Director of Digital Strategy & Communications

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

522d • $81,000 - $138,400

About The Position

The Director of Digital Strategy and Communications for the Dean of Students Office (DSO) at Harvard College is a pivotal role responsible for establishing and setting communication goals and priorities that advance the work of the department. This position aims to illuminate the richly complex and multi-faceted undergraduate experience at Harvard. Reporting directly to the Dean of Students, the Director will collaborate closely with colleagues overseeing Residential Life, the First-Year Experience, Student Engagement, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. These areas are crucial for developing a thriving learning environment where students can succeed intellectually, socially, and personally. All communication efforts, including web-based, email, and social media, will be aligned with the priorities, programs, initiatives, and emergent needs identified by the Dean of Students and senior leaders of these areas. The Director will determine the most effective and strategic means to convey messages to various audiences, including students, parents, alumni, staff, and faculty. The role encompasses several key responsibilities, including the development and implementation of communication strategies that support the mission of Harvard College and the DSO. This involves creating annual communication schedules that align with the academic year while maintaining flexibility to respond to emergent communications. The Director will lead the project management efforts of all DSO staff, ensuring that individual offices develop best practices and high professional standards of communication while maintaining an authentic voice resonant with the communities they serve. Additionally, the Director will utilize data from website traffic, email read rates, and social media interactions to inform and recommend communication strategies to DSO leadership teams, regularly monitoring and reporting on analytics from various digital channels. In terms of content creation, the Director will develop, write, edit, and publish content across multiple formats, ensuring that communications accurately represent the vibrant and diverse community at Harvard. This includes collaborating with College Communications to align DSO content with broader institutional priorities and ensuring adherence to institutional policies regarding media outreach. The Director will also establish best practices for content creation within all social media accounts associated with the DSO. The position also involves creative direction, where the Director will advise on graphic design, photography, event management, and video production, ensuring compliance with University standards. Administrative responsibilities include creating policies and procedures for communications work across the DSO team, participating in senior leadership meetings, and managing a communications support team. The Director will also be responsible for budget management related to communications work and resources, ensuring that all initiatives align with the goals of creating an inclusive and supportive community for staff, students, and faculty.