What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Digital Experience position at Syracuse University?
Job Description
The Director of Digital Experience is a blended communications and technical position that is responsible for the strategic direction, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of email marketing, online event registration, online alumni community support and reporting. The role directs and supervises the digital engagement team who manages, utilizes, and leverages the platforms used in the creation and delivery of these activities. In addition to directing and project managing the work of the digital engagement team, the director serves as project manager for additional cross-functional projects within Advancement Marketing and Communications, examples of which may include advanced solicitations or donor lifecycle initiatives. The director will serve as the division’s subject-matter expert on legal requirements and regulations addressing areas including accessibility, CAN-SPAM, GDPR, PCI and will develop and enforce standards and procedures to maintain compliance. The digital experience team handles over 1500 individual email sends and over 300 event registration page builds each year.
Education and Experience
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
The Director of Digital Experience is a blended communications and technical position that is responsible for the strategic direction, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of email marketing, online event registration, online alumni community support and reporting. The role directs and supervises the digital engagement team who manages, utilizes, and leverages the platforms used in the creation and delivery of these activities. In addition to directing and project managing the work of the digital engagement team, the director serves as project manager for additional cross-functional projects within Advancement Marketing and Communications, examples of which may include advanced solicitations or donor lifecycle initiatives. The director will serve as the division’s subject-matter expert on legal requirements and regulations addressing areas including accessibility, CAN-SPAM, GDPR, PCI and will develop and enforce standards and procedures to maintain compliance. The digital experience team handles over 1500 individual email sends and over 300 event registration page builds each year.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required. Masters preferred. Degree in communications-related area preferred or equivalent experience.
- Experience working with online engagement tools required, Anthology Encompass experience preferred.
- Five (5) plus years of experience working with Excel, including building and using formulas.
- Experience working with a relational database; experience with creating ad hoc queries against a large database is preferred.
- A valid driver’s license is required.
- Five (5) plus years of experience managing digital projects to include website, email building and sending and online communities.
- Demonstrated understanding of information security (SSL, PCI, etc.) and digital communication legal requirements (CAN-SPAM, GDPR, etc.) preferred.
- Experience supervising, motivating and evaluating staff.
- Experience proofreading and editing.
- Ability to evaluate, set priorities and execute on the fly.
- High attention to detail.
- Advance planning and excellent organizational skills are necessary.
- Five (5) plus years of experience supervising professional staff.
- Direct, train and supervise the digital experience team, currently comprised of 5 full time staff and several part time staff, who is responsible for email marketing, event registration sites, online alumni community support, website builds and maintenance, and reporting and data processing for the platforms/systems that handle these functions.
- Set strategy for email marketing and communications, leading the creation of digital communication schedules for strategic initiatives including, but not limited to, Syracuse Giving Day and calendar year end.
- Assist with day-to-day operations during times of increased demand or diminished capacity.
- Manage all projects for the digital experience team, inclusive of digital engagement and website projects.
- Manage collaborative and other identified projects for the entire Advancement Marketing and Communications area.
- Maintain appropriate entries in the designated project management platform.
- Manage and communicate project processes, approvals and timelines.
- Ensure consistent project communication.
- Monitor project timelines and work to resolve active and potential blockers.
- Identify potential intersection with project work in other AEA areas.
- Ensure associate vice president of advancement marketing and communications and the executive director of digital strategy and operations are apprised of project progress and timelines.
- Implement and enforce standards that ensure compliance with accessibility, CAN-SPAM, GDPR, PCI and other Web, email and online giving legal requirements and regulations.
- Serve as divisional subject-matter expert on these requirements, standards and regulations and develop strategies and processes to ensure the University and Advancement and External Affairs remain in compliance.
- Direct and coordinate event registration page builds, testing and support.
- Ensure appropriate data moves between digital experience platforms and other AEA and University systems.
- Determine on-site support needs for the division and University events and initiatives, as requested.
- Ensure appropriate staffing and coordinate check-in/registration technology needs with Advancement Systems, Services and Intelligence.
- Other duties as assigned.
Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment
Not Applicable
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.
The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About The Syracuse Area
Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement
Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans
Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community
Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.
