation
• Serves as the principal architect of the Foundation’s fundraising programs and activities and provide its primary leadership.
• Develops annual measurable objectives in the areas of annual giving, special events, capital projects and campaign donations, planned giving donor recognition events, alumni engagement and grant awards to support reaching strategic plan goals.
• Establishes and oversees policies and procedures related to the implementation and management of an effective and professional fundraising program.
• Conducts research to identify major donor prospects and obtain information concerning financial capacity, special interests, past history and current connections with the college.
• Maintains an active portfolio of major donor prospects and be responsible for a program of personal visits, relationship development, solicitation and stewardship activities.
• Develops, maintains and strengthens a program of planned giving through personal contact, seminars, brochures, newsletters, etc., to reach goals and objectives.
• Develops and oversees all Foundation communications and messaging.
• Manages the development and organization of GTCC Foundation Board of Directors’ meetings and committee meetings.
• Responsible for the administration and financial stewardship of GTCC Foundation programs and funds working with the GTCC Foundation Board, college finance staff, professional service providers, financial aid, financial reporting, budget management, mini-grants, endowments, scholarships and other programs to support the college.
• Maintains confidentiality of current and potential donor records and other sensitive information in accordance with the college’s policies and procedures.
• Develops and sustains a culture of operational excellence for the GTCC Foundation in support of the mission of the college.
• Leads and evaluates personnel within the Foundation Office to ensure they are meeting their position responsibilities, which include strategic plan objectives, committee assignments and ad hoc college service assignments.
• Provides exceptional customer service to current and potential donors through the GTCC Foundation Office.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities:
• Participate in national and state community college and professional organizations to maintain currency in the issues and skills related to marketing/communications and fundraising.
• Work with college faculty and staff in planning and coordinating special events.
• Other duties as assigned by the President.
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field is required.
An advanced degree in a related field is preferred.
• Five or more years of experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization’s mission and goals.
• Five consecutive years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising in a non-profit organization or higher education environment.
• Demonstrated experience in donor cultivation.
• Demonstrated experience in managing a successful annual campaign
• Demonstrated experience in planning and coordinating events.
• Greater than five consecutive years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising in a non-profit organization.
• Experience in community college fundraising
• Experience as a non-profit board member
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements
• Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications media
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization’s mission and goals
• Significant experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories
• Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output
• Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team of communications specialists
• Excellent judgment and creative problem solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, the college’s Boards of Directors and staff
• Knowledge and demonstrated results relative to fundraising concepts, practices, and techniques.
• Ability to create and implement development and fundraising campaign plans
• Budget, supervisory and leadership skills
• Ability to make professional presentations as a college spokesperson
• Skilled at creating and building relationships.
• Ability to establish mutual respect and work effectively in diverse groups.
• Ability to work effectively in a changing organizational environment
• Experience in direct solicitations, grants, donor relations
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines
• Proficient in the use of Word processing, e-mail, and the web for daily tasks
• Ability to interact effectively with donors, College and governmental leaders, the community, alumni, faculty, staff and students.
• Must perform all duties in an ethical manner with integrity.
• Must maintain the confidentiality of the President’s office and all college and constituent information and not discuss matters outside of the college.
• Must use tact and discretion in all dealings with all internal departments, constituents, and board members to maintain a positive image of the Office of the President and the college.
• Oversee and coordinate activities under grants, including writing reports and proposals.
• Office setting may include prolonged sitting, keyboarding, and/or standing. Some public speaking and community engagement.
• Schedule may require day, evening and weekend/extended work hours and travel between campuses as required for performance of job duties.
• Responsibilities may include overnight travel in and outside of the state, as well as potential international travel in support of college programs and initiatives.