Development Communications Specialist Lead

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

Olympia Center

The Development Communications Specialist, Lead, will be a strategic thinker and seasoned writer focused on crafting a full suite of donor communications materials, including proposals, impact reports, presentation decks, talking points, and related assets. The Specialist, Lead, will contribute to donor communications strategy, stakeholder coordination, and project management and will collaborate with colleagues across the Foundation to build a holistic development communications program that energizes cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.

Essential Job Functions:

• Research, write, and edit proposals, stewardship reports, and presentations that generate support for institutional philanthropic priorities. Serve as a strategic thought partner to fundraisers in crafting gift opportunities, developing effective messages and conveying donor impact. Translate complex concepts into lay language and synthesize material from multiple sources to create a compelling donor narrative.

• Assist with the intake process for proposals and impact reports from concept through delivery. Ensure clarity on objective, audience and desired content before initiating project requests. Coordinate with Donor Relations and Creative and proactively communicate with fundraisers to ensure timely production of deliverables.

• Collaborate with colleagues to refine systems and processes to improve efficiency and coordination. Support best practices for project management, editorial review, and stakeholder collaboration and identify opportunities to enhance storytelling, communication workflows and donor engagement through strategic communications.

• Parter with teammates to develop effective strategies for creative, inspiring donor communication throughout all phases of a comprehensive fundraising campaign, using tactics and messages appropriate for each donor audience. Facilitate production of collateral such as case statements and priority papers to support cultivation and solicitation for campaign priorities.

• Develop a deep understanding of division priorities and activities and establish productive relationships with clinicians and researchers, serving as a trusted partner in communicating their aspirations, needs and achievements.

• Cultivate in-depth knowledge of our most generous donors and support fundraisers in developing effective communications plans. Work with Donor Relations to integrate communications into individual stewardship plans and ensure plans are executed and tracked.

• Engage in benchmarking and other activities aimed at elevating the development communications program and staying current on industry best practices and trends.

• Other job functions as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

• Minimum 5 years relevant experience, preferably in healthcare, academic medicine, or higher education.

• Superb written and verbal communication skills. Experience with seven-figure gift proposals and proven ability to organize, write, and edit in a clear, concise manner.

• Demonstrated sound judgement in situations that require independent decision-making, problem solving, and handling confidential materials.

• Ability to prioritize and execute multiple projects under demanding deadlines, with demonstrated success working with multiple stakeholders and overseeing complex projects.

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills as well as creativity and resourcefulness.

• Expert-level skills in Microsoft Office; experience with project management software and InDesign preferred.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Pay Range

$83,200.00-$137,280.00 Salary

At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following link to learn more about our benefits.

Benefit Statement

For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes:

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Employer paid group term life and disability

Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

403(b) with a 5% employer match

Various voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability
• Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Tuition assistance
• Student loan servicing and support
• Adoption benefits
• Backup Childcare and Eldercare
• Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members
• Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities
• Discount purchasing program

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: [email protected]

AI Notice 

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.

It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.

For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: [email protected]