Position Overview
The Assistant Director of Alumni Communications is responsible for planning, creating, executing and tracking a comprehensive communications journey that strengthens Merrimack College’s relationship with its alumni community. This position develops and manages alumni-focused messaging across email, web, social media and print channels to celebrate alumni achievements, promote engagement opportunities and inspire philanthropic support. The Assistant Director manages the Alumni monthly newsletter, oversees the Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODAR) social media and website content, writes feature stories and alumni profiles, manages institutional-level stewardship efforts to acknowledge and thank our donors and supports event communications. This role reports to the Interim Vice President of Communications and Digital Engagement and collaborates closely with ODAR colleagues, the Office of Communications staff and other campus partners to ensure brand consistency and mission-aligned storytelling.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Serves as the primary communicator to Merrimack alumni, ensuring consistent, engaging and mission-driven messaging across platforms that aims to engage, educate, thank and steward.
- Plans and produces the monthly Alumni Record e-newsletter, including content planning, writing, editing and distribution.
- Uses Slate, Merrimack’s customer relationship management (CRM) system, to develop targeted communications and track engagement.
- Researches, interviews and writes alumni profiles for use in digital and print publications.
- Develops stories that highlight alumni achievements, career success and community contributions.
- Writes and edits stories for the ODAR website and other institutional publications that support alumni engagement and philanthropy.
- Manages and maintains ODAR social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), ensuring regular, brand-aligned posting and audience engagement.
- Creates multimedia content that promotes alumni events, giving initiatives and success stories.
- Oversees and updates ODAR website pages, ensuring accuracy, accessibility and alignment with College branding and messaging.
- Manages design needs through Canva, developing on-brand graphics for emails, events and digital campaigns.
- Develops and manages communications for alumni and donor events, including invitations, registration pages, reminders and post-event recaps.
- Support stewardship communications, including donor thank-you messages, recognition stories and impact updates that highlight philanthropy’s role in advancing the College’s mission.
- Coordinates communications for signature alumni and advancement events such as Homecoming, Christmas Party, Commencement and regional gatherings.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations or a related field.
- 1–3 years of experience in communications, marketing or related work—preferably in higher education or nonprofit settings.
- Strong writing, editing and visual communication skills.
- Experience managing social media accounts,using content management systems (CMS) and customer relationship management (CRM) software for communications and engagement.
- Proficiency in Canva, email marketing platforms and basic web editing tools.
- Knowledge of brand standards and ability to maintain a consistent voice and style.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Commitment to Merrimack College’s mission and values.
Application Materials Should Include:
- Resume
- Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.
Work Location
This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.