POSITION TITLE

Institutional Advancement & Communications Manager

APPOINTMENT
AppointedbytheChancelloroftheCollegeuponrecommendationoftheAssociate Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement / Executive Director, River Parishes Community College Foundation

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The Institutional Advancement & Communications Manager supports the strategic initiatives of the Office of Institutional Advancement and the River Parishes Community College Foundation by coordinating marketing and communications efforts, assisting with fundraising and donor engagement activities, and supporting institutional events and foundation administration.

This position plays a key role in strengthening the visibility and impact of River Parishes Community College by coordinating institutional marketing initiatives, supporting foundation development operations, and managing communications that highlight student success, workforce training programs, and community partnerships.

The Institutional Advancement & Communications Manager also serves as a central communications resource for the college by assisting academic and administrative departments with marketing materials, graphic design, and promotional campaigns while ensuring all communications align with institutional branding standards.

This role contributes to advancing the college’s mission by supporting donor stewardship, coordinating special events, developing marketing content, and providing operational support for foundation administration and community engagement initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of professional experience in marketing, communications, fundraising, nonprofit administration, institutional advancement, or a related field.
• Experience coordinating marketing campaigns, communications materials, or events.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing professional communications including newsletters, press releases, marketing content, or donor communications.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with standard office software and digital communication platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit organizations, or foundation development.
• Experience supporting fundraising initiatives, donor relations, or grant reporting.
• Experience managing social media platforms and digital marketing campaigns.
• Graphic design experience using programs such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar design platforms.
• Experience with donor management or nonprofit accounting systems such as Bill and Aplos or similar CRM platforms.
• Experience coordinating institutional or community engagement events.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to develop clear and engaging marketing and communication materials for diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of fundraising and donor stewardship practices within nonprofit or higher education environments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, community partners, and donors.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality with donor and financial information.
• Knowledge of branding standards and marketing best practices.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working on a computer.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move materials or equipment up to 25 pounds for events.
• Ability to attend events outside of standard work hours as needed.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY

Institutional Advancement & Foundation Support

• Support initiatives and campaigns administered through the River Parishes Community College Foundation.
• Assist with donor relations, stewardship activities, and donor recognition programs.
• Coordinate donor communications including acknowledgments, campaign materials, and impact reports.
• Maintain documentation related to contributions, sponsorships, and grant reporting.
• Support scholarship program administration and reporting.
• Assist with preparation of reports and materials for foundation board meetings.

Marketing and Communications Management

• Assist with the planning and implementation of institutional marketing and communications strategies.
• Manage the college’s social media platforms and digital engagement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain content calendars and coordinate digital marketing campaigns.
• Track analytics and engagement metrics to measure communications effectiveness.
• Create and distribute marketing content across multiple platforms including social media, email newsletters, and print materials.
• Draft and edit institutional communications including:

1. newsletters
   1. press releases
   2. institutional announcements
   3. donor communications
   4. marketing and promotional copy

• Coordinate storytelling initiatives that highlight student success, workforce training programs, and industry partnerships.

Graphic Design & Departmental Marketing Support

• Design promotional materials including flyers, brochures, social media graphics, digital media, and recruitment materials.
• Produce marketing materials for institutional initiatives and college departments.
• Respond to requests from academic and administrative departments for the development of promotional materials aligned with institutional branding guidelines.
• Ensure consistency with the college’s visual identity and branding standards.

Event Planning & Institutional Engagement

• Coordinate logistics for institutional advancement and foundation events including:

1. scholarship recognition events
2. donor appreciation events
3. workforce and industry partnership events
4. college celebrations and milestone events

• Manage event planning timelines, vendor coordination, and logistical execution.
• Coordinate event marketing, invitations, and registration processes.
• Manage guest lists and communications with event participants.
• Assist with event sponsorship coordination and fulfillment of sponsor benefits.
• Manage on-site event logistics including setup, vendor coordination, and volunteer support.
• Assist with post-event reporting and evaluation.

Publications & Strategic Communications

• Assist with the design and development of institutional publications including:

1. annual reports
2. foundation impact reports
3. fundraising campaign materials
4. event programs and promotional publications

• Coordinate content collection across departments to ensure accurate representation of institutional initiatives and achievements.

Foundation Development & Administration

• Support initiatives administered through the River Parishes Community College Foundation, including scholarships, grants, industry partnerships, and special initiatives.
• Process and record foundation contributions in the foundation’s accounting and donor management systems in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring proper classification of restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Record and process foundation expenses and disbursements within the accounting system according to the foundation’s chart of accounts.
• Maintain organized electronic records for financial and donor documentation in accordance with the foundation’s document retention and records management policies.
• Ensure supporting documentation for contributions and expenses—including donation forms, invoices, receipts, and agreements—is properly stored and accessible for audit and reporting purposes.
• Maintain donor records, gift documentation, and reporting within the foundation’s CRM and accounting systems.
• Assist with donor acknowledgments, pledge tracking, and stewardship communications.
• Support scholarship administration processes and maintain scholarship records.
• Assist with preparation of foundation board meeting materials including agendas, minutes, and reports.
• Coordinate grant application support materials and compliance documentation.
• Support compliance with foundation policies, financial procedures, and internal controls.
• Maintain digital files related to donor agreements, sponsorship agreements, and grant documentation according to the foundation’s retention schedule.
• Ensure confidential donor and financial information is handled in accordance with institutional and foundation policies.