Communications Strategist

Position Title: Communications Strategist

Department: Communications

Reports To: Director of Communications

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Hours: Minimum of 40 per week

Position Summary:

The Communications Strategist advances the mission, visibility, reputation, and fundraising priorities of Asbury Theological Seminary through strategic communications, public relations, internal communications, digital marketing, fundraising communications, and institutional storytelling. This role requires a strategic communicator who can exercise independent judgment, manage multiple projects, develop compelling messages for internal and external audiences, and represent the Seminary in public-facing settings. The position supports institutional and Advancement priorities through clear, missionally aligned communications that strengthen engagement, community, and public reputation. The role includes occasional evening, weekend, off-campus, and travel assignments to support events, conferences, donor gatherings, interviews, photography, recording, and real-time content gathering.

Essential Functions:

• Strategic Communications: Develop and execute communication strategies that advance institutional priorities, Advancement goals, donor engagement, alumni relations, and public reputation. Advise leaders and departments on messaging, brand alignment, audience impact, and communication strategy.
• Internal Communications: Manage internal communications that keep faculty, staff, and students informed and connected. Maintain the Seminary's intranet, draft announcements and leadership messages, and improve institutional communication flow.
• Public Relations: Support public relations efforts through press releases, media materials, institutional statements, talking points, and crisis communications. Monitor public conversation and represent the Seminary at events, conferences, and strategic gatherings.
• Digital Fundraising and Social Media: Lead digital campaigns for fundraising, donor engagement, alumni relations, event promotion, and institutional visibility. Create and manage content for email, social media, websites, landing pages, digital ads, and donor communications.
• Content and Storytelling: Write and edit compelling, brand-consistent content for institutional, Advancement, digital, print, and event communications. Conduct interviews and translate complex information into clear, engaging, audience-appropriate messaging.
• Event and Project Support: Provide communications support for institutional events, donor gatherings, alumni events, chapel services, lectures, and conferences, including occasional evening, weekend, off-campus, and travel assignments. Manage communications projects from concept to completion in coordination with internal teams, freelancers, vendors, and external partners.

Required/Preferred Skills

• Exceptional written, verbal, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to develop strategic, audience-centered communications across digital, print, and multimedia platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in communications, marketing, public relations, Advancement, fundraising, higher education, nonprofit, or faith-based organizations. • Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently while exercising sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
• Experience with social media management, digital marketing, email marketing, website content management, communication analytics, and data-informed decision-making.
• Proficiency with content creation tools and platforms, including social media management systems, content management systems, CRM platforms, analytics tools, and Adobe Creative Suite or similar creative software.
• Ability to create and manage multimedia content, including photography, video, audio, and visual storytelling that supports institutional goals and audience engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, vendors, media contacts, and community partners.
• Experience supporting donor engagement, alumni relations, public relations, media relations, executive communications, crisis communications, or institutional reputation management is preferred.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend events, conferences, and travel.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and Statement of Faith of Asbury Theological Seminary, with an understanding of and appreciation for Christian higher education and theological education.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital media, or a related field required.
• Three to five years of professional experience in communications, public relations, marketing, digital media, Advancement communications, higher education communications, nonprofit communications, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience managing communications projects, digital campaigns, organizational social media, internal communications, public relations content, or fundraising-related communications strongly preferred.