The Division of Marketing & Communications (MarComm) aims to strengthen DU’s strategic position locally, regionally, and nationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels with focused support on the university’s value drivers: academics and research; enrollment and admissions, athletics, and advancement. Whether through public or media relations, digital strategies, social media, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, community relations or thought leadership and training, MarComm drives results through narratives that involve words, pictures, and design. With true understanding of and connection with our diverse audiences, we aim to foster collaborative problem solving, creativity and innovation. MarComm strives to speak with a unified, authentic, and resonant voice to strategically advance the University of Denver’s brand by focusing on the following priorities:
1. Promoting and protecting DUs reputation.
2. Inspiring students to enroll and engage.
3. Increasing equity and inclusion.
4. Strengthening the University.
MarComm’s mission, vision and values make it imperative that everyone in our community feels safe and included. The participation and input of all members should be valued and respected, while every voice should have the opportunity to be heard. The division’s community-created, shared sense of belonging definition is, “a shared sense of belonging in MarComm means building a collaborative, trusting community where we feel and are safe, valued, and appreciated being ourselves as we contribute to something meaningful.” Our collective achievements are enhanced by the open exchange of ideas – particularly when diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences are embraced.
Position Summary
The Web & Digital Experience Manager (WDEM) leads and facilitates the end-to-end process of website projects in collaboration with colleagues in both the Divisions of Marketing & Communications as well as Information Technology. Responsibilities include overseeing the front-end execution, measurement and optimization of digital assets; and streamlining content, information architecture and sitemaps for the University of Denver’s website as well as other digital experience platforms, such as the University’s mobile apps, virtual tour, presence in Google, DU’s ChatBot, and Cludo Search Appliance among others. Additionally, the Manager will be expected to collaborate with other colleagues to drive inbound traffic and optimize key conversion funnels to increase outcomes. With the support of cross-functional partners, this role will be responsible for the entire website and how it fits into all stages of the journeys for target audiences, using data to guide UI/UX and continuously running experiments to deliver better business outcomes and user experiences. The Manager will serve as a liaison and a central hub between web developers, support services, designers, analysts, content creators, campus partners and business stakeholders as well as serving as a key project manager, unifying objectives and problems, aligning on expectations, and providing creative solutions that drive innovation and transformation of the University’s primary digital marketing platforms. This role will serve as a vital element of ensuring DU’s critical digital properties contribute to positively driving DU’s reputation, recruitment and revenue activities.
This is an exciting opportunity to add value to a website and associated tools that serves not only the acquisition, lead generation and nurturing campaigns for the overall University, but also uses digital tools to bring the University’s brand to life in creative and innovative ways. This role requires experience with website management, digital content best practices, A/B Multivariate testing, website analytics, SEO, ADA best practices, HTML/CSS, and UX tactics to drive performance and positive outcomes. Must have proven experience conducting web conversion and content audits, analyzing website usability and developing plans that drive enhanced site and application performance.
Essential Functions
- Devise strategic recommendations that enable the website to serve earned, owned, and paid media channels and effectively grow understanding of and affinity for the brand as well as inquiries, applications, donations and other key objectives.
- Build robust a/b or multivariate testing programs and conduct experiments that are validated with research and data, helping to identify and create compelling acquisition and nurture campaigns for the highest potential customer segments.
- Drive website audits, web analytics reviews, user journeys analysis, wireframes, information architecture reviews, task flows, user scenarios.
- Collaborate with in-house design and marketing teams as well as internal and external back-end developers to regularly refresh University website’s front-end design, user experience and content.
- Partner with channel managers, and key stakeholders on UX design and research, and collaborate with counterpart in IT to oversee development of enhanced functionality to improve experience and ensure DU’s website surpasses that of competitors.
- Lead the website governance process and serve as a strategic consultant to campus partners on best practices and opportunities for improvement within their subdomains.
- Oversee QA process for front-end activities (content, design).
- Troubleshoot and identify any existing issues in collaboration with Web Support Services Manager and create roadmap to resolution.
- Oversee CMS training for content creators and site coordinators across the University in partnership with Web Support Services Manager.
- Collaborate with designers, content producers, and agency partners to create wireframes and prototypes to present recommended design layouts and content.
- Serve as lead (project manager) for web or digital-focused projects/initiatives.
- Oversee team of web specialists and affiliated portfolio of centrally managed websites.
- Provide insights on desired and planned marketing outcomes, supporting the direction of our in-house and vendor development teams to execute technical work that may include coding new features and enhancements, configuring measurement and tracking, and deploying experiments.
- Actively monitor topline website performance and maintain in-depth understanding of industry trends and best practices for uncovering compelling insights, engaging in strategic discussions, and driving actionable decisions with key stakeholders.
- Develop recommendations for and implement a University-wide technical on-page SEO strategy, ADA-improvement plan and other optimization efforts.
- Audit DU’s externally facing digital properties and present plan for optimizing content and UX as well as increasing KPIs and asset performance.
- Collaborate technical, design and marketing teams to create interactive content and digital experiences for target audiences.
- Collaborate with Sr. Director of MarComm Operations and shoulder partner roles on developing and optimizing standard operating procedures (SOPs) as well as creating documentation for digital efforts.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Demonstrated creative self-starter with strong work ethic, team orientation and commitment to quality
- Experience working in digital marketing and providing analysis of outcomes as well as recommendations for continual improvement
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with search tuning and other inbound traffic generation techniques.
- Experience effectively setting priorities, achieving goals and measuring results
- Demonstrated website acumen and proficiency with one or more content management systems. Must have a supporting project portfolio with role contributed clearly outlined to highlight ability to meet expected KSAs.
- Experience with collaboration across all levels and functions including with peers and leaders to effectively achieve objectives and lead.
- Experience leading cross-functional project teams of both content creators and back-end developers.
- Experience coordinating a variety of concurrent projects and production timelines simultaneously.
- Demonstrated success in a highly matrixed environment with multiple constituents.
- Able to integrate thinking and feedback from divergent points of view.
- Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to seeing projects to successful completion.
- Ability to vary communication tones and voice as appropriate to best leverage web as a marketing tool while ensuring continuity of brand voice and presence.
- Experience with data analytics and creating reports on outcomes.
- Extensive experience with digital ADA compliance and best practices.
- Experience creating and optimizing content for the websites as well as other digital platforms and applications in alignment with best practices.
- Experience SEO, SEM and search tuning best practices, trends and tools.
- Experience with client relations or customer service, and diplomatic approach.
- Ability to be flexible with assignments and shifts in priorities.
- Ability to understand, embrace and demonstrate a commitment to the University of Denver’s vision and mission including the University’s goals of inclusive excellence.
- Experience using and troubleshooting the latest forms of HTML and CSS.
- Experience building effective partnerships and collaborations with individuals and teams to advance work.
- Willingness to learn new skills as the opportunities or the need arise.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required, as well as flexibility and the ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities along with a commitment to the highest standards of marketing and public relations best practices as would be applied in this role.
- Experience leading and executing multivariant texting as well as UX/UI development and best practices adherence.
- Working knowledge of JavaScript.
- Working knowledge of Google Tag Manager and utilizing cookies / pixels / tags to personalize and customizes digital content delivery.
- Demonstrated experience creating digital experiences (content, design and/or development) that drove increase revenue or other business outcomes.
- Experience creating and sustaining effective quality assurance protocols.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
- At least five years of running large scale websites via a content management system (CMS).
- Experience creating and managing compelling digital experiences, websites and mobile apps that drove demonstrated increase in revenue or other business outcomes.
- Working knowledge of digital marketing best practices.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing websites via Drupal CMS.
- Experience managing websites via WordPress.
- Strong verbal and written communications skills.
- Experience in marketing or communications, preferably in higher education.
- Experience working with marketing automation tools and managing content in apps.
- Experience contributing to or overseeing the creation of AR/VR experiences.
- Experience leading focus groups and other usability testing.
- Experience working with website personalization and automating custom content delivery on websites.
Working Environment
Physical Activities
1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Some travel as well as occasional weekend or after-hours work may be required to fulfill duties.
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 11, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 12.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: August 21, 2023
Applications close: