Digital Content Specialist

Position Summary:

The Digital Content Specialist serves as a key contributor to Rice's Development and Alumni Relations division, responsible for developing, managing, and optimizing digital content across email and web channels. Central to this role is dedicated ownership of high-volume, technically complex Annual Giving email campaigns, which demand a high degree of precision, strategic thinking, and technical proficiency. The position requires ongoing collaboration with writers, designers, web staff, and division partners to plan and execute integrated, multichannel digital marketing campaigns, including visually striking, mobile-optimized email communications. This includes segmenting, testing, sending, and tracking emails through the university's CRM (powered by Blackbaud). Beyond email, this role contributes to the development and maintenance of engaging web content within a content management system. The Digital Content Specialist consistently analyzes performance metrics to identify trends, inform strategy, and drive continuous improvement across digital communications. This position also plays a supportive role in the broader marketing and communications team, contributing to the development and execution of both new and established messaging initiatives.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, curious, and creative, with proven experience meeting deadlines and an ability to work cross-functionally on a variety of digital projects, offering advice and expertise while remaining flexible and collaborative.

Workplace Requirements:

Workplace Requirements: This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 2+ years of related professional experience in a marketing, communications, social media, or other closely related field

Skills:

• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to craft clear, audience-appropriate digital content across multiple channels
• Proficient with current digital marketing technologies and platforms, with an awareness of emerging trends and tools
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, particularly in managing complex, high-volume digital communications where precision is critical
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret campaign performance data and translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Ability to independently manage competing priorities and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Demonstrated team player with strong cross-functional collaboration skills
• Strong listening skills
• Strong overall knowledge of broadcast email systems and processes
• Proven knowledge of web production
• Working knowledge of HTML/CSS as applied to email and web content production
• Microsoft Office skills

Preferences:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, English, or liberal arts
• Experience managing high-volume, deadline-driven email campaigns with a strong understanding of email production workflows from concept through deployment
• Experience with audience segmentation and merge field logic in a CRM-based email environment
• Experience with Blackbaud Internet Solutions and/or Blackbaud CRM, particularly in the context of email deployment and list management
• Experience in a fundraising, development, or advancement environment
• Experience with web and email analytics
• Experience with project management tools or systems to track and coordinate concurrent workstreams
• Experience working with graphic designers and web staff on digital communications
• Experience in higher education
• Experience with Drupal or other content management software
• Knowledge of building site architecture and experience with the web development life cycle

Essential Functions:

• Leads the development and implementation of digital communication strategies for assigned programs, with a primary focus on email marketing
• Writes, designs, and coordinates the production of digital communication and marketing materials, with an emphasis on high-volume email campaigns
• Develops integrated communications and/or marketing plans to meet divisional objectives
• Manages the end-to-end production of email campaigns, including content development, list management, testing, deployment, and performance tracking
• Collaborates with the Director of Marketing and Production to align email communications with broader digital strategy and divisional goals
• Provides customer service to constituents across digital channels
• Represents the organization to constituents, campus, and media
• Develops content used to engage constituents and grow channels
• Curates and maintains digital content across email and web platforms
• Compiles data, analyzes, and reports on email and digital campaign performance
• Drives digital best practices across the team, serving as a resource for email production standards and processes
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Serves as the dedicated email specialist for Annual Giving, managing an increasing volume of campaigns with a high degree of technical complexity, including advanced segmentation and targeted messaging strategies
• Leads the building and management of segmented email queries through the university's CRM, collaborating with division partners to ensure accuracy and strategic alignment
• Advises division partners on timing, audience segmentation, and sequencing of digital communications; maintains and updates a multi-department marketing calendar
• Manages project workflows and task tracking through a project management system to ensure timely execution across concurrent campaigns
• Analyzes campaign performance using the broadcast email system, Google Analytics, and other content tools; reports on year-over-year trends and makes recommendations for improvement
• Answers questions and addresses concerns from alumni and other university constituents through the ARA Help Desk email address when necessary
• Provides additional support, maintaining and monitoring social media accounts when necessary