University of Rochester Advancement · 20 hours ago
Content Assistant Director, UM&C
Wallis Hall
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$77K/yr - $116K/yr
7+ years expThe University of Rochester is a community committed to the ideal of Meliora - Ever Better. They are seeking a Content Assistant Director to lead the University’s digital content strategy for flagship channels, focusing on enhancing brand reputation and driving audience engagement.
Higher Education
Responsibilities
Leads the content strategy and editorial direction for flagship University digital channels, including the News Center and top-tier web destinations
Establishes content priorities, editorial calendars, messaging pillars, and content experiences aligned with audience research
Ensures content meets the highest standards for accuracy, accessibility, brand voice, and SEO
Identifies and evaluates narratives and innovative storytelling opportunities that showcase key initiatives, programs, and priorities for the institution; accomplishments by faculty, staff, student, and alumni; and research, scholarly, and interdisciplinary work that advance the University’s reputation as a global leader in higher education
Plans, writes, and edits highly engaging, user-centered, digital-first content for the flagship channels that supports institutional strategic priorities while adhering to best practices in marketing communications
Leads and manages the integrated digital presence for University news across multiple content management systems and platforms. Identifies opportunities for, recommends, and implements content collaboration methods and sharing across units. Facilitates partnerships among and between units to ensure integration exists. Manages relationships and workflows to keep University Marketing & Communications apprised and involved with digital strategy and production
Edits text, photos, videos, social media posts, and other materials for brand alignment, readability, digital accessibility, accuracy, grammar and spelling, tone, and search/generative engine optimization (SEO/GEO)
Uses digital project management applications, content management systems, and imaging/design applications to manage, produce, optimize, publish, and syndicate content for websites, print publications, enewsletter and email marketing campaigns, social media, and digital marketing
Advises and influences leadership, partners, stakeholders, and colleagues at the school- and unit-levels on high-priority, enterprise-wide communications projects and initiatives
Leads, develops, and implements the digital content strategy for the News Center that aligns with the Marketing and Communications team’s overarching strategic goals with regard to brand and reputation enhancement, strategic initiatives, and enrollment marketing
Creates, produces, and advises on original content that appears on other channels and platforms, including but not limited to the University’s Rochester Review magazine, websites homepage and top-level landing pages, social media channels, newsletters, video and audio outlets, etc
Ensures all content meets the highest digital, editorial, branding, and strategic communications standards
Synthesizes complex scholarly materials and concepts to share with a broad, non-specialist audience
Conducts audits, user research, and performance analysis to optimize content and digital experience
Implements digital analytics and SEO/GEO strategies; reports insights to leadership
Drives continuous improvement based on KPIs and benchmarking
Assesses, analyzes, and reports on the success of integrated content strategies and flagship channels, including the flagship news sites (News Center, including Rochester Review), as defined by key performance indicators (KPIs) and return on investment measures
Stays up-to-date with trends and developments in marketing communications, particularly in the domain of online content and storytelling
Applies research and analytics to generate new, integrated content ideas and formats that reach target audiences across channels (print, digital, social, paid)
Develops and enforces digital governance frameworks, editorial standards, accessibility, and SEO best practices
Leads adoption of University-wide style guides, training, and digital content guidelines
Supports change management for digital modernization and web transformation initiatives
Establishes deadlines and production schedules for content and distribution; enforces project timetables to ensure optimal delivery of high-quality content
Coordinates with other communications professionals in the University Marketing and Communications office and across the University to share and promote relevant content on flagship channels
Socializes, optimizes, and documents cross-functional practices, policies, and processes as part of a comprehensive redesign and relaunch of the flagship online news experience
Leads cross-functional content initiatives and collaborates with academic and administrative stakeholders
Manages editorial workflows, calendars, and digital content operations and tools
Works with external vendors and internal partners to support enterprise digital priorities
Organizes, prioritizes, assigns to content creators and freelancers, and multi-tasks a variety of writing, editing, and creative assignments; ensures alignment of content with institutional priorities and branding guidelines
Mentors writers, editors, and content strategists to elevate institutional content quality
Enforces responsibility of content creators to fact-check and verify details, as well as authenticate sources
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, or related field required
7 years of relevant experience required
High proficiency with industry-standard tools and practices for digital content strategy and marketing (e.g., content management system(s), Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, SEMrush, Adobe Creative Cloud, file sharing and storage services) required
Solid understanding of digital ecosystems and brand communications for complex organizations required
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills, including demonstrated ability to clearly articulate ideas and present work both internally and to clients required
Proficiency in writing, editing, publishing, and distributing digital content based on target audiences required
Keen editorial sensibility and judgment required
Experience managing projects; strong project management skills required
Ability to multitask complex assignments and projects on deadline and on budget required
Experience understanding and navigating complex challenges and competing priorities required
Preferred
Experience working in higher education preferred
Deep understanding of taxonomies, information architectures, SEO, usability, accessibility, and web standards preferred
Experience with emerging digital, storytelling, and social media platforms and formats preferred
Familiarity with Agile project management approaches preferred
Company
University of Rochester Advancement
The University of Rochester, one of the nation’s top private research universities, has built a national caliber advancement program in support of the largest campaign in the University’s history.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase