Summary:

Digital Content Strategist

Enterprise Marketing and Communications

 As Virginia Commonwealth University’s integrated communications expert, we leverage the power of our institutional knowledge and the depth and diversity of our talent to deliver results that align with VCU and VCU Health's strategic goals. We understand that VCU is not like the rest. In a world of the common, we are the uncommon. We are unlike any other.

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s generous benefits package that includes: competitive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, Virginia Retirement System (VRS), tuition waiver, partner discounts, and abundant opportunities for career development and advancement. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

The Opportunity

Virginia Commonwealth University is looking for an experienced digital content strategist to join our Enterprise Marketing and Communications team. In this role you will collaborate with web designers and developers to generate digital content in support of the University brand. The digital content strategist must be knowledgeable in conducting research and discovery to support and inform website strategy and architecture and able to analyze user engagement metrics to determine steps needed to improve the web user experience. A successful content strategist demonstrates exceptional communication skills and works well in a team environment. This role will work with the digital and marketing teams to develop innovative ideas and report to the director of digital technologies. This is an excellent opportunity for a digital strategist who wants to contribute to a dynamic university setting.

Content strategist job description - overview

• Works with the digital creative team to develop strategy and content for university websites
• Conducts project discovery and makes recommendations based on stakeholder interviews, user input, content inventories, website audits, competitive assessments and metrics
• Writes and edits content that accurately reflects the overall university brand and message
• Collaborates with team members to develop and present concepts to stakeholders
• Reviews and tests websites for accuracy, functionality, editorial style and nomenclature
• Makes website content changes and updates in a content management system
• Helps create and implement editorial policies that ensure quality, accuracy and consistency across VCU channels of communication
• Serves as a member of the digital creative team, collaborating with the creative and digital directors, managers, designers and developers
• Prepares reports and recommendations for site strategy based on analytics and SEO goals

Minimum hiring standards

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent training and experience
• Experience as a content strategist or information architect
• Experience writing and editing for the web
• Demonstrated research and interview skills
• Knowledge of web structure, user experience, accessibility standards and industry trends
• Proficiency with AP Style
• Ability to communicate and present ideas accurately and clearly
• Ability to work with details and deadlines in order to manage projects and workload
• Demonstrated ability working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred hiring standards

• Work in a university and/or agency setting preferred
• Knowledge of the T4 content management system

DUTIES

Content management

• Partner with digital design and technology directors on strategic initiatives
• Collaborate to scope, resource and plan digital projects
• Work with department leaders to develop standards for user experience discovery and research delivery
• Serve as a content strategy subject matter expert, consulting with team members and university partners to recommend solutions 
• Set voice, tone and quality standards for web writing, ensuring content delivers on key goals and conforms to best practices
• Set content standards and create templates for content deliverables

Strategy, writing and editing

• Interview stakeholders to understand business goals, brand differentiators, target audiences and website tone and voice
• Create recommended site maps and content outlines based on stakeholder and university partner interviews, content inventories, website audits, competitive assessments and website metrics
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to create and recommend information architecture/structure and navigation that optimizes user experience
• Review test sites for accuracy, functionality, editorial style and nomenclature, making changes and updates in a content management system

Other duties as assigned

• Provide assistance with special projects as requested
• Assist staff in other administrative activities

Salary Range: $58,000 - $65,000

Position Details:

Department: university Marketing, Enterprise Marketing and Communications
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt