Communications Manager

About the Role

The Communications Manager drives fundraising success by highlighting how AUSL’s resident teacher programs transform student outcomes and elevating the organization's impact story. This individual will lead the creation of AUSL’s content calendar, newsletters, and social media content to drive donor engagement, alumni connection, and brand awareness. The Communications Manager will partner closely with members of the Development team and the Recruitment Marketing Manager to align creative execution with development and recruitment goals. This role reports to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications. 

Key Responsibilities

Development Communications & Events (60%)

• Develop and execute donor-focused communications to support fundraising
  • Development Communications Calendar: working closely with the Development team, align donor touchpoints across channels with development goals
  • Donor Engagement Email Campaigns: create compelling donor messaging that highlights impact stories, program updates, and giving opportunities
  • Development Events: support development event goals by providing messaging support, collateral design, and supporting communications plans for key events, such as AUSL’s Annual Benefit Dinner
• Maintain and manage AUSL’s library of development collateral materials
• Respond to and fulfill marketing requests in collaboration with the Recruitment Marketing Manager
• Lead the vision and creation of major reports and publications, including AUSL’s annual Impact Report and white papers
• Manage various vendor work and relationships, such as working with freelance graphic designers and print vendors

Organizational Storytelling (40%)

• Manage and create content to implement AUSL’s content calendar across all organizational channels:
  • Social Media: create a calendar of posts that highlight AUSL’s impact, recruit residents, and engage alumni and donors – with especially strong opportunity for telling the stories of AUSL’s resident teachers, alumni, and their students through video and written content
  • Email Campaigns: create a calendar of newsletters, program updates, and targeted campaigns that build awareness, drive recruitment, and support fundraising goals
  • Blog: Manage a calendar of stories that showcase resident teacher and alumni impact and thought leadership in a way that can be used across AUSL’s channels
• Imagine and create AUSL’s social media content, ensuring consistent, engaging content across platforms that inspires action
• Ensure that the organization’s email and blog content are aligned with key messages for their target audiences and intentionally support an appropriate call to action 
• Develop key performance indicators and monitor, and report performance across marketing channels
• Provide communications support for AUSL-wide events across the Development, Recruitment, and Program teams

Qualifications

• 4+ years of communications experience, ideally in nonprofit, education, or mission-driven organizations, with a preference for a strong track record of effective donor communications
• Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple formats and audiences
• Strong experience managing donor communications, newsletters, and social media
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver high-quality content on tight deadlines
• Collaborative mindset and experience working on a high-performing team
• Creative thinker with strong attention to detail