Job Abstract

Shenandoah University’s Office of Marketing and Communications is accepting applications for a Digital Marketing Manager. This is a full-time, benefited position located on our main campus in Winchester, Virginia.

The Digital Marketing Manager creates and maintains a strong presence for Shenandoah University across multiple online platforms. Duties revolve around implementing best practices and utilizing the university’s main social media accounts, website, apps, and digital screens to communicate key messaging points. In addition, this role recommends strategy and manages both organic and paid digital campaigns and has the curiosity to know and interact with the broad culture of Shenandoah and reflect it strongly across our digital channels. Additionally, this role has a reporting line that connects to internal student communications channels including campus email, internal social media accounts and promotion of student life events.

This position requires a tech-savvy professional with knowledge of digital analytics (data collection and reporting), strong writing and editing skills, and an eye for audience-tailored visual selection and a love for connecting business needs with creative execution. The communications created by this position will be crafted for a variety of audiences — both internal to Shenandoah and external — including prospective students and families, current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members.

The digital marketing manager works collaboratively with team members of the Office of Marketing and Communications (OMC), who stewards the overall brand and reputation of Shenandoah University. Additionally, this role supervises the student communications and marketing coordinator to ensure OMC supports the initiatives of the Division of Student Affairs.

The digital marketing manager is responsible for the execution and management of all paid digital campaigns. This includes providing strategic input on campaign deliverables such as targeting strategy, ad assets, landing page experience, and audience journey.

Goals in this position are to increase social media engagement, web traffic, and customer engagement metrics aligned with broader marketing strategies that maximize student recruitment initiatives the further the mission of the institution.

Responsibilities:  

• Manages the university’s active main social media accounts (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Tiktok) to promote our messages seven days a week and oversees content calendar creation in collaboration with other team members and students.
• Assemble engaging text, images, and video content for social media posts to ensure all channels have fresh and distinctive content
• Creates social media posts to generate buzz around stories, programs and visual content; facilitates conversations and responds in a timely manner to questions, comments, and messages
• Uses analytics tools to provide regular reports and inform future decisions
• Develops an optimal posting schedule for social media, considering web traffic and engagement metrics
• Works with director of marketing operations, admissions, and school liaisons on paid digital ad campaigns; outlines and monitors budgets
• Collaborate with visual designers for captivating and worthy visuals for paid
  campaigns
• Write satisfactory copy that aligns with goals of ad campaigns
  
• Proof all paid media before campaigns go live
  
• Maintain awareness of all paid campaigns; provide recommendations to liaisons as to how to change/update their media
  
• Researches audience preferences and discovers current trends, monitors industry changes and makes recommendations; stays up to date with changes to all social, digital and online platforms

Responsibilities: Management

• Supervises the Student Communications and Marketing Coordinator staff position to ensure OMC supports the initiatives of the Division of Student Affairs with marketing, messaging, and graphic needs; provides support for Student Life social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok)
  
• Student employees who support the responsibilities of the digital marketing manager and student life communications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related field
• 1-3 years of digital marketing experience
• 1-3 years experience managing social media accounts for a college or university, business or organization
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
• Ability to multitask and perform under tight deadlines
• Working knowledge of photography and videography
• Know-how to create, curate and deliver creative content (text, images and video)
• Strong attention to detail; able to act quickly and proactively, and adapt swiftly to changes in direction
• Knowledge of Hootsuite and Canva; and Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Lightroom, Illustrator, Spark and InDesign
• Preferred experience using an email marketing system such as MailChimp and a CMS for editing web content, especially WordPress
• Preferred experience developing and reporting on digital campaigns — paid and organic; knowledge of Google Analytics and data visualization tools such as Google Data Studio is a plus
• Must be able to work nontraditional hours and weekends as needed to cover events and manage inclement weather communications or assist with emergency messaging on social media
• Partial remote (hybrid) work option may be available after introductory probation period

How to Apply: 

Applicants should upload a resume, cover letter, salary requirements, references, and a link to a digital portfolio or include samples of social media posts or digital ad campaigns. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.

**Note: A pre-employment background check will be required, and a satisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire. 

Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status or on any other basis protected under applicable law.