Associate Vice President of Advancement Communications

Description

Job Type

Position Classification Title: Associate Vice President of Advancement Communications

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

About Us:

The New Mexico State University Foundation invites you to apply to join our diverse, dynamic, and welcoming team in Las Cruces, NM. The NMSU Foundation seeks to provide the pinnacle career experience for each member of our team. The Foundation is seeking talented individuals who are passionate about the mission of NMSU and committed to a continual pursuit of excellence. We build strong relationships with alumni, supporters, NMSU partners, and each other, while personifying our core values of integrity, teamwork, stewardship, innovation, and fun.

We offer a highly competitive salary including incentive compensation, an industry-leading benefits package, and a fun and fulfilling work environment. Qualified individuals with a high level of energy who are looking for a work environment that nurtures vision, performance, productivity, superior quality, and unsurpassed integrity are encouraged to apply for this career opportunity.

Job Summary:

The Associate Vice President of Advancement Communications is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and executing comprehensive communication and event strategies that advance the philanthropic and alumni engagement goals of the NMSU Foundation. This role oversees all aspects of donor and alumni communications, brand management, campaign messaging, and high-impact events. Collaborating closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, the AVP ensures consistent, compelling storytelling across platforms while aligning initiatives with fundraising priorities and engagement strategies. The position also leads a team focused on creative services, digital content, and event planning, with oversight of budgets, performance metrics, and vendor partnerships. This is a mission-driven leadership opportunity to inspire support, enhance visibility, and strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, and stakeholders.

Essential Functions: 

• Leads the creation and execution of comprehensive advancement communication strategies in support of fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship and campaign initiatives.
• Works with appropriate foundational leadership to support the strategic planning and implementation of high-impact donor and alumni events, including campaign launches, board events, homecoming engagements, and regional alumni outreach.
• Develops and maintains the Foundation’s messaging framework, ensuring compelling and consistent communications across print, digital, video, and in-person platforms.
• Collaborates with Foundation leadership to align communications and events with campaign phases, donor stewardship strategies, alumni engagement and university fundraising priorities.
• Oversees the production of major communications including case statements, donor reports, campaign materials, stewardship collateral, and alumni publications.
• Directs creative strategy and brand consistency across all advancement communications, including alumni and donor outreach, digital presence, and campaign branding.
• In collaboration with other senior leaders, manages the events team, responsible for event logistics, donor experiences, digital marketing, content development, creative services, and communication planning.
• Works with the appropriate senior leadership team member to support event programming to ensure experiences are mission-driven, donor-centered, and aligned with campaign and engagement strategies.
• Develops and manages annual communications and events budgets, aligning expenditures with strategic goals and fundraising priorities.
• Ensures cross-functional collaboration with university communications and marketing, while maintaining a distinct focus on the Foundation’s philanthropic mission.
• Leads content strategy and visual storytelling for digital platforms including the Foundation website, social media channels, e-newsletters, and video content.
• Coordinates closely with Alumni Relations to highlight alumni achievements, increase engagement, and expand alumni visibility.
• Tracks performance metrics and KPIs for communications and events, using data to inform planning and continuous improvement.
• Oversees vendor and partner relationships related to events, branding, media production, printing, and digital campaigns.
• Provides guidance and support to Foundation leadership and volunteer boards regarding campaign communications and event planning.
• Coordinates communication strategies to enhance positive media exposure including earned, owned, and paid media opportunities. 
• Leads the development and implementation of the NMSU Foundation brand vision, strategy, and public relations campaigns to engage and motivate alumni and donors. 
• Oversees the supervision of personnel, which includes work allocation, setting goals, training, promotion, compliance with policies and procedures, and problem resolution.
• Creates and initiates effective marketing activities for promoting major, planned, and annual giving, capital needs, endowments, and other funding activities. 
• Develops and manages budgets and performs cost and productivity analysis.

Requirements

Minimum Required Education, Experience & Skills:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in advancement communications, donor relations, alumni engagement, or strategic marketing.
• Demonstrated success in a senior leadership role overseeing multi-platform communications and events that drive philanthropic engagement, campaign execution, and donor stewardship.
• Experience leading or supporting multi-year, multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns with measurable outcomes.
• Leadership experience at a university foundation or within a university advancement office; experience as an AVP or equivalent role is preferred.

Strategic Communications & Campaign Expertise:

• Proven ability to develop and implement integrated communication strategies aligned with fundraising goals, including campaign messaging, impact reporting, and donor-centric content.
• Deep understanding of philanthropic communications, brand storytelling, and alumni relations, particularly in an educational or nonprofit context.
• Demonstrated success in managing the creation of advancement collateral, including case statements, digital campaigns, donor publications, and stewardship materials.

Events & Engagement Leadership:

• Experience overseeing mission-aligned donor and alumni events, including cultivation events, campaign launches, stewardship experiences, and major recognition programs.
• Ability to ensure events are strategically integrated into broader engagement and fundraising strategies.

Technical & Operational Skills:

• Proficiency with digital communication tools, marketing automation platforms, CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce), and content management systems.
• Strong budget management skills and experience overseeing external vendors and internal teams across multiple functions.

Leadership & Collaboration:

• Proven record of building and motivating high-performing teams across communications, events, and advancement functions.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively engage executive leadership, board members, donors, and alumni.
• Demonstrated ability to lead within complex organizations, manage competing priorities, and align diverse stakeholders around shared goals.