As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. UW Medicine Advancement has an excellent opportunity for an Associate Director for Content. At UW Medicine, we work to improve health for all people through excellence in clinical, research, and education and training programs. As the only comprehensive clinical, research and learning health system in the five-state WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region, UW Medicine provides the most up-to-date care for each individual patient, leads one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive medical research programs, and provides innovative learning programs for students, trainees, and practitioners in the health professions. The passionate, 70-person team at UW Medicine Advancement works collaboratively to connect donors with meaningful opportunities to enhance patient care, expand educational opportunities and advance research at UW Medicine. This inspiring, challenging and rewarding work provides team members an opportunity to grow their careers, while making a difference in people’s lives, in our community and around the world. In the 2022 fiscal year, UW Medicine Advancement raised $284 million in gifts and private grants (46 percent of the University of Washington’s total) from nearly 14,000 donors to support the mission of UW Medicine. The Associate Director for Content (payroll title: Public Information Specialist) leads the editorial vision to show the impact of philanthropy and inspire giving from current donors, prospective donors and alumni audiences. This position serves as a leader on the Strategic Communications team, overseeing the editorial needs that further UW Medicine Advancement goals. The Associate Director works with the Director for Strategic Communications to identify stories that tell the impact of philanthropy and manages the process of creating these stories. They also oversee editorial requests and projects, including events materials, stewardship reports, solicitations, cases and proposals, website copy and email creation. Across all mediums, this position ensures that communications are cohesive, adhere to the UW Medicine Advancement style guide and elevate the importance and impact of philanthropy at UW Medicine. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES Duty 1: Editorial Oversight and Project Management • Create and manage the Editorial Lineup and Editorial Calendar for the Communications Team, ensuring content plans advance the priorities and goals of the office. • Assign stories and monitor their completion, coordinating with the digital and design teams to ensure timely publication. • Field editorial requests, assigning to appropriate writers, calling stakeholders together to kick off new projects and managing the process to completion. • Create and manage marketing and communications plans for select campaigns. Duty 2: Editing and Writing • Serve as lead editor of written materials, in coordination with the Director for Strategic Communications and the Senior Director for Engagement and Communications. • Ensure all written materials follow the UW Medicine Advancement style guide. • Ensure the UW Medicine Advancement style guide is kept current and relevant as fundraising strategies and campaign priorities evolve. • Write stories and marketing/communications copy as needed. Duty 3: Leadership • Manage two Communication Specialists, supporting and nurturing their growth and development and helping them navigate competing priorities. • Build and maintain relationships with freelance writers and manage their assignments and work product. • With the Associate Director of Digital Communications and the Associate Director, Brand and Creative, serve as leaders on the Communications Team. • Ensure effective and positive collaboration across the office. • Foster and model positive leadership behaviors, collaboration, authenticity and a growth mindset. • Build relationships with editors and writers across UW and UW Medicine to leverage assets and resources when possible. • Build connections with like roles at UW and UW Medicine to help secure placement for our content in channels not managed by Advancement. SUPERVISION This position supervises two Communication Specialists and manages the relationship with any external consultants and/or vendors. KEY COMPETENCIES • Exceptional editing and writing skills for fundraising • Project management expert • Creativity, vision, and strategic thinking • Expert storyteller • Analytical and insightful attention to detail • Works with minimal supervision • Organized and efficient multitasker • Expert communicator and cool under pressure • Collaborator who knows the whole is greater than the sum of its parts • Exceptional listening and customer services skills; an uncanny ability to “get to yes” • Excellent interpersonal skills MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS • Bachelor’s degree and 4-5 years of experience. • Any combination of formal training, education and/or practical experience in editing and writing for fundraising, storytelling, marketing and communications. Additional Requirements: • Values the UW’s commitment to inclusiveness and UW Medicine’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization. Demonstrates respect and commitment to diversity. • Demonstrated experience leading initiatives, managing workflows and tracking and delivering results. • Demonstrated experience working with project management systems. • Proven ability to work collegially and effectively with colleagues to develop successful copy and stories that advance organizational goals. • Demonstrated experience with organizational proficiency and project management, including the ability to prioritize concurrent deadlines and overlapping tasks. Must be able to work in a team environment as well as independently. Must be flexible in a fast-paced setting and able to work under deadline pressure. Must be self-motivated with a positive attitude. Must be able to work professionally with many constituencies. • Demonstrated creativity, organizational ability, and strong attention to detail. Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations, exercise good judgment based on information and analysis in a fast paced, dynamic, deadline driven environment in an organized and professional manner. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum requirements. DESIRED REQUIREMENTS Knowledge of development/advancement/alumni relations principles. Knowledge of healthcare fundraising practices. Knowledge of storytelling and writing to demonstrate the impact of philanthropy and inspire giving. Experience managing others and their work. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Occasional evening and weekend meetings and events. The successful candidate will be expected to have regular, reliable transportation for local travel and be willing to travel when necessary. |