Director for Digital Experience

Location: Big Rapids (Main Campus)

Advertised Salary: $89,471.00

Benefits: Comprehensive benefit package including health care and vacation. Admin / Admin Temp Benefit Plans

This position is full-time, continuing, and exempt.

About the Role

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications, the Director for Digital Experience is the campus webmaster and collaborates with internal and external constituencies to promote a consistent approach for developing and presenting the content of the university’s website, ferris.edu. Primary responsibilities include oversight of the University’s content management system (CMS), conceptualization, design, development, analysis, maintenance, and accessibility of the ferris.edu site and other related websites that further the University’s mission and its marketing, advancement, academic, and administrative objectives. Additional duties include oversight of digital advertising and social media.

The Director for Digital Experience demonstrates sound judgment and balance relative to facilitating creative, functionality/user-experience, technical, analytic, security, and accessibility demands placed on ferris.edu. The position oversees Ferris State's digital presence, including digital advertising creation, placement, and performance, as well as social media platforms. This role also oversees the university's campus portal, Ferris360, collaborating with units across the university to optimize the platform for students, faculty, staff, and community members. The position provides leadership and supervision for assigned staff, including content creators and web developers, and oversees digital analytics tools for tracking data related to digital platforms and advertising effectiveness.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire without employer assistance or sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Implement the design, development, content, brand, and user experience of the Ferris State University (ferris.edu) website and other related websites as assigned.
• Administer the content management system (CMS), communicating with and managing key stakeholders.
• Lead the evolution of the ferris.edu website, ensuring it exceeds best practices and maintains customer focus.
• Supervise and encourage the professional growth and development of the Web Marketing Team, including full-time, part-time, and student staff.
• Organize, supervise, and/or conduct regular CMS training for colleagues from university colleges, departments, or organizations, and review their content for relevance and accuracy.
• Monitor appropriate use of the ferris.edu website and enforce the university's web policy.
• Develop and monitor site analytics using Omni Insights and other tools to evaluate SEO and other performance indicators, ensuring accessibility compliance, brand consistency, and fixing broken links or incorrect content.
• Test and ensure functionality and efficiency of the ferris.edu website across all browsers, operating systems, and devices.
• Maintain the university’s website calendar system by editing content for clarity and spelling, actively posting updated information, and keeping materials current.
• Assist colleagues with developing or updating content for their sections of the ferris.edu website, including search-optimized text, photos, embedded videos, social media feeds, and web forms compliant with FERPA, GDPR, and other privacy laws.
• Manage, improve, and/or enhance the CMS internal search function for the ferris.edu website.
• Collaborate with the university’s Information Technology Services team to ensure the website’s infrastructure meets current and future traffic demands.
• Oversee the development and application of university website, privacy, and related policies to ensure compliance with relevant laws and external regulations.
• Maintain a basic understanding of current federal, international, and state laws pertaining to the Internet and web publishing.
• Ensure the ferris.edu website meets all regulatory, state, and federal accessibility policies, including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA for desktop and mobile access.
• Oversee the university's social media accounts, strategically planning posts and aligning content and messaging with colleagues across campus.
• Serve as a member of the university’s Emergency Management Team and assist 24/7 with emergency-related website communications as needed.
• Operate a university or personal vehicle safely while carrying out job responsibilities, including meeting driving authorization requirements.
• Carry out responsibilities in accordance with university policies and applicable laws, cultivating an environment of belonging that values diversity and inclusion.
• Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Perform any other duties assigned within the position classification area.

Marginal Duties

• Serve on university committees as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, web development, information technology, graphic design, communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of demonstrated experience designing, constructing, developing content for, and maintaining websites.
• Technical expertise including HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Adobe Photoshop, and W3C standards.
• Experience with Content Management System-driven websites.
• Demonstrated work experience with web design and related creative concept development.
• Demonstrated team management, leadership, and mentorship experience, along with strong organizational, troubleshooting, and analytical skills.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated work experience with customer service emphasis and/or collaborative, project-based assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Marketing, communications, and/or public relations work experience, preferably in higher education.
• Experience with Classic ASP, ASP.net, XML/XSLT, PHP, and SQL.
• Experience or training related to emerging web-related and/or marketing-related trends in higher education.
• Experience or training related to creating accessible documents using Adobe PDF and Microsoft Word software.
• Experience with digital advertising creation, placement, and monitoring.
• Knowledge of social media platforms, best practices, and performance analysis.
• Knowledge of Ferris State University structures, constituencies, academic programs, and mission, vision, and values.

Skills

• Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, educational, socioeconomic, and life experiences.