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Inside Higher Ed · 1 month ago

Executive Director of Digital Strategy & Engagement (Hybrid Opportunity)

Amherst, MA

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

10+ years exp

Inside Higher Ed is a leading organization in higher education, and they are seeking an Executive Director of Digital Strategy and Engagement. This role is responsible for shaping and executing an integrated digital experience and engagement strategy to strengthen the university's brand reputation and deepen relationships with key audiences.

Digital MediaEducationHigher EducationJournalismRecruiting

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive digital strategy that supports institutional goals for reputation, enrollment, retention, and engagement

Partner with the CMO and senior leadership to define the university’s digital vision and ensure alignment with marketing, communications, and brand objectives

Champion a culture of innovation, accessibility, and continuous improvement in digital engagement

Lead development of a university-wide digital governance model establishing standards for content quality, accessibility (WCAG compliance), and brand consistency

Oversee the design, architecture, and optimization of the university’s primary web properties and microsites to ensure an intuitive, mobile-first experience

Lead teams responsible for UX/UI design, content strategy, and front-end development, balancing creative excellence with usability and performance

Partner with academic and administrative units to align decentralized digital efforts with central brand and accessibility standards

Implement user research, A/B testing, and journey mapping to inform continuous improvements

Lead the university’s CRM and marketing automation strategies to deliver personalized, data-driven communications across the student and stakeholder lifecycle

Partner with Enrollment, Advancement, and Student Affairs to align campaigns and digital touchpoints

Ensure effective governance, segmentation, and measurement for CRM and Marketing Cloud platforms

Integrate CRM and web analytics data to provide holistic insights on engagement and conversion

Oversee web analytics to evaluate performance, inform decisions, and demonstrate ROI

Establish dashboards and reporting frameworks that surface actionable insights for university leaders

Advance privacy-compliant data collection and stewardship practices consistent with FERPA and accessibility guidelines

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing digital strategy team across web, CRM, analytics, and UX functions

Manage budgets, staffing, and resources for digital operations and vendor partnerships in collaboration with the department’s operations team

Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and service-oriented team culture that models the university’s values

Represent MarCom in cross-campus digital committees and initiatives

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualification

Digital strategyCRM systemsWeb analyticsUX/UI designMarketing automationData privacy regulationsDigital accessibility standardsDiversityInclusionTeam developmentBudget managementProject managementCollaborationCommunicationLeadership

Required

Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, information technology, design, or related field

Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in digital strategy, marketing, or communications, including 7+ years in leadership roles managing multidisciplinary teams

Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level web, CRM, and analytics initiatives in complex organizations

Proven ability to translate business goals into digital experience strategies that drive measurable outcomes

Strong knowledge of UX principles, digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2), and marketing technology ecosystems (CMS, CRM, analytics, automation)

Expertise on data privacy regulations and digital governance frameworks

Exceptional communication, collaboration, and project-management skills

Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility