Manager of Communications, Marketing, and Development
North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation
Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 plus benefits
To Apply - Please email a resume and cover letter, with salary requirements, addressed to Katie Loovis, Executive Director, by August 19, 2026 to careers@ncccf.org
Priority applications requested by August 19, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
The Opportunity
The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation (Foundation) seeks a Manager of Communications, Marketing, and Development to take the Foundation and the national campaign to the next level.
The Foundation is strengthening its internal capacity to effectively fulfill its role as the supporting organization for the NC Community College System (System), which is governed by the State Board of Community Colleges (State Board), administered by the NC Community College System Office (System Office), supported by the Foundation, and fueled by the 58 community colleges and their 58 foundations.
Together, the System serves 600,000 students and awards 60,000 credentials annually. This is a rare opportunity to participate in deeply meaningful work that changes lives and improves communities every day!
The Position and Responsibilities
The Manager of Communications, Marketing, and Development will report to the Executive Director and work closely with Foundation and System colleagues and consultants to take the Foundation and the national campaign to the next level. This important position requires a strategic communications and marketing leader, who is talented in fundraising and development, and skilled in project management.
Strategic Communications and Marketing Executive
- Lead the Foundation’s overall marketing and communications (marcom).
- Apply the findings from the recent marcom study, which clarified the Foundation’s top four audiences, messages, messengers, and channels, to develop the Foundation’s brand guide, visual identity, narrative, website, and a suite of new assets that effectively move our target audiences in measurable ways.
- Manage marcom contractors and proactively collaborate with System experts in the development and distribution of marcom assets to ensure amplification of priorities.
- Develop, launch, and direct new communication tools, such as a Foundation e-newsletter and LinkedIn channel, that effectively reach the target audience(s) and achieve mutually agreed upon marcom goals.
- Lead the development of the Foundation’s annual report and other assets that effectively communicate the Foundation’s strong support and positive impact for the System.
- Support the Executive Director in the preparation of presentations, briefing papers, and other materials with decision points for the marcom committee and Foundation Board.
- Determine the marcom annual operations plan with measurable objectives and tactics, and related budget requests.
- Ensure the needs and opportunities of the local community colleges in NC, the System’s statewide strategic priorities, national funder interests, and national workforce development trends continually inform the marcom strategy and execution.
- Prepare and deliver marcom reports and presentations weekly to the Executive Director, monthly to the marcom committee, and quarterly to the Foundation Board.
Talented Development Officer
- Be an in-house fundraising and development expert, knowledgeable in the art and science of fundraising, and comfortable navigating prospects through the donor journey from identifying, qualifying, and cultivating of prospects, to soliciting gifts (making the “ask”), recognizing donors, and coordinating ongoing stewardship.
- Provide critical activation support for the national campaign and national partnerships, including vetting and preparing research briefs on national prospects, coordinating the scheduling of meetings with content experts and prospects, and supporting the development of concept papers, proposals, and applications for funding.
- Maintain and continuously update the campaign pipeline and leverage technology to monitor and track prospects through the donor journey, from early discovery and active cultivation to solicitation, gift commitment, and ongoing stewardship.
- Lead advancement efforts with individual donors, direct annual giving, planned giving, and event sponsorships; and provide assistance on in-kind donation coordination.
- Ensure strong alignment with the 58 colleges and their foundations throughout all fundraising and development efforts, executing open, transparent communication that earns trust and support; ensure compliance with the Guiding Principles and Practices.
- Develop and maintain a deep knowledge and understanding of the national community college reform movement, including the principles and practices that improve student graduation rates and accelerate labor market outcomes, and the factors that distinguish most exceptional community colleges and state systems nationally.
- Be an authentic, visible, well-informed, and persuasive advocate for the System, drawing on a thorough knowledge of the history, programs, milestones, and people who have contributed to the success as well as the System’s goals and aspirations.
- Support the preparation and delivery of advancement reports and presentations weekly to the Executive Director, monthly to the CET, and quarterly to the Foundation Board.
Skilled Project Manager
- Provide exceptional project management on all initiatives in the portfolio, ensuring a shared vision among diverse stakeholders, measurable goals and objectives, clear roles and responsibilities, agreed timelines, high standards of excellence on deliverables, and effective communication and coordination throughout.
- Execute well-run meetings, including coordinating the scheduling of meetings, setting agendas and preparing briefing papers with clear decision points for high performing meetings, and writing talking points that effectively advance priorities.
Other
- Have a growth mindset; continue to develop the emotional intelligence, tactical skills and experience, and overall disposition necessary to be a powerful and effective Foundation executive.
- Maintain and share current knowledge of best practices, trends, and innovations in marcom and advancement for post-secondary education and workforce development.
- Contribute to a high performing team culture and lead in a way that releases positive energy and ensures that the team works hard, smart, and together.
- Support the active recruitment, training, and retention of staff and contractors as the organization grows in order to deliver on goals.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Experience
Minimum Education
- Degree from a two-year community college or four-year college or university or equivalent; Advanced degree a plus.
Minimum Experience
- Personal commitment to the mission and vision of NC Community Colleges and a passion for the national community college reform movement, national partnership development, project management, marketing and communications, and fundraising.
- At least three years of strategic communications and marketing experience, ideally with higher education institutions.
- Knowledge of the national higher education philanthropic landscape and familiarity with the people and organizations at the local, state, and national level leading and influencing successful community college reforms.
- A proven record of success in fundraising and development, ideally at the national level securing seven figure gifts.
- At least three years of project management experience, ideally demonstrating a mastery of methodology and the application of the hard and soft skills necessary to successfully manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, active and thoughtful listener, clear communicator, and engaging storyteller.
- Knowledge of and experience in fundraising, development, and advancement, and taking prospective funders through the donor journey, ideally validated with professional certifications such as CFRE, CGW.
- Comfort with and commitment to use technology, including Google Workspace, Bloomerang donor database and CRM, and other other tools to track performance and report on progress, and use results to inform strategy, actions, and continuous improvement.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commitment to Non-discrimination and Diversity: All candidates for the Manager position will be treated equally without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, or marital status.
Salary and Benefits
To attract a strategic visionary professional with strong management ability and
outstanding fundraising skills, the Foundation is offering a comprehensive employment
package with a strong base salary of $75,000 - $85,000 commensurate with experience and generous employee benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance with individual month premium coverage, 401k retirement plan with immediate 5% match, and paid vacation and holidays.
Apply Now
To Apply
Please email a resume and cover letter, with salary requirements, addressed to Katie Loovis, Executive Director, by August 19, 2026 to careers@ncccf.org. Priority applications requested by August 19, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled. The consulting firm of moss+ross is assisting the Foundation with this search.
Questions: careers@ncccf.org
North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation
Attn: Katie Loovis, Executive Director
200 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
