Web Content Specialist

The web content specialist is responsible for coordination and execution of North Central College website content as an integral part of the College’s enrollment marketing functions. The web content specialist will provide a tactical role in ensuring brand consistency and uniformity for the College’s online presence (internal and external) in support of strategic enrollment and institutional goals. Institutional goals and priorities have been outlined as part of the College’s strategic plan, available here: northcentralcollege.edu/north-central-college-strategic-plan. This individual will have responsibility for the College main website (northcentralcollege.edu). This position provides strategic support and consultation for additional institutional web assets including: the College’s COVID communications website (covid.northcentralcollege.edu), the College’s Crisis Communications website (info.northcentralcollege.edu), the Brilliant Future Campaign website (https://brilliantfuture.northcentralcollege.edu/), the Fine & Performing Arts website (http://finearts.northcentralcollege.edu/), Intranet the Hub (hub.northcentralcollege.edu), as well as assets currently in development and in the pipeline for future rollouts.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Construct and manage the College website applying best practices to create a positive user experience and yield successful recruitment goals. Possesses an understanding of the goals, audiences and information structures unique to the College’s entire public web portfolio, including the main website (northcentralcollege.edu).
2. Collaborate with cross-campus constituents to develop web content that maximizes the College’s identity and make recommendations for improvement.
3. Work with senior director of enrollment marketing and creative services department to plan and integrate design work from print to the web.
4. Work with senior director of enrollment marketing and assistant director of digital strategy to create landing pages and optimize web presence in support of digital campaigns.
5. Collaborate with Information Technology Services, other departments and external vendors to ensure successful execution of web strategy to enhance marketing and communications.
6. Contribute to the planning, developing and maintaining the web environment. Assist in creating short and long-range plans for website enhancements and improvements.
7. Coordinate campus and community notification of emergencies via the website, as well as ongoing updates to internal and external audiences. Assist with emergency response planning and preparation. Serve as an on-call resource for campus safety, student affairs and other offices.
8. Monitor statistical information and user trends on the College’s website and implement the use of metrics to inform future web planning.
9. Assist in the management of the SEO plan to increase visibility and organic rankings in search engine results. Routine SEO analysis of websites using provided auditing tools to compile and analyze data to influence site optimization priorities. On-page tactical responsibility to include meta, content structure, alt. Tags, and social cards.
10. Ensure that the website adheres to the College’s standard for uniformity of style and message as outlined in the College Identity and Graphic Standards manual in addition to accessibility standards. content.
11. Create and manage website documentation and training for content editors across campus.
12. Perform other related duties as appropriately assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Some experience in current web technology that may include HTML5, CSS3,XML/RSSfeeds, Google analytics; search engine marketing/website optimization; usability testing and tools;HTMLemail tools; content management systems (in particular, Drupal and/or WordPress); interpretation of web metrics to inform strategic decision making.
2. Excellent writing, interpersonal and communications skills, with a desired background in website management; in particular, the ability to apply professional-quality organizational skills in the production of a high-quality website.
3. Excellent project management skills, able to manage multiple priorities and work to deadline. This requires an individual who is well organized, detail-oriented, flexible and self-directed with good stress management skills.
4. Demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills in dealing with persons internal and external to the College.
5. Manage effective relationships with vendors on behalf of the College.
6. Experience managing websites and content creation such as digital journalism and blogs a plus.
7. Knowledge of and ability to articulate College organization, operation, philosophy and vision for the future.
8. Demonstrate a strong sense of creativity and an ability to collaborate with diverse groups with diverse interests.
9. Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment where collaboration, communication and commitment to the College’s mission are valued.
10. Promote a flexible, collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The individual in this position is a member of the Enrollment Management and Marketing division and part of the overall team that markets North Central College to a wide variety of constituencies. This position requires a strong understanding of how to use the web to the College’s marketing and communication advantage, ability to collaborate with the College’s web team to progress web marketing initiatives, and the technical and strategic ability to structure the website in a fashion that responds to constituencies and changing market demands as well as yields data to drive marketing and recruitment decision making.

The web content specialist will participate in the development of creative website marketing solutions, build and maintain website structure, and manage content implementation in alignment with enrollment marketing campaigns and objectives.

Education/Training: Bachelor’s degree is preferred but comparable work experience will be considered.

Experience: Entry level, experience in website management is preferred.