Content Marketing Manager

Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing Communications, the Content Marketing Manager is responsible for the ongoing writing and management of digital and print content that supports the recruitment of prospective students. As part of the Strategic Marketing and Communications (SMC) team, the Content Marketing Manager will work with Admissions, Enrollment Management, and SMC staff to conceptualize, write, and maintain marketing materials. The position is responsible for the execution and management of projects with competing deadlines, collaborating across departments, and implementing the college’s brand voice throughout all recruitment materials.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Write, edit, maintain, and own multichannel content for student recruitment-focused materials, both print and digital. Content includes but is not limited to: email campaigns, website copy, marketing videos, print acceptance kits, informational one-sheets, college fair collateral, brochures, and on-campus event collateral.
• Serve as chief copywriter for student recruitment marketing creating the content that entices students to apply and enroll.
• Execute web content strategy and collaborate on content with other members of the marketing team, including writers, graphic designers, UX designers, videographers, and developers.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders in Admissions and Enrollment Management.
• Ensure that communications are factually accurate, user focused, and on brand.
• Manage projects through in-person meetings and an online project management tool.
• Update web content regularly using the department's content management system.
• Perform SEO keyword research and implement SEO meta descriptions and titles across web pages.
• Ensure that communications adhere to in-house editorial style guidelines and AP style.
• Create and manage a content/editorial calendar for priority communications.
• Proactively identify content gaps or areas for improvement and coordinate the creation of new content.
• Proactively identify opportunities to repurpose content across additional marketing channels and facilitate that work.
• Partner with analytics teams to track and analyze traffic and user behavior on an ongoing basis to measure success.
• Proactively research industry trends and best practices, and bring ideas to the group when appropriate.
• Hire and manage freelance writing staff and student workers as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required. Journalism, marketing, communications, English, or related field preferred.
• Four years of professional experience in a fast-paced editorial environment, with strong writing and editing background. At least two of those years should have been in roles centered on content creation and management.
• Superior writing, editing, and proofreading skills; can fit a complex idea into a handful of words.
• Excellent copywriting skills with proven results to effectively communicate relevant, engaging marketing messages to different audiences.
• Strong project management and organization skills.
• Ability to simultaneously balance multiple projects with competing priorities while working in a deadline-driven environment.
• Passionate advocate and practitioner of user-centered writing. Experience in writing to a market of teens and early 20-somethings a plus.
• Understanding of design principles, web writing best practices, and how content fits into the user experience.
• Proven ability to proactively collaborate with subject matter experts, web developers, and designers.
• Proven ability to complete projects effectively, on time, and within the scope of the project work and client expectations.
• Strong proficiency in content management systems required; basic knowledge of HTML a plus.
• Drive and willingness to be hands-on with ownership of work.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems.
• Basic knowledge of writing for SEO required.
• Ability to understand what makes a product, service, or business truly special and the skill to craft that message in a way that effectively speaks to the target audience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively will other units.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong, proactive approach and shows initiative in order to complete projects.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.