Associate Director of Digital Content

Title: Associate Director of Digital Content

Location: Houston United States

Job Description:

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues. The cover letter should include a link to an online portfolio of work samples.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

 

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Production, the Associate Director of Digital Content plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the digital communications strategy for Rice University’s Development and Alumni Relations division. The Associate Director manages the creation, implementation and optimization of email marketing efforts, drives the accuracy and growth of constituent data and preferences, and ensures brand consistency across all digital channels. Key activities include creating targeted email campaigns for fundraising and alumni engagement initiatives, analyzing email metrics and trends, and collaborating with writers, designers, information services, and other division partners on multichannel communications efforts. The Associate Director leads and supervises digital content team members and actively contributes to university-wide and community-wide initiatives, strengthening the organization’s visibility and impact as a strategic partner and thought leader.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, curious and creative, with proven experience meeting deadlines and an ability to work cross-functionally on a variety of digital projects, offering advice and expertise while remaining flexible and collaborative.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. 

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree

• Three or more (3+) years of related professional experience in a marketing, communications, social media or other closely related field

Skills:

• Knowledge of digital technology and platforms, current and future trends
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Demonstrated problem solver
• Ability to leverage current and future trends to produce measurable results that aid in the success of the organization
• Ability to work independently to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment 
• Knowledge of different social publishing platforms 
• Experience with content management systems
• Experience with email marketing systems
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems
• Understanding of email marketing metrics and best practices

Preferences:

• Four or more (4+) years of related professional experience referenced above

• One or more (1+) years of direct supervisory experience

• Experience managing or executing email components of integrated marketing campaigns

• Process-oriented
• Understanding of project management systems 
• Experience with email marketing a/b testing, automation and database integrations

• Experience working in higher education

• Experience working in a nonprofit fundraising campaign or initiative

• Experience with Blackbaud Internet Solutions and/or Blackbaud CRM

Essential Functions:

• Manages the development and implementation of the digital communication strategy for Development and Alumni Relations 

• Supervises the digital content team members, who are responsible for the writing, design and production coordination of digital communication and marketing materials

• Manages the execution of robust email marketing campaigns, including segmentation, automation and other email best practices

• Creates direct marketing efforts using the advancement CRM (OwlConnect, powered by Blackbaud), requests and/or pulls email queries, builds and tests emails, and optimizes templates for best results

• Actively manages and improves the contactability results through advanced segmentation, calendar management, metrics and analysis, advanced a/b testing, and other targeted marketing approaches

• Oversees digital community-building through social media channels

• Participates in university-wide and community-wide initiatives and cross-functional teams to establish the organization as a strategic partner and thought leader

• Ensures brand consistency and integrity across all digital channels and assets, including messaging, imagery, and tone of voice

• Partners with internal stakeholders and campus partners to achieve program goals and to ensure coordination

• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Provide general marketing expertise and best practice guidance, including for accessibility 
• May help with UX/UI web design activities and managing websites

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview

 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

 

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.

Job Info

• Job Identification5502
• Job CategoryStaff - Communications and Marketing
• Degree LevelBachelor's Degree
• Job ScheduleFull time
• Locations Houston, TX, United States