Associate Director of Digital Communications

Bard College seeks a strategic, creative, and forward thinking Associate Director of Digital Communications to join the Office of Communications.

The Associate Director of Digital Communications reports to the Director of Communications, leading content strategy and brand messaging to drive enrollment, raise awareness of the College, and engage a range of constituents. This role serves as an advisor to the College’s websites and social media accounts, providing training, support, and editorial oversight. Working closely with the Office of Web Services, the Associate Director works from concept to launch on the digital needs of new Bard initiatives. The role also manages the digital content editor and student workers in the production of social media content and photography for use on the web.

About Bard:

Bard College’s main campus is in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., with 1,900 undergraduate students; the College also includes multiple graduate programs. The 1,000-acre campus sits along the Hudson River and offers the Fisher Performing Arts Center, and Hessel Museum of Art, and is the home of the Bard Prison Initiative, the largest college-degree-granting prison education program in the U.S. The Bard Network also includes several Bard High School Early Colleges across the country as well as international campuses and partnerships. Bard College is a private institution working in the public interest. Bard faculty and staff lead their students by example, building upon the existing network of boundary-breaking programs focused on rethinking who can and should be included in a liberal arts education.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the College’s lead web content strategist and editor
• Work closely with the Office of Web Services on creation of new websites and redesign of existing websites, taking meetings with faculty and staff to bring their vision to life
• Execute strategic social media campaigns across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky, as well as emerging platforms
• Train and support the College’s web content editors across all Bard sites
• Monitor and improve SEO and AI-driven search results
• Engage in a variety of social listening, monitoring campus newsletters, social media, and other internal and external communications to inform key decision-makers at the College on public opinion
• Monitor and co-manage campus calendars
• Analyze performance and stay informed on social media technology and trends
• Support, advise, and teach campus communications staff about social media and web content best practices
• Perform key duties at Bard events, managing livestreams and event photography as well as staff and student workers

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in communications, journalism, English, or related field
• 3–5 years experience in brand development, feature writing, copywriting, copy editing, and public relations
• Expert writer accustomed to writing for a variety of media and audiences—especially the web—in a deadline-driven environment
• Expertise in social media, web-based content strategies, the mobile landscape, and content management systems
• Ability to edit the writing of others
• Experience with visual design and photo editing
• Familiarity with SEO best practices and emerging AI search trends
• Experience in higher education a plus

Personal Qualities:

• Strategic and conceptual thinker
• Highly organized with a proven ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining a high level of attention to detail
• Team oriented and flexible with excellent interpersonal skills
• Interested in, and able to speak to a diverse, intelligent, independent-minded, and creative audience

Please provide a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three professional references to Interfolio by following this link: https://apply.interfolio.com/185924.

Compensation: $83,000 to $85,000 annually

This salary range reflects the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for the position at the time of the job posting. Salary decisions are dependent on several factors including but not limited to market and organizational considerations, experience, and qualifications of a selected candidate as well as internal and external equity.

Benefits Overview:

We are pleased to offer our full-time employees an excellent benefit package which includes; multiple health insurance options; TIAA retirement plans; generous vacation, sick, and personal time; and more. To learn more about employee benefits and eligibility at Bard College, please visit https://www.bard.edu/humanresources/benefits/.

Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information.

Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.