Associate Director, Digital Strategy & ADV Solutions

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Job Title:
Associate Director, Digital Strategy & ADV Solutions

Department:
Advancement | Advancement Marketing Communications

Position Overview

The Associate Director, Digital Strategy and Advancement Solutions has the primary responsibility for setting and implementing the strategic direction of the online presence for The Ohio State University’s Advancement Marketing and Communications (AMC), including all online channels and digital communications for the Office of Advancement, Wexner Medical Center Advancement, digital fundraising, and The Ohio State University Alumni Association (magazine, website, app, social media channels, and digital communications in support of 150+ alumni clubs and societies worldwide).

Providing strategic direction and leadership of the full digital ecosystem, the Associate Director focuses on providing seamless omnichannel experiences, aligned content strategy, constituent engagement, and digital fundraising. The Associate Director must exhibit a strong understanding of cross-platform digital strategies, UX, paid and organic campaigns, SEO/SEM, social content, and website projects from inception to completion. The Associate Director will focus on intentional, thoughtful integration between channels on the backend, with the goal of providing a seamless digital experience for constituents. Working with IT and business insights partners, they will utilize marketing technology to uncover insights from existing data, identify data gaps, provide a better constituent experience, and enable more effective tracking through the Advancement engagement continuum.   

Directing a team of eight digital marketing professionals, the Associate Director will develop the creation and curation of outstanding, timely and relevant digital content; manage website development, updates, and maintenance; manage topline social media, email, SMS, and digital fundraising strategy; and administer digital advertising and SEM. The role requires close and collaborative partnerships across the organization and university as well as managing external vendors working on multiple projects, channels, and timelines.

The Associate Director must remain abreast of rapidly emerging trends to build organizational capability and capacity across digital, omnichannel, social, automated marketing, and other online marketing areas. They must have demonstrated experience generating innovative solutions, problem solving, making decisions, and implementing processes focused on continuous improvement. Familiarity is expected with various platforms and tools such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Tableu, Scalefunder, Sprout Social, and BlackBaud or similar customer relationship management system.

The Associate Director must be able to identify, track, and report meaningful performance/progress metrics. They must exhibit the ability to pivot and iterate based on metrics to achieve optimal results for campaign deployment and program results. They will be expected to prepare reports, presentations, and general updates as often as needed to audiences of varying technical expertise and levels of responsibility, avoiding jargon.

All members of Advancement are part of creating an inclusive culture that inspires an exceptionally diverse and talented team and are measured on their adherence to the following core competencies:  leadership, continuous improvement, teamwork and collaboration, and communication/interpersonal effectiveness.  All members are also expected to exhibit The Ohio State University’s Shared Values  which include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect.

Duties and Responsibilities

55%

• Responsible for setting and implementing the strategic direction of the online presence for The Ohio State University’s Advancement Marketing and Communications (AMC).

• Manages digital marketing strategies and plans.

• Identifies topline content strategy and deployment and must exhibit a strong understanding of cross-platform digital strategies, UX, paid and organic campaigns, SEO/SEM, social content, and website projects from inception to completion.

• Directs a team of eight digital marketing professionals; actively build the capability of team members to insure the creation and curation of outstanding, timely and relevant digital content, manage website development, updates, and maintenance;

• Manages topline social media, email, and digital fundraising strategy, and direct digital advertising and SEM.

• An omnichannel thought leader and champion, communicates capabilities, functions, and audience-centric experiences across the organization.

• Uses marketing technology to streamline workflows, direct the creation of more relevant content, and build better relationships with focus on intentional, thoughtful integration between channels on the backend, with the goal of providing a seamless digital experience for constituents.

• Develops and nurtures collaborative partnerships across the organization and university as well as managing external vendors working on multiple projects, channels, and timelines. As well as collaborative relationships with other digital leaders throughout the organization to build functional reputation in pursuit of improved results.

• Stays on top of the latest developments in digital marketing efforts to identify opportunities and establish best practices while monitoring industry trends to build organizational capability and capacity across digital, omnichannel, social, automated marketing, and other online marketing areas.

• Recruits, trains, evaluates, motivates, and coaches employees of various backgrounds and identities; establishes and monitors goals, provides performance feedback and coaching, and supports professional development; completes annual performance management procedures; manages performance issues; is responsible for using independent, consistent and fair judgement in exercising authority; develops procedures, assigns and prioritizes work, and ensures that the resources needed to accomplish work are provided; builds a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging amongst team members.

30%

• Responsibility to develop all digital efforts, such as executing and managing online content and development, social media, and advertising efforts, to achieve the strategic and operational business goals and targeted financial and content quality results.

• Identifies target audiences for campaigns.

• Develops a budget for digital marketing plans to deliver against goals/objectives.

• Ensures all content is on-brand, consistent in terms of style, quality and tone of voice, and optimized search and user experience for all channels.

10%

• Identifies the metrics from traffic analytics to user engagement; be responsible for tracking key KPIs to measure the ROI of all digital marketing efforts and identify, track, and report meaningful performance/progress metrics.

• Based on ongoing results, pivot and iterate to achieve performance goals

• Analyze digital marketing channels to ensure brand consistency, accuracy, engagement and to utilize marketing technology to uncover insights from existing data, identify data gaps, provide a better constituent experience, and enable more effective tracking through the engagement continuum.

• Construct testing plan and execute ongoing tests within advertising channels to assess targeting and content strategies.

• Prepare reports, presentations, and general updates as often as needed to audiences of varying technical expertise and levels of responsibility.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure internal and external communications are aligned to achieve maximum impact with desired audiences.

5%

• Completes special projects and other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience from an accredited program in digital/internet marketing, information technology, business administration with concentration in digital marketing, or related discipline.

• Five (5) years of relevant experience with a minimum of five (3) years of directly applicable digital experience.

• Applied expertise in digital content and channel optimization, brand consistency, omnichannel strategy, digital fundraising, acquisition, emerging technologies, analytics, and measurement.

• Advanced proficiency with best practices for

  • Search engine optimization

  • Customer segmentation

  • Paid search and media

  • Social media

  • Email marketing; marketing automation

  • Lead generation

  • Database management

  • Website optimization

  • Analytics and Dashboards

• Demonstrated expertise with strong analytical, strategic, and creative problem-solving skills; ability to draw conclusions and insights from data.

• Demonstrably high accuracy orientation, including the ability to manage details.

• Demonstrated expertise with superior relationship-building skills, including the capacity to build and leverage cross-functional partnerships within and outside of the organization.

• Demonstrated expertise with proficient project planning skills, including the ability to organize, prioritize and control job responsibilities to meet deadlines in an environment with overlapping and potentially conflicting priorities.

• Demonstrated expertise with the ability to direct and support a team in achieving performance goals; build the capability of others through the direction, development, engagement, and retention of top talent.

• Demonstrated expertise as an outstanding communicator with clear, concise writing skills.

Desired Qualifications (We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• Master’s degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience from an accredited program in digital/internet marketing, information technology, business administration with concentration in digital marketing, or related discipline.

• Ten (10) years of relevant experience with a minimum of six (6) years of directly applicable digital experience.

The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.

Commitment to Inclusion

The Office of Advancement is committed to active allyship in addressing and dismantling the inequities created by systemic racism and implicit, long-held bias. We pledge to act with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times; trust ourselves and our colleagues and empower their whole identities; and hear and see our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the diverse, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here:  https://hr.osu.edu/careers/ .

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

Additional Information:

To learn more about the Office of Advancement, please visit advancement.osu.edu .

The pay range for this job profile is $99,000 - $132,500 (min - mid). The offer for this position will fall within this range based on internal equity, unit's available budget, and the candidate's qualifications.

Salary range:      $99,000 - $132,500

Function:             Marketing and Communications

Sub-function:    Omnichannel Strategy

Career Band:      People Leader - Managerial

Career Level:      M2 Manager

Location:
University Square North (1031)

Position Type:
Regular

Scheduled Hours:
40

Shift:
First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions .

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, protected veteran status, or any other basis under the law.

Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit the Equal Employment Identification form.