Writer and Marketing Strategist at Calvin

This position provides strategy and content for Calvin’s schools and offices.  Responsibilities include creating, implementing, and evaluating these campus units’ strategy, messaging, and marketing initiatives. In addition to setting strategy, this position provides compelling writing and design direction for marketing campaigns, including print collateral, email solicitation, online presence, and various social media platforms. This position is a blend of marketing strategist, content producer, and project manager. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (other duties as assigned):  

• Provide marketing strategy and writing support for schools, offices, and programs outside of enrollment of traditional undergraduate students.  
• Facilitate meaningful and strategic communication with prospective students, alumni, and stakeholders through various communications channels, including newsletters, social media, webpages, direct mail, and email.  
• Provide guidance that ensures brand consistency in messaging and graphic design.  
• Provide content for social media as needed. 
• Collaborate with school leaders and university advancement to develop messaging and strategy for fundraising appeals and stewardship materials. 
• Collaborate with the enrollment division to develop messaging and strategy for graduate and non-traditional students.  
• Work closely with MarCom teammates to develop and continually update content across web pages for schools' departments and programs.  
• Train departmental representatives on Marcom support and best practices, such as design resources, email marketing, and writing for web.   
• Identify and foster opportunities to leverage faculty expertise in the media and maintain relationships with media to advance the mission of the schools. 
• Coordinate advertising and unit-specific merchandising needs in consultation with Marcom.  
• Attend school and university functions as appropriate to network with alumni and stakeholders. 
• Explore, recommend, and incorporate new communication trends, technologies and best practices that may be appropriate for the university. 

Supervisory Responsibilities – Possible supervision of student workers.  

Skill Requirements:  

• Solid copywriting and storytelling skills – Required to know how to write and edit content using a storytelling framework. 
• Content presentation skills – Used to determine how content will be packaged for various audience segments based on analytics, research, and experience. 
• Content delivery skills – Work with digital marketing experts to determine the best distribution channels for each audience. 
• Multitasking and organizational skills – Manage many types of projects and people daily. 
• Creative problem-solving skills – Essential to meet situations involving several variables and developing new approaches to challenging recruitment issues. 
• An analytical mind – Ability to spot patterns and trends in data to draw conclusions. 
• Consensus-building skills – Ability to spread the gospel of content marketing by outlining and demonstrating its benefits. 

Education and Experience:  

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, three to five years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  
• Campaign experience – A track record of developing and executing strategies across various platforms within an integrated marketing plan.  
• Familiarity with various digital and social media platforms, data analysis and interpretation, Web standards, and accessibility guidelines.  

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The work in this position is performed within routine office conditions, usually without exposure to hazardous or unpleasant conditions.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Proofreading and checking documents for accuracy.  Using a keyboard to enter, retrieve, or transform data.  Closely observe monitoring devices for 2 hours or more at a time.  Lifting 5 lbs or less.  

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.