Director Of Digital Media Strategy

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary
The director of digital media strategy is a leadership role within Rice University’s Public Affairs office, marketing team. Responsible for driving the institution’s digital media efforts, this leader will manage the social media team, and directly manage paid digital marketing campaigns, including the optimization of YouTube content. Reporting to the associate vice president of marketing, this role will be a part of a team of marketing leads collaborating with colleagues on the marketing, government relations and communications teams. Working closely with peers overseeing creative strategy and web and technology operations, ensuring alignment and integration across all digital marketing initiatives.

The director will bring digital savvy, leadership for paid and organic marketing content elevating the institution’s brand presence and reach, while fostering collaboration across teams to achieve institutional goals. Foster strong cross-departmental relationships to support strategic initiatives through digital channels.

Hybrid position: This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Public Affairs professionals typically work 3-4 days in the office and 1-2 days remote, though weekly schedules are based on coverage needs. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. This position is exempt and is not eligible for overtime pay, and your salary covers all hours you work in a week.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related field.

In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year for year basis.

• Five plus (5+) years of related professional experience in journalism or public relations.

Skills

• Demonstrated experience to implement a “digital first” mindset for advancing Rice’s reputation on paid and owned channels.
• Expertise in social media platforms, creating and optimizing content. Lead optimization of content across social media with a focus on audience engagement and growth.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing social media team to create innovative and effective campaigns.
• Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Proven collaboration with news and communications teams to develop timely organic (social) and planned paid campaigns to lift and amplify Rice news and institutional initiatives.
  • Proven collaboration with creative teams to ensure external brand expressions are consistent, in-line with brand guidelines and best practices.
• Ability to develop content in support of Rice’s reputation strategy.
• Proficiency with executing external brand expression that are in-line with brand guidelines and best practices.
• Experience with developing reporting and comfort with leveraging metrics to form plans and communicate outcomes and decision-making on organic and paid media plans.
• Demonstrated experience and metrics led success using various digital advertising tools, and content marketing principles.
• Strong understanding of SEO, SEM, and paid media campaign optimization.
• Ability to develop and align digital strategies with overarching institutional priorities, including podcast content, advertorials, long form video and brand activations.
• Ability to multi-task several projects and provide timely updates to leadership.
• Excellent communication, project management, and leadership skills.

Preferences

• Advanced degree.
• Seven years of related professional experience in digital media strategy, social media management and paid digital advertising.
• Familiarity with higher education marketing

Essential Functions:

The director works closely with peers overseeing creative strategy and web and technology operations, ensuring alignment and integration across all digital marketing initiatives ensuring external brand expressions are consistent and in-line with brand guidelines and best practices. Supports and works closely with the Associate Vice President of Marketing to develop and align digital strategies with overarching institutional priorities, including podcast content, advertorials, long form video and brand activations.

Social Media Strategy and Execution

• Oversee strategy and reporting for all institutional social media platforms to grow engagement and expand reach.
• Manage Social Media Specialist providing timely guidance on content priorities, reporting and editorial oversight for all social media content.
• Lead the development of social media content calendars and ensure consistency in voice, branding, messaging and timely measurement across platforms.
• Stay current with emerging trends, tools, and technologies to enhance the institution’s social media presence.

Paid Digital Marketing Campaigns

• Lead the planning, execution, and optimization of paid digital marketing campaigns across platforms such as Google Ads, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), LinkedIn, and other emerging channels.
• Collaborate with creative and web teams to ensure campaigns align with institutional messaging and goals.
• Develop weekly and quarterly marketing reports tracking channel strategy and ROI for paid efforts.
• Develop strategic outreach plans and comms for international rankings efforts (QS Platforms).
• Use insights from campaign performance to guide ongoing planning and execution for maximum impact.

YouTube Optimization

• Strategically manage and enhance YouTube content to increase views, engagement, and click-through rates.
• Develop weekly paid “buzz feed” style content based on current Rice News stories targeting national and international markets.
• Partner with creative teams to develop engaging video content tailored for YouTube’s audience.
• Continuously refine strategies to improve performance and grow the institution’s presence on YouTube.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits-overview

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity at all levels and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and the full inclusion of all qualified persons in the workplace. This commitment includes providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. For applicants with disabilities who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.