Job Details
Posting Number: STA00598PO26
Job Family: Communications and Marketing
Job Function: Marketing
USC Market Title: Director of Marketing and Communication
Link to USC Market Title: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/132426
Job Level: M3 - Managerial
Business Title (Internal Title): Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies
Campus: Columbia
Work County: Richland
College/Division: Division of Development
Department: DEV Annual Giving
State Pay Range: G12
USC Market Range: MRK - $84,820 $108,146 $131,471
Anticipated Hiring Range: $84,820 - commensurate with qualifications
Location of Vacancy: Columbia, SC **on-site**
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Hours per Week: 37.5
Work Schedule:
- Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
- Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.
Basis: 12 months
Job Search Category: Communication Services
About University of South Carolina
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Veterans' Preference Statement
The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.
Advertised Job Summary
Under limited supervision, reporting to the Executive Director of Annual Giving and Donor Experience (Executive Director), the Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies (Director) is responsible for managing creative services, data and market analysis, and digital strategy and optimization for the annual giving and donor experience programs (AGDE). The Director will collaborate with the Annual Giving Programs and Unit Strategy team and the Donor Experience program to ensure fundraising success by developing and implementing data-driven strategies, processes, and systems to streamline, optimize and enhance their respective marketing approaches. The Director will utilize Blackbaud CRM, Blackbaud Internet Solutions, Blackbaud DonorCentrics, and other analytics tools, such as Google Analytics and Meta Marketing Services, to ensure that strategies are data-driven, personalized, relevant, timely, and consistent with the goals set forth within the AGDE department. The Director will work closely with Advancement Services and University Marketing team to understand the data needs in the organization, utilize system functionalities and perform continuous user experience (UX) improvement.
Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience
Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in Creative Services, Advancement Services, Prospect Analysis, Market Analysis, Alumni Development, Annual Giving, or Higher Education Fundraising Operations.
- The ability to translate creative, operational, and technical needs into complete and deliverable solutions to ensure preferred fundraising and marketing outcomes.
- Previous experience with Blackbaud CRM or other higher education and/or nonprofit donor system.
- Experience in audience segmentation, prospect strategies, and UX and optimization.
- Experience with project management tools, like JIRA.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Comprehensive knowledge of principles and methods of planning and conducting a comprehensive integrated and omnichannel marketing fundraising program.
- Strong knowledge of predictive analytics and metrics to include effective mass solicitation and communication strategies.
- Ability to manage complex projects while also managing relationships with colleagues and supervising staff.
- Understands best industry practices as it relates to UX, design and content optimization, and analytics tools for fundraising success.
- Utilize quantitative and qualitative information to improve decision-making and outcomes and document results.
- Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses, external vendors, and the general public.
- Work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
- Apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity.
- Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills.
- Ability to adhere to industry guidelines, methodologies and code of ethics statements as defined by the Association for Professional Researchers in Advancement (APRA), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and other professional organizations and associations.
Job Duty
Develop and implement an annual plan and comprehensive strategy to support the goals of AGDE and the priorities of the university and its colleges and units with data-driven creative design, optimization, market analysis and reporting, data quality assurance and strategic segmentation and prospecting. Develop and implement strategies, processes, and systems to utilize data from University systems and platforms to inform outreach strategies to alumni, donors, and prospects. Recommend and implement strategic business decisions based on the results of prior fundraising and engagement results.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 20%
Job Duty
Provide oversight, management and execution of all digital fundraising strategies, including paid digital advertising, online giving forms, search engine optimization, text messaging, and email marketing automation. Ensure policy, best practices, and quality standards are employed by analyzing the effectiveness of digital fundraising campaigns and digital presence against organizational and industry benchmarks. Monitor outcomes, performance measurement of campaigns, website metrics, and drive improvements. In collaboration with relevant university partners, implement an effective SEO strategy to increase visibility and comprehension of the online giving forms.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 20%
Job Duty
In collaboration with other AGDE team members, provide management and oversight of all creatives services, including multi-media design of print and digital media to improve and enhance UX and donor conversion rates. Negotiate contracts with external vendors, including direct mail and printing houses. Manage vendors to produce highly segmented, customized direct mail appeals with complex variables.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 20%
Job Duty
Manage and implement segmentation and prospecting strategies for all AGLG programs and initiatives, including but not limited to direct mail, email marketing, texting, digital, and donor experience cadences. Develop and recommend acquisition and retention strategies to identify potential new donors and activity participants based on the profiles of those who are currently engaged.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 20%
Job Duty
Provides timely qualitative and quantitative reports of solicitation campaign performance and marketing metrics and analytics for the Annual Giving and Donor Experience team, the schools and units, and other partners as needed. Build a portfolio of best practices and emerging marketing trends to enhance solicitation practices based on national/regional data and donor trends to achieve fundraising goals.
Essential Function: Yes
Percentage of Time: 15%
Job Duty
Performs other duties as required or assigned.
Essential Function: No
Percentage of Time: 5%
Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive: No
Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: 10/16/2026
Job Open Date: 08/10/2026
Job Close Date: 09/14/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Special Instructions to Applicant
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by September 14, 2026.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Quicklink for Posting: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/211256
EEO Statement
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
Organization
Working at University of South Carolina
With more than 200 years of history and tradition, the University of South Carolina is redefining itself for decades to come. There's never been a better time to be at South Carolina, the state's flagship university and one of only 62 public universities to receive the Carnegie Foundation's highest designation for research.
The University is located in the heart of South Carolina in the capital city of Columbia, which is the nexus of government, a thriving arts and culture center, a venue for big-time Southeastern Conference intercollegiate athletics, and a community that is reinventing itself with redevelopment projects citywide. Much of the development is tied to land along the scenic, slow-moving Congaree River. Working with government, business, and community leaders, Carolina has developed a unified plan that will allow the University to expand from its origins on the historic Horseshoe to its future-Innovista, a research and innovation district that will stretch to the banks of the Congaree.
Innovista represents a new vision for research by creating a vibrant, urban community where students and researchers, including those from private firms, will live, work, learn, and play. Innovista will represent the University's four core research areas-hydrogen fuel cells, nanoscience and technology, biomedical and public health, and the environment-but will include other initiatives and business partners that serve the knowledge economy. Innovista's first private tenant, for example, is a leader in software applications for the insurance industry and will create several hundred high-paying jobs.
By attracting similar companies and jobs-and by capitalizing on an attractive location for restaurants and residential and retail space-Innovista will help drive the economy and increase per-capita income in the city and state. Recreational space will include a world-class waterfront park along the Congaree River and a new stadium for the Gamecocks' nationally ranked baseball program. Greenway paths for biking, walking, and running already line much of the river area. Innovista's 8 million square feet will blend seamlessly with the Vista, the city's nearby entertainment district of restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries.
Chartered in 1801, Carolina began classes in 1805 with nine students and a single building, Rutledge College. As the campus grew and buildings were added during the next 50 years, a horseshoe layout was adopted. Today, the Horseshoe is on the National Register of Historic Places, with 10 of its 11 buildings dating to the 19th century. Those renovated buildings house, among other areas, the South Carolina Honors College and Undergraduate Admissions, representing much of the University's current and future lifeblood.
In fact, incoming freshman classes have never been larger or more competitive. The freshmen from fall 2006 set records for their size (more than 3,700) and SAT scores (1171 average). Freshmen enrolling in the Honors College had average SAT scores of 1398. Members of the University's prestigious scholarship programs, Carolina Scholars for in-state students and McNair Scholars for out-of-state students, had average scores of 1449 and 1477, respectively. Total enrollment at Carolina for undergraduates and graduates is more than 27,300, with some 350 degree programs to choose from. Since 1994, Carolina students have earned more than $9.9 million in prestigious national scholarships such as the Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes, and NSF scholarships and the Fulbright Fellowships.
South Carolina's student body is diverse. In fact, Carolina was recently recognized as the state flagship university with the highest percentage of African-American student enrollment in the nation. Research by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education shows African-American students made up 14.7 percent of enrollment in 2004, the latest year available. The JBHE also ranks Carolina eighth in the nation in percentage of African-American faculty at a state flagship university with 4.3 percent.
The University's faculty garnered a record $173.3 million in federal, state, and private funding for research, outreach, and training programs in 2005-06, and several key hiring plans will introduce more talent and expertise to the faculty ranks. An aggressive campus building master plan and the faculty recruiting initiatives will change the collective face of the University and the faces of many of its key teachers and researchers.
South Carolina is recruiting world-class faculty to be endowed chairs-and change agents-for a series of “research centers of economic excellence” in areas such as nanoelectronics, polymer nanocomposites, brain imaging, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, drug discovery, vision research, hydrogen fuel cells, and travel and tourism technology. These centers, some in collaboration with other state research universities and health and hospital systems, are funded with $30 million annually in state lottery money, as well as private matching money. Carolina is in the midst of a faculty recruitment plan to hire 600 new members. The Faculty Excellence Initiative is recruiting 150 faculty, many in interdisciplinary clusters of emphasis, while the Centenary Plan will recruit 100 elite research faculty to lead the University's core initiatives. Additionally, 350 faculty will be hired across disciplines to replace retirees over the next few years.
The University has forged a number of international collaborations in research, and the University's global connections are also strong in academics, particularly in international business. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked the Moore School of Business best in the nation for its undergraduate and graduate programs in international business; the undergraduate program is No. 1 for the 10th consecutive time, while the graduate program is No. 1 among public universities for the 18th consecutive year and No. 2 overall, continuing a streak of 18 years with a top-two overall ranking.
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