Digital Content Specialist

Special Instructions to Applicants
All interested applicants, please attach a cover letter and resume in PDF format.

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, lecture 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 Digital Content Specialist serves as a key contributor to Rice's Development and Alumni Relations division, responsible for developing, managing, and optimizing digital content across email and web channels. Central to this role is dedicated ownership of high-volume, technically complex Annual Giving email campaigns, which demand a high degree of precision, strategic thinking, and technical proficiency. The position requires ongoing collaboration with writers, designers, web staff, and division partners to plan and execute integrated, multichannel digital marketing campaigns, including visually striking, mobile-optimized email communications. This includes segmenting, testing, sending, and tracking emails through the university's CRM (powered by Blackbaud). Beyond email, this role contributes to the development and maintenance of engaging web content within a content management system. The Digital Content Specialist consistently analyzes performance metrics to identify trends, inform strategy, and drive continuous improvement across digital communications. This position also plays a supportive role in the broader marketing and communications team, contributing to the development and execution of both new and established messaging initiatives.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, curious, and creative, with proven experience meeting deadlines and an ability to work cross-functionally on a variety of digital projects, offering advice and expertise while remaining flexible and collaborative.

Workplace Requirements
This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's Degree

2+ years of related professional experience in a marketing, communications, social media, or other closely related field

Skills

Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to craft clear, audience-appropriate digital content across multiple channels

Proficient with current digital marketing technologies and platforms, with an awareness of emerging trends and tools

Highly organized with strong attention to detail, particularly in managing complex, high-volume digital communications where precision is critical

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret campaign performance data and translate findings into actionable recommendations

Ability to independently manage competing priorities and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

Demonstrated team player with strong cross‑functional collaboration skills

Strong listening skills

Strong overall knowledge of broadcast email systems and processes

Proven knowledge of web production

Working knowledge of HTML/CSS as applied to email and web content production

Microsoft Office skills

Preferences

Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, English, or liberal arts

Experience managing high-volume, deadline-driven email campaigns with a strong understanding of email production workflows from concept through deployment

Experience with audience segmentation and merge field logic in a CRM-based email environment

Experience with Blackbaud Internet Solutions and/or Blackbaud CRM, particularly in the context of email deployment and list management

Experience in a fundraising, development, or advancement environment

Experience with web and email analytics

Experience with project management tools or systems to track and coordinate concurrent workstreams

Experience working with graphic designers and web staff on digital communications

Experience in higher education

Experience with Drupal or other content management software

Knowledge of building site architecture and experience with the web development life cycle

Essential Functions

Leads the development and implementation of digital communication strategies for assigned programs, with a primary focus on email marketing

Writes, designs, and coordinates the production of digital communication and marketing materials, with an emphasis on high-volume email campaigns

Develops integrated communications and/or marketing plans to meet divisional objectives

Manages the end-to-end production of email campaigns, including content development, list management, testing, deployment, and performance tracking

Collaborates with the Director of Marketing and Production to align email communications with broader digital strategy and divisional goals

Provides customer service to constituents across digital channels

Represents the organization to constituents, campus, and media

Develops content used to engage constituents and grow channels

Curates and maintains digital content across email and web platforms

Compiles data, analyzes, and reports on email and digital campaign performance

Drives digital best practices across the team, serving as a resource for email production standards and processes

Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

Serves as the dedicated email specialist for Annual Giving, managing an increasing volume of campaigns with a high degree of technical complexity, including advanced segmentation and targeted messaging strategies

Leads the building and management of segmented email queries through the university's CRM, collaborating with division partners to ensure accuracy and strategic alignment

Advises division partners on timing, audience segmentation, and sequencing of digital communications; maintains and updates a multi-department marketing calendar

Manages project workflows and task tracking through a project management system to ensure timely execution across concurrent campaigns

Analyzes campaign performance using the broadcast email system, Google Analytics, and other content tools; reports on year-over-year trends and makes recommendations for improvement

Answers questions and addresses concerns from alumni and other university constituents through the ARA Help Desk email address when necessary

Provides additional support, maintaining and monitoring social media accounts when necessary

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

Rice Mission and Values
Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University's Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

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