Strategic Development Communications Director

Job Description Location: Chicago, Illinois Business Unit: Rush Medical Center Hospital: Rush University Medical Center Department: Philanthropy Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0) Shift: Shift 1 Work Schedule: 8 Hr (8:30:00 AM - 5:00:00 PM) Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page ( Pay Range: $38.02 - $55.18 per hour Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rushu2019s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. Summary: The Director, Strategic Development Communications, supports the fundraising and engagement initiatives of Rushu2019s Office of Philanthropy by providing content strategy, writing and editorial support for philanthropic proposals, reports and other communications deliverables in Rush strategic priorities, with emphasis on commitments at the $1 million to $10 million level. The Director works simultaneously on multiple projects supporting the qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of gifts from individuals, families, corporations and foundations. This position reports to the Senior Director of Strategic Development Communications, manages at least 1.0 FTE and works closely with colleagues from all other units, with a special focus on the Individual Giving and Corporate and Foundation Relations teams. The Director exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures. Other information: u2022 Bacheloru2019s degree, preferably in journalism, marketing, English or a related field. u2022 A minimum of seven yearsu2019 experience with philanthropy writing, including gift proposal development of $1 million or more, with experience in health care and/or higher education preferred. u2022 Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to articulate Rushu2019s mission and campaign vision to a variety of constituencies with poise and diplomacy. u2022 Professional demeanor. u2022 Strong analytical and interviewing skills. Curiosity about health care and the biomedical sciences. Ability to master and then convey complex concepts, synthesizing information from multiple sources to produce original, lay-friendly, persuasive prose. u2022 Broad experience working collaboratively on communication-related deliverables; welcomes constructive criticism and strives for continuous improvement. u2022 A track record of shepherding multiple projects with overlapping deadlines from inception to delivery. u2022 Poise in interacting with and eliciting information from clinicians, researchers, administrators and senior leaders. u2022 Familiarity with Associated Press style and willingness to learn and apply best practices for inclusive and equitable language. u2022 Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint required, as is willingness to learn new technology. u2022 Resourcefulness and self-direction in leveraging available data and tools. Preferred Job Qualifications: u2022 At least one year of management experience. Disclaimer: The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Responsibilities: u2022 1. Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship Deliverables: Work directly with Philanthropy leadership, Individual Giving officers, the Corporate and Foundation Relations team, the Campaign Management team and the Stewardship team to transform philanthropic propositions into proposals, cases for support, talking points and presentations, and other written communications that will help move prospective and current donors through the fundraising cycle. Ensure donors are effectively stewarded through the development of reports and other materials, as requested. Give priority attention to gift solicitations and stewardship reports at the $1 million to $10 million levels. 2. Strategy and Process Oversight: Lead and evolve strategy for a defined segment of strategic development communications within the donor cycle. In close partnership with the Senior Director and Philanthropy Leadership Team, shape and adapt approaches to align with donor and organizational needs. Oversee quality and consistency of deliverables and processes within your area of responsibility, monitor performance through benchmarking and by staying abreast of industry trends, and advise colleagues on how to leverage communications to achieve favorable outcomes in your area of responsibility. 3. Subject Matter Expertise: Become a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on select Rush strategic priorities. Develop a firm understanding of current themes and Rush priorities in clinical care, research, education and health equity. Develop strong working relationships with key faculty partners, and collaborate with gift officers to manage information-gathering and reviews during the content development process. 4. Best Practices: In partnership with the Senior Director, hone and reinforce policies and best practices around content development and editorial review for all targeted donor communications. In partnership with Strategic Communications, Leadership Annual Giving, Individual Giving, and Corporate and Foundation Relations Executive and Senior Directors, provide coaching support to junior gift officers on best practices for Strategic Communications and working with the team. Shape the Strategic Communications teamu2019s development of templates and toolkits for frontline fundraisers. 5. Leadership: Provide direct oversight of at least one FTE. Provide coaching; help with problem-solving and escalation; workshop writing and creative ideas; and provide strategic editorial review. Ensure timely delivery of high-quality donor communications that advance Rushu2019s fundraising goals. In partnership with the Senior Director, suggest professional development activities for the team and promote the teamu2019s adherence to best practices in donor communications and innovation, piloting new platforms and ideas as appropriate. 6. Messaging Development and Consultation: Drive strategy with gift officers and other Philanthropy and Marketing Communications colleagues around messaging positioning relative to Rushu2019s philanthropic priority areas. Provide support for executive communications pertinent to the need for and impact of philanthropic support, such as talking points and briefings for Rush senior leaders and key faculty partners. Write and evaluate donor communications content for alignment with institutional priorities, adherence to Rush guidelines, and best practices for inclusive and equitable language. Follow Rush guidelines for editorial style and branding. 7. Content Sharing and Distribution: Ensure approved content and communications deliverables are well-organized and easily accessible to Philanthropy and Marketing Communications colleagues; proactively distribute finalized content to key stakeholders. In partnership with Philanthropy Communicationsu2019 Project Manager, create and maintain a library of information on Rush strategic priorities. 8. Communications Collaboration: Act as one of Philanthropyu2019s departmental liaisons to the Rush Marketing Communications team, sharing information and contributing to projects with Marketing colleagues and representing Philanthropy on cross-functional working groups as needed. In partnership with the Senior Director, liaise and develop productive working relationships with collaborators across Rush departments. In addition to faculty, this includes department administrators, financial, information services, clinical, research and other key staff members. 9. Other duties as assigned. Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. Position Strategic Development Communications Director Location US:IL:Chicago Req ID 25111

Created: 2026-04-04