Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies

Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Posting Details

Posting Number | STA00598PO26

Job Family | Communications and Marketing

Job Function | Marketing

USC Market Title | Director of Marketing and Communication

Link to USC Market Title |

Job Level | M3 - Managerial

Business Title (Internal Title) | Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies

Campus | Columbia

Work County | Richland

College/Division | Division of Development

Department | DEV Annual Giving

State Pay Range | G12

USC Market Range | MRK - $84,820 $108,146 $131,471

Anticipated Hiring Range | $84,820 - commensurate with qualifications

Location of Vacancy | Columbia, SC **on-site**

Part/Full Time | Full Time

Hours per Week | 37.5

Work Schedule | Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis | 12 months

Job Search Category | Communication Services

About USC

About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement | The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Position Description

Advertised Job Summary | Under limited supervision, reporting to the Executive Director of Annual Giving and Donor Experience (Executive Director), the Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies (Director) is responsible for managing creative services, data and market analysis, and digital strategy and optimization for the annual giving and donor experience programs (AGDE). The Director will collaborate with the Annual Giving Programs and Unit Strategy team and the Donor Experience program to ensure fundraising success by developing and implementing data-driven strategies, processes, and systems to streamline, optimize and enhance their respective marketing approaches. The Director will utilize Blackbaud CRM, Blackbaud Internet Solutions, Blackbaud DonorCentrics, and other analytics tools, such as Google Analytics and Meta Marketing Services, to ensure that strategies are data-driven, personalized, relevant, timely, and consistent with the goals set forth within the AGDE department. The Director will work closely with Advancement Services and University Marketing team to understand the data needs in the organization, utilize system functionalities and perform continuous user experience (UX) improvement.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience | Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials |

Preferred Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in Creative Services, Advancement Services, Prospect Analysis, Market Analysis, Alumni Development, Annual Giving, or Higher Education Fundraising Operations. The ability to translate creative, operational, and technical needs into complete and deliverable solutions to ensure preferred fundraising and marketing outcomes. Previous experience with Blackbaud CRM or other higher education and/or nonprofit donor system. Experience in audience segmentation, prospect strategies, and UX and optimization. Experience with project management tools, like JIRA.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities | Comprehensive knowledge of principles and methods of planning and conducting a comprehensive integrated and omnichannel marketing fundraising program. Strong knowledge of predictive analytics and metrics to include effective mass solicitation and communication strategies. Ability to manage complex projects while also managing relationships with colleagues and supervising staff. Understands best industry practices as it relates to UX, design and content optimization, and analytics tools for fundraising success. Utilize quantitative and qualitative information to improve decision-making and outcomes and document results. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses, external vendors, and the general public. Work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment. Apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity. Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills. Ability to adhere to industry guidelines, methodologies and code of ethics statements as defined by the Association for Professional Researchers in Advancement (APRA), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and other professional organizations and associations.

Job Duties

Job Duty | Develop and implement an annual plan and comprehensive strategy to support the goals of AGDE and the priorities of the university and its colleges and units with data-driven creative design, optimization, market analysis and reporting, data quality assurance and strategic segmentation and prospecting. Develop and implement strategies, processes, and systems to utilize data from University systems and platforms to inform outreach strategies to alumni, donors, and prospects. Recommend and implement strategic business decisions based on the results of prior fundraising and engagement results.

Job Duty | Provide oversight, management and execution of all digital fundraising strategies, including paid digital advertising, online giving forms, search engine optimization, text messaging, and email marketing automation. Ensure policy, best practices, and quality standards are employed by analyzing the effectiveness of digital fundraising campaigns and digital presence against organizational and industry benchmarks. Monitor outcomes, performance measurement of campaigns, website metrics, and drive improvements. In collaboration with relevant university partners, implement an effective SEO strategy to increase visibility and comprehension of the online giving forms.

Job Duty | In collaboration with other AGDE team members, provide management and oversight of all creatives services, including multi‑media design of print and digital media to improve and enhance UX and donor conversion rates. Negotiate contracts with external vendors, including direct mail and printing houses. Manage vendors to produce highly segmented, customized direct mail appeals with complex variables.

Job Duty | Manage and implement segmentation and prospecting strategies for all AGLG programs and initiatives, including but not limited to direct mail, email marketing, texting, digital, and donor experience cadences. Develop and recommend acquisition and retention strategies to identify potential new donors and activity participants based on the profiles of those who are currently engaged.

Job Duty | Provides timely qualitative and quantitative reports of solicitation campaign performance and marketing metrics and analytics for the Annual Giving and Donor Experience team, the schools and units, and other partners as needed. Build a portfolio of best practices and emerging marketing trends to enhance solicitation practices based on national/regional data and donor trends to achieve fundraising goals.

Job Duty | Performs other duties as required or assigned.

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