Marketing & Communications Specialist
About The Position
South Dakota Mines Center for Alumni Relations and Advancement (CARA) is seeking a Marketing & Communications Specialist to serve as the organization’s point person on all communications efforts. This role is for a doer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude to every project. You will be the engine behind CARA's communications, executing strategy, managing content, and helping tell the stories that inspire our alumni and donors to act. You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the AVP for Philanthropy and the Director of Alumni Engagement. You will not be the strategy decider, but you will be a valued partner in shaping it, and the primary person responsible for bringing it to life. If you are curious, nimble, data-driven, and genuinely excited about purposeful work, we want to hear from you. At CARA, we believe in the power of community. We connect South Dakota Mines alumni and friends to the university they love, and to each other. Our work drives meaningful engagement and philanthropic support that advances the prominence of South Dakota Mines. We are a small, high-performing, innovative team that moves fast, communicates clearly, and works to yes. We hold ourselves to a high standard, and we make it easy for others to work with us. We’ve built a great culture, and our values guide everything we do: Integrity — We honor our commitments with honesty and respect. Excellence — We consistently exceed expectations. Collaboration — We work together to achieve results. Stewardship — We build quality relationships through impact. Community — We honor traditions and deepen connections. Beyond benefits, you will join a team that is mission-driven, value-led, and deeply committed to doing great work for the Mines community. We move fast, support each other, and believe in building something worth being proud of. CARA does not discriminate based on sex, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender identification, transgender status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in employment or the provision of service.
Requirements
- Hands-on experience managing business social media platforms, especially Meta and LinkedIn.
- Working knowledge of Canva or Adobe; experience with short-form video creation is a plus.
- Good writing and editing skills: clear, persuasive, concise, and audience aware.
- A working understanding of analytics and how to use data to drive decisions.
- A bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience.
- 2+ years of relevant experience; a portfolio of work you're proud of.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or advancement/fundraising environments.
- Familiarity with donor communications or alumni engagement.
- Experience with email marketing platforms (Emma or similar) and content management systems (WordPress or similar).
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain an integrated editorial calendar aligned with advancement and alumni engagement priorities.
- Help write and edit compelling short-form content across email, social media, newsletters, and print.
- Help produce bi-annual magazine content, donor impact reports, and persuasive campaign communications.
- Design basic graphics and visual assets using Canva or Adobe.
- Create and coordinate short-form video content, from concept to completion.
- Manage and grow CARA's presence on Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and LinkedIn, including content creation, scheduling posts, and community engagement.
- Oversee CARA website content and updates.
- Deploy email campaigns using our platform, Emma; monitor deliverability, open rates, and engagement.
- Track analytics across platforms and use data to inform content decisions and report on performance.
- Partner with CARA staff, external partners, university communications, academic departments, and athletics to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment.
- Support alumni and donor engagement events with communication planning and execution.
- Work with the advancement team to develop materials that advance fundraising goals.
- Manage communications projects by tracking timelines, coordinating assets, and keeping work moving forward.
Benefits
- Paid medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
- Family coverage options for medical, dental, and vision.
- Retirement plan options.
- Paid holidays and paid time off allowance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Number of Employees
101-250 employees
