The Assistant Director of Digital Communications conceptualizes and creates communications assets to support the goals and strategies of Ball State University Foundation. This professional works collaboratively with staff in all Foundation departments to create and distribute high quality digital communications that inspire engagement and philanthropy among alumni, friends, volunteers, students, faculty/staff, parents, and constituents. The ability to manage timelines, shifting departmental priorities, and stakeholder expectations are key responsibilities. This position is responsible for multiple fundraising and engagement digital communication strategies including multifaceted top tier emails, blog, website and design.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Create branded and impactful digital communications that increase philanthropy and engagement. Significant examples include designing major donor proposals, content management of the Foundation web pages, writing, designing and sending tier one Foundation emails and managing all facets of the Foundation blog.
• Direct projects from start to completion, including consultation, editing copy, creating the design/layout, obtaining approvals, and monitoring delivery. Meet deadlines. Exercise independent judgment in meeting requests, determining solutions, and resolving issues.
• Maintain the Foundation website’s day-to-day content management and user experience needs, while monitoring entries made by web content contributors. As part of a strategically aligned integrated approach, this individual is responsible for developing and posting new content, maintaining the site’s functionality, developing new pages as necessary, ensuring ADA compliance, improving SEO performance, and continuously improving the user experience.
• Oversee email strategy and serve as project manager for the Foundation, including the Alumni Association and Cardinal Varsity Club to ensure projects align with existing plans and prevent over saturation of communication. Use Net Community, ThankView and other sources to provide timely email analysis and study trends to ensure best practices are being followed. Handle review process of tier one email communications with University Marketing and Communications. Communicate with colleagues and campus partners about each email campaign.
• Collaborate with Foundation colleagues on digital strategies to ensure a comprehensive, moderate approach for fundraising and engagement success. Actively participate in team strategy sessions. Use digital data to be an active partner in pipeline development.
• Supervise and provide leadership of student intern who will primarily be a graphic designer.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, which may include photography, copy editing, board presentation design and more.

Minimum Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the field of communications, public relations, graphic design, digital media, or related field.
• Two years of related professional experience.

Other Minimum Requirements: 

• Proven creative writing ability.
• Proficient conceptualization and design skills.
• Superb knowledge of graphic design including typography, spatial orientation, image manipulation, and basic design elements.
• Ability to think creatively, strategically and critically in order to balance Foundation goals with user needs.
• Manage multiple projects and workflows in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Build effective partnerships and working relationships with internal teams and campus partners.
• Ability to develop new design concepts, graphics, and layouts.
• Work independently and exercise professional judgment.

Preferred Education: 

• Advanced degree in a related field.

Preferred Experience: 

• More than three years of related work experience within higher education or the communications industry.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite
• Proficient in HTML, CSS, and JAVA
• Writing for web, web editing
• Actively studies trends in higher education digital communications, specifically related to fundraising and engagement

Preferred Other Skills: 

• Photography skills.

Salary Information: 

• The annual salary range for this opportunity is $46,000 – $50,000.

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 120 undergraduate programs. We offer more than 140 master’s, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees, with many of them ranking among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.