Associate Director of Communications

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

. Develop and write communications materials to support major and principal giving priorities, including custom donor proposals, slide decks, fundraising one-pagers, remarks and impact stories.

Posted 4/22/2026full-timeNashville • Tennessee • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and write communications materials to support major and principal giving priorities, including custom donor proposals, slide decks, fundraising one-pagers, remarks and impact stories.
Project manage the development and execution of print and digital collateral in close collaboration with colleagues across DAR and the university. Ensure project collateral is routed to stakeholders for thorough review and approval.
Lead communications planning for select initiatives and support other DARComm team members with their projects.
Cultivate strong partnerships with DAR colleagues, serving as a strategic communications partner and project manager.
Build strong partnerships with Vanderbilt’s Communications and Marketing (MarComm) team.
Identify and share story ideas that highlight the impact of philanthropy, working with colleagues across DAR and MarComm for coverage in print, digital publications, websites and social channels.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

What you’ll need

A Bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, is necessary.
Four years of relevant experience is required, preferably in higher education, or a demonstrated record of achievement in a field requiring similar skills.
Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information is essential.
Highly motivated team player with strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to thrive in an intellectually rigorous and complex environment.
Excellent organizational, written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate the needs, interests and accomplishments of Vanderbilt to diverse audiences.
Proficiency in office software tools and experience with project management tools is essential.
Familiarity with design tools such as Canva and emerging AI tools is highly desirable.
Strong project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, track timelines and deliverables, and communicate proactively with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and changing deadlines while maintaining flexibility and a positive attitude.
Excellent proofreading skills with precise attention to detail.
Ability to work independently, assuming responsibility, prioritizing tasks and carrying out duties with minimal supervision.
Experience in a university fundraising environment is highly desirable.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Professional development
Flexible work arrangements

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

communications materials developmentproject managementproofreadingwritten communicationoral communicationorganizational skillsinterpersonal skillsfundraisingcollateral developmentstorytelling

Soft Skills

team playerability to handle sensitive informationcapacity to thrive in complex environmentsadaptabilityflexibilitypositive attitudeindependenceresponsibilityprioritizationattention to detail