Description

The Digital Content Specialist is responsible for content creation and scheduling for college communication and marketing platforms including social media, web and other digital outlets; assist the Communications and Public Relations team with marketing and public relations activities as needed; provide administrative support to Communications and Public Relations Department and perform other duties as assigned under the direction of the Director, Branding and Marketing.

Examples of Duties

Essential and other responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

• Gather, create and deploy social media content in support of the College’s strategic communications and marketing plans.
• Work with college staff to create and publish digital content to promote instructional and student support programming.
• Direct the production and distribution of multimedia content, including video and sound recordings.
• Facilitate digital photography and video recordings for college events; edit and prepare content for distribution through a variety of channels.
• Coordinate with department staff and executive leadership to identify ways to enhance the College’s presence and brand on all digital platforms.
• Publish content on social media platforms that is appropriate for each platform’s users. 
• Monitor postings on the College’s social media sites for accuracy, relevancy, and appropriateness and respond as needed.
• Ensure that all digital content adheres to appropriate regulations and guidelines for user accessibility.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from public, students, faculty and staff concerning Communications and Public Relations, and the Print Shop.
• Establish and maintain a variety of confidential files and records such as the departmental budget, contracts, and various materials related to specific area of assignment.
• Refer inquiries, sensitive complaints and requests for information from the general public, students, faculty, and staff to the appropriate staff member.
• Independently compose, type, review and proofread a wide variety of internal and external messaging, including social media, web, news releases, advertising and student email communication.
• Receive, open, sort and distribute mail.
• Make travel arrangements for department; maintains records of travel vouchers, check requests, purchase orders and requisitions as needed.
• Assist with the daily operations of the Communications & Public Relations Department.

Marginal Functions: 
 
• Provide staff support to assigned boards and commissions; serve on standing committees as assigned.
• Assist with production of news releases, social media content, Caldwell Chronicle, web content, general college printed materials, printed catalog and college publications, proofreading, photography, and student email as needed or assigned.
• Assist with maintaining, programming and creating content for the college’s digital signage including highway signs and on-campus monitors.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public relations and media production.
• Participate in professional development activities and required employee training.
• Coordinate and assist with department workshops; make logistical support arrangements including meeting room reservations, catering, registration, handouts and name tags, clean-up and member services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This position description covers the most essential functions and duties associated with this position. The President or appropriate supervisory personnel may assign additional duties. The College reserves the right to alter duties, responsibilities, conditions, working hours, and job title with or without notice.

Qualifications and Working Conditions

Knowledge of: 
• Social media platforms and trends.
• Digital content maintenance and management.
• Strategies for leveraging social media to promote institutional priorities.
• Best practices for creating digital and social media content.
• Fundamental design principles for websites and social media platforms.
• Accessibility regulations and principles relating to digital media and other pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
• General photography and photo editing software.
• Graphic design and desktop publishing software.
• Customer Service standards and best practices.
• Higher Education processes and standards.
• Government agency processes and standards. 

 Ability to: 
• Create and design digital media content.
• Operate a digital camera; take quality photographs and edit for professional use in a variety of formats
• Remain current on social media trends and the development of new social media outlets
• Collaborate with College and departmental leadership on various projects.
• Identify and respond to student, college and community issues, concerns and needs.
• Develop and administer departmental goals, objectives and procedures through each assignment. 
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports. 
• Utilize computer equipment and software to produce complex reports, informational items, tracking systems and related documents.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Interpret and apply federal, state and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Review digital content for accuracy, quality and adherence to guidelines and best practices.
 
Environmental Conditions:

The employee should have the ability to effectively handle a work environment and conditions which involve an office and classroom workspace and working closely with others.  

The employee must sustain the work environments by maintaining equipment and supplies, ensuring overall cleanliness, functionality, and conformance to OSHA standards to provide a safe work environment. 

Physical Conditions:

Physical and marginal functions require the ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following; standing, walking or sitting for extended periods, moderate lifting and carrying, general manual dexterity, operating assigned equipment, and extended exposure to computer screens.  

The employee must maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, reading and writing, operating assigned equipment, communicating with others, and handling varied tasks simultaneously. 

Additionally, the employee must maintain mental capacity, which permits making sound decisions and using good judgment, and demonstrating intellectual capabilities. 

Scheduling Conditions: 

This is a full-time, 12-month position, which requires the employee to be on campus or at an approved alternate location for at least thirty-six hours per week, Monday through Thursday, 8:00am-5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am-12:00pm. This position generally works daytime hours but has the potential for occasional evening or weekend hours.  

Traveling Conditions: 

Local travel between the Caldwell campus, Watauga campus, or any off-campus sites may be needed. Out-of-state travel is limited but may be required for training and conferences.