1722 Content Strategist

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Content Strategist

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1722

GRADE 42

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Varies

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Content Strategist uses creativity, imagination, originality and talent to write or create content for websites, social media, digital marketing, feature stories, news releases and other uses. The Content Strategist develops and implements communication and marketing plans to achieve university goals, including student recruitment, student retention, student engagement, brand awareness and advancement. The Content Strategist works to ensure that assigned websites, social media content, branding, and marketing messages are created, maintained, updated, and evaluated for effectiveness and efficiency. 

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related area is required; the degree must be obtained prior to the start date for the position. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.

Experience: Either one year of work experience in a professional public relations, marketing or closely-related field or a minimum of three semesters of experience in a part-time position in a similar professional setting is required. Work experience in higher education is preferred. Experience running professional social media accounts is preferred.

Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required, including writing and/or editing experience with print and electronic media. Knowledge of basic content management software and strong proofreading and editing skills are required. Organizational and planning skills are required.  Knowledge of word processing and social media applications are required.   Photo or video editing is preferred. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

Other: The scope of the job requires some evening and weekend work.  Occasional overnight or out-of-town travel is required.  Extended periods of time working at a computer workstation are required.  Visual and audio acuity within normal ranges are required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Writes content for websites, social media, digital marketing, feature stories, news releases and other uses.

2. Coordinates content needs and implements strategic communication plans for social media platforms, assigned websites, blog sites, email marketing and other online marketing projects.

3. Conceptualizes, writes, and edits projects for tone, style, content, grammar, accuracy, completeness, institutional image and alignment with marketing plan objectives and brand.

4. Manages assigned social media accounts and online marketing campaigns as well as day-to-day online and social media activity, to provide customer service and promote student recruitment, student retention, student engagement, brand awareness and advancement.

5. Collaborates with other departments as assigned to ensure that websites, blogs and social media content related to the university, its branding and marketing messages, are created, maintained, updated, and evaluated for effectiveness and efficiency.

6. Ensures effective and timely production by working closely with clients, editors, photographers, videographers, designers, and programmers to coordinate production schedules and complete projects on time.

7. Participates in overall marketing and communications planning and execution, shares news and opportunities, and ensures consistent and appropriate messaging, publicity, and communications.

8. Actively monitors and tracks online marketing and communication projects, goals, objectives, and deadlines to assure quality production and conformance to customer specifications and technical standards.

9. Works to understand each project’s audience and recommends online strategies to help accomplish goals and increase website visibility and effectiveness.

10. Uses knowledge of websites to develop effective information architecture.

11. Supports overall departmental operations by performing professional services as assigned, such as writing for publications, coordinating special events, promotions, and media relations, training and helping to supervise new office employees as assigned, and editing and approving the work of graduate assistants and student staff as assigned.

12. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

13. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the supervisor.

14. Contributes to the overall success of the department by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Content Strategist is supervised by the assigned supervisor, accepts input from client departments, and may assist in supervising an office staff of graduate assistants and student employees.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JUNE 2022

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 2.0 - 900 Points: Entry-level professional knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of non-technical administrative and managerial functions. Knowledge permits the employee to carry out basic recurring tasks and routine portions of assignments or to carry out less demanding professional elements of assignments in areas including communications, social sciences, art and design, education, and related functions while gaining in familiarity with the University's policies and goals, business practices and/or accounting systems. This level of knowledge permits the employee to schedule and carry out the steps of a limited operation or project to complete stages of a multi-phase project. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in an unspecified field or a specific background in a non-technical area. Knowledge requirements may also include a limited amount of related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 2.0 - 130 Points: Regular, but limited, supervision, training, or directing the work assignments of (a) small numbers of student, part-time or temporary workers, or (b) one or more permanent, full-time employees. The nature of supervision is largely confined to scheduling work and assigning tasks. Supervision at this level typically does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities, and supervisory duties typically do not consume a large portion of the work day.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 850 Points: Work involves providing significant support services to others both within and outside of the department that substantially influences decision-making processes. Work activities are complex and others rely on the accuracy and reliability of the information, analysis, or advice to make decisions. Work activities have a direct, but shared, impact on further processes or services, affect the overall efficiency and image of the department, and may have material impact on costs or service quality within the cost center. Incumbents may be responsible for identifying areas of need and for developing proposals that request funding to fulfill those needs.