Director for Digital Experience

Ferris State University•Big Rapids, MI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications, the director for Digital Experience is the campus webmaster and collaborates with internal and external constituencies to promote a consistent approach for developing and presenting the content of the university’s website, ferris.edu. Primary responsibilities include the oversight of the University’s content management system (CMS), the conceptualization, design, development, analysis, maintenance, and accessibility of the ferris.edu site, and other related websites that further the University’s mission and its marketing, advancement, academic and administrative objectives. Additional duties include oversight of digital advertising and social media. The Director for Digital Experience is expected to demonstrate sound judgment and balance relative to facilitating the many creative, functionality/user-experience, technical, analytic, security, and accessibility demands placed on ferris.edu. The position also covers Ferris State's digital presence, overseeing the creation, placement, and performance of digital advertising. The position also oversees Ferris State social media platforms, overseeing the creation, posting, and performance of Ferris State content across all platforms. This position oversees the university's campus portal, Ferris360, and is responsible for collaborating with units across the university to optimize this platform for use by students, faculty, staff, and community members. This position provides leadership and supervision for assigned staff, including content creators and web developers. This position oversees the implementation and development of digital analytics tools for tracking data related to the use of digital platforms and the effectiveness of digital advertising initiatives. The selected candidate for this position must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire without employer assistance or sponsorship now or in the future. The university will not assist with any F-1 EADs, OPT, H1B, etc.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, web development, information technology, graphic design, communications, or a related field.
A minimum of five years of demonstrated experience with designing, constructing, developing content for, and maintaining websites.
Technical expertise including, but not limited to, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Adobe Photoshop, andW3C standards.
Experience with Content Management System-driven websites.
Demonstrated work experience with web design and other related creative concept development.
Demonstrated team management/leadership/mentorship work experience, along with strong organizational, troubleshooting, and analytical skills.
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated work experience with customer service emphasis and/or collaborative, project-based assignments.
Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, educational, socioeconomic, and life experiences.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Marketing, communications, and/or public relations work experience, preferably in higher education.
Experience with any or all of the following: Classic ASP, ASP.net, XML/XSLT, PHP, and SQL.
Experience or training related to emerging, web-related and/or marketing-related trends in higher education.
Experience or training related to creating accessible documents using Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word software.
Experience with digital advertising creation, placement, and monitoring.
Knowledge of social media platforms and best practices and analyzing performance.
Knowledge of Ferris State University structures, constituencies, academic programs and mission, vision and values.

Responsibilities

Responsible for the implementation of the design, development, content, brand and user experience of the Ferris State University (ferris.edu) website and other related websites as assigned.
Implement and administer the content management system (CMS), communicating with and managing key stakeholders through the system.
Lead the scope and shape of the continuing evolution of the ferris.edu website, ensuring that the site continues to exceed best practices and maintains customer focus.
Supervise and encourage the professional growth and development of the Web Marketing Team, including full-time, part-time, and student staff as assigned.
Organize, supervise, and/or conduct regular CMS training for colleagues from university colleges, departments, or organizations, and review their content for relevance and accuracy.
Monitor appropriate use of the ferris.edu website and enforce the university's web policy.
Utilize the Omni Insights and other tools to develop and monitor site analytics to evaluate the SEO and other relevant performance indicators of the ferris.edu website to proactively ensure accessibility compliance, brand and communications consistency, and to fix and/or remove broken links or incorrect/invalid content as needed. In addition, test and ensure functionality and efficiency of the ferris.edu website across all browsers, operating systems, and devices.
Maintain the university’s website calendar system by editing content for clarity and spelling, actively posting updated information, and keeping materials current.
Assist colleagues from university colleges, departments, or organizations with developing new or maintaining and updating the content of current sections of the ferris.edu website representing their departments and divisions, including search-optimized, marketing-related text, photos, embedded videos, social media feeds, and web forms compliant with FERPA, GDPR, and other privacy laws. Ongoing collaborations will include all departments within University Advancement and Marketing, the Ferris Foundation, the FSU Alumni Association, and Enrollment Services (Admissions).
Manage, improve, and/or enhance the CMS internal search function for the ferris.edu website.
Work collaboratively with the university’s Information Technology Services team to ensure that the website’s infrastructure meets current and future traffic demands.
Oversee the development and application of the university website, privacy, and other related policies to help ensure compliance with relevant laws and external regulations.
Have and maintain a basic understanding of current federal, international, and state laws as they pertain to the Internet and web publishing.
Work to ensure that the ferris.edu website meets all regulatory, state, and federal accessibility policies, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA (at a minimum) for desktop and mobile access.
Oversee the university's social media accounts across platforms. Strategically planning posts and working with colleagues within the department and elsewhere on campus to align content and messaging, and sharing best practices.
Serve as a member of the university’s Emergency Management Team and assist 24/7 with emergency-related website communications as needed.
Operates a university or personal vehicle safely while carrying out job responsibilities. Will authorize, pursuant to university policies and procedures, a driving record check, and will meet the driving authorization requirements through the course of employment in a position where you are authorized to drive a vehicle as part of your duties.
Carries out responsibilities in accordance with university policies and applicable laws.
Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty, and staff to thrive authentically.
Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
Any other duties assigned within the position classification area.
Serve on university committees as assigned.