Posting Details
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POSTING INFORMATION |
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Internal Title |
Senior Director of Content Strategy* |
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Position Type |
Classified |
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Faculty / Non-Faculty / Administration |
Non-Faculty |
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Pay Band |
7 |
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Level |
1 |
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Department |
Office of Marketing and Communications |
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Job Purpose |
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, the Senior Director of Content Strategy develops a comprehensive communications strategy aimed at a variety of target audiences ranging from prospective students
to alumni, faculty, staff, donors and others. Serves as Managing Editor for The College Today and College of Charleston Magazine. Supervises the editor of College of Charleston Magazine and the editor of Faculty and Staff News. Serves as a member of the MarCom
Leadership Team and the Campus MarCom Committee. Collaborates with other members of the marketing and communications team and colleagues across campus to develop original content that supports the College’s recruitment and retention goals, alumni engagement,
strategic priorities, mission and core values. |
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Minimum Requirements |
Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, marketing, communications or related field. Must have a minimum of five years of experience in print and/or digital media with demonstrated professional expertise in content marketing and digital
content management. Experience leading, managing and motivating teams of writers and other creative professionals. Ability to work independently and creatively to oversee the development of content, generate story ideas, interview and research subjects, and
develop background information into high-quality purposeful prose. Must demonstrate proficiency in a variety of writing styles, including content marketing, magazine features, web copy and press releases. Must be able to navigate multiple levels of content
approval and be responsive to requested edits and changes in strategy. Ability to manage multiple projects and managerial responsibilities, including planning short-term and long-term content, coordinating with photographers, videographers and designers to
provide visual content for stories, and responding to requests from administrators, faculty, staff and students for promotion of academic programs, achievements and major campus events such as commencement and public announcements. Candidates with an equivalent
combination of experience and/or education are encouraged to apply. |
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Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities |
Ability to generate dynamic, results-driven content. Familiarity with best practices in digital content marketing. Must possess extensive knowledge of punctuation and grammar, and be skilled at headline writing, proofreading, copy editing
and Associated Press style. Must work well with others in a team environment and under deadline pressure. Must respect the diversity, values and procedures of a public academic institution.
Must have strong initiative and self-discipline. Must be proficient in Mac and PC software applications, digital publishing platforms such as WordPress, email marketing platforms such as MailChimp, and Adobe programs such as Photoshop and InDesign. Experience
with SEO, HTML and Google Analytics is strongly preferred. Prior work experience in higher education is also strongly preferred. |
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Additional Comments Regarding Position |
*This position is eligible for a hybrid work model, with a structured combination of on-site and remote work. |
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Special Instructions to Applicants |
Provide up to five samples of published print or digital content that demonstrate marketing and/or communications content with a clearly discernible strategy and purpose. **Salary is commensurate with education/experience which exceeds the minimum requirements. Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful background check. All applications must be submitted online https://jobs.cofc.edu. |
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Salary |
**$54,974 - $78,343 |
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Posting Date |
08/11/2023 |
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Closing Date |
08/28/2023 |
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Benefits |
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Open Until Filled |
No |
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Posting Number |
2023148 |
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EEO Statement |
The College of Charleston is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion,
national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability. |
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Quicklink for Posting |
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Job Duties
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Job Duties |
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Activity |
Serves as chief content strategist for and managing editor of The College Today, which is the digital hub for content about the College of Charleston. Ensures that College of Charleston Magazine supports the goals of Institutional Advancement,
Alumni Affairs and other campus units. Works with colleagues across the campus to plan, develop and produce content that highlights the value of a College of Charleston education to prospective and current students and their families. Responsible for independently
making contacts, scheduling interviews, developing relevant questions, and conducting research. Ensures that content in the Faculty and Staff News section of The College Today supports the College’s goals for recruiting and retaining faculty and staff and
helps foster a sense of community and belonging among employees. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
25 |
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Activity |
Leads editorial meetings and maintains an online editorial calendar for The College Today. Ensures that the news site showcases content that supports and advances the university’s enrollment and retention goals, especially as they relate
to the Strategic Plan strategy to recruit, retain and graduate more underrepresented minority and first-generation students. Reviews all content prior to publication to ensure it reflects the diversity and inclusivity of the campus community. Collaborates
with the Executive Director of University Marketing and marketing staff to ensure news content is aligned with recruitment strategies and in sync with the annual recruiting cycle. Uses project management software to track assignments, deadlines and related
assets. Receives editorial feedback from campus colleagues and external audiences and addresses content-related questions and concerns as necessary. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
25 |
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Activity |
Exercises total authority over The College Today in assigning articles, requesting revisions, and making content decisions consistent with the College’s mission, priorities and goals. Identifies opportunities to curate and share content
between the news site and the magazine. Develops and executes writing, interviewing and editing assignments for The College Today, College of Charleston Magazine, Faculty and Staff News, and other digital and print publications. Works closely with photographers,
videographers, designers and web content specialists to ensure that print and digital content is of the highest quality in terms of intent, readability, presentation and design. Works with the social media team and media relations teams to promote published
content to drive web traffic, engagement and generate media coverage. Regularly evaluates content on the news site and in the magazine and communicates concepts and editorial direction to colleagues and contributors, ensuring consistent quality that reflects
positively on the College and its constituents. Oversees the team that manages the online campus calendar, editorial style guide and weekly and monthly e-newsletters. The Senior Director of Strategic Content is responsible for filing a monthly report to the
Vice President of Marketing and Communications that details the previous month’s site analytics and social media engagement for The College Today content, including page views, time on page, top referral sources, and other pertinent statistics. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
20 |
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Activity |
Develops rotating meeting schedule with faculty and staff colleagues to build relationships and to identify story ideas and subjects that highlight the breadth and depth of academic programs and services that help to recruit and retain
students. Monitors the [log in to unmask] e-mail account and routes and responds to requests, inquiries and submissions as necessary. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
10 |
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Activity |
Manages the communications team budget and provides careful oversight of state resources. Works closely with the office’s budget manager on vendor contracts and related invoices. Hires and manages freelance writers, photographers and other
professionals. Communicates regular updates and support needs to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications to ensure adequate budgetary resources and tools are provided. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
5 |
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Activity |
Monitors and stays abreast of the latest trends and developments in digital content marketing, particularly in higher education, to ensure that the College’s digital content adheres to current best practices and serves as a model of a high-quality
university news website. Attends industry workshops, webinars and conferences to identify new ideas, techniques and tools that can elevate the work of the MarCom team. Monitors and stays
abreast of the latest trends and developments in university alumni magazines. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
5 |
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Activity |
Supervises the Editor of College of Charleston Magazine and the Associate Editor for College News. Provides leadership, guidance, mentoring, and regular training with regard to professional advancement and day-to-day tasks. Reviews and
approves leave reports and/or time sheets. Completes annual performance reviews by setting goals, providing detailed evaluations, and holding face-to-face sessions to discuss the prior year. Holds direct reports accountable for the quality of their work, professionalism,
ability to meet deadlines and remote/in-office work arrangements. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
5 |
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Activity |
Serves as a member of the College’s Crisis Communications Team; assists office leadership with the development and dissemination of timely and important information regarding campus emergencies and notifications. |
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Essential or Marginal |
Essential |
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Percent of Time |
5 |