Digital Communications Manager

Rice University•Houston, TX

1d•$65,000 - $70,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Shepherd School of Music seeks a Digital Communications Manager to raise awareness of its students and distinguished alumni, faculty, performances, programs, and enrollment efforts. This role is the primary staff position responsible for planning, producing, publishing, and measuring content across social media, the website, and email. The manager tracks metrics, identifies trends, recommends responses, and develops digital communications strategies for assigned topics, working with school constituents to ensure its stories and priorities are reflected across digital channels. The position develops integrated digital communication plans with the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications; builds and deploys patron-facing emails; maintains website content; and establishes and manages the school’s social media presence. It also curates photography and video, creates graphics, writes short news articles, collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to gather stories, and reports on digital performance. Additional work includes promoting events on online calendars, coordinating cross-promotional efforts, assisting with paid marketing, and supporting the marketing, communications, and ticketing team at performances, including box office operations and photography. This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with a proposed annual salary range of $65,000 to $70,000, depending on qualifications and experience. It is primarily in person and requires flexibility to work some nights and weekends for performances and events. The role is exempt from overtime under the FLSA.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; additional related experience may substitute for education on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
At least 2 years of professional experience on a marketing or communications team working with social media content, email communications, design, and web; additional related education may substitute for experience on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Organized, creative, able to take direction, and able to meet deadlines and schedules.
Knowledge of social media and digital platforms, including current and emerging trends.
Experience updating website information using a content management system (CMS).
Experience designing and deploying public-facing email communications.
Demonstrated ability to work as a team player.

Nice To Haves

3–4 years of professional experience on a marketing or communications team working with social media content, email communications, design, and web.
Bachelor’s degree or higher in English, journalism, marketing, or a related communications field.
Experience in a performing arts environment.
Experience with digital media creation, analytics, and data tracking.

Responsibilities

Develop integrated digital communication plans with the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications and participate in school- and university-wide initiatives promoting the Shepherd School.
Build, test, and deploy patron-facing emails related to marketing, communications, and ticketing.
Update website content, including faculty biographies, department pages, and news items; ensure WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility, optimize page structures and metadata for SEO and generative AI discovery, and maintain brand alignment.
Establish, develop, monitor, and maintain the Shepherd School’s social media presence; write copy, create graphics, deploy posts, monitor trends, and provide customer service to followers.
Curate photography and video for the website and social media, design digital communications graphics, and write short website news articles.
Collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to tell school stories and create timely processes for gathering and sharing information.
Compile and analyze data and report on website, social media, and email performance.
Promote Shepherd School events by creating and updating listings on Rice University’s events calendar and other Houston online calendars.
Coordinate cross-promotional marketing and communications with other Rice schools and departments and community partners.
Coordinate with Rice Public Affairs and external vendors on photography, videography, and communications as needed.
Assist with executing paid marketing plans.
Support the marketing, communications, and ticketing team at performances, including box office operations and photography duty.
Perform other duties as assigned.