Digital Communications Specialist

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Digital Communications Specialist position. The Digital Communications Specialist is a full-time, year-round position with a compensation range of $68,000 to $73,000 per year - commensurate with experience.

The Digital Communications Specialist directly supports the College’s digital communications efforts, focusing on the appearance, enhancement, and maintenance of the College’s digital presence. The Specialist’s primary responsibility is to the College’s website, managing content and creating and designing pages within a Content Management System (CMS), and supporting department website editors. This position requires creativity, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work independently under tight deadlines. The Specialist interacts with colleagues within Communications and across campus regarding content, technical issues, and general digital communications strategies for outreach to current students, faculty and staff, prospective students, their families, and the Amherst alumni community. The Specialist will also assist the Graphic Designer with a variety of design projects.

This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule (working some days per week on campus, with the possibility of working some days per week remotely).

Summary Of Responsibilities:

Web Content

• Create and update webpages within the Amherst.edu CMS for departments, programs, initiatives, events, publications, news stories, and more
• Assist staff and faculty in managing department and other College websites, serving as a liaison between the College’s Communications team and individuals across campus
• Train campus web editors and create and maintain help guides
• Participate in improving and maintaining the quality of web content across Amherst.edu
• Implement best practices for accessibility, usability, search engine optimization, and information architecture
• Help manage the online campus map and virtual tour
• Manage complex projects and cultivate productive client relationships

Digital Communications

• Assist the graphic designer by designing posters, graphics, and other pieces in compliance with the College’s visual identity
• Assist with the implementation of the College’s Visual Identity system
• Gather and interpret web analytics
• Create and update templates in an email marketing platform
• Assist in the design and maintenance of the campus mobile app
• Provide Adobe Express support for departments
• Participate in departmental meetings and strategy discussions
• Ensure that documents and web content are ADA-accessible

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’S Degree

• 3 to 5 years of related experience
• 5 years of digital communications experience in lieu of minimum education and related experience
• A minimum of two years of experience using a CMS to manage content in a complex, multifaceted website
• Proven ability to organize complex information and apply design principles to make content easy to read and navigate
• Experience working on a digital/visual team, and/or collaborating with designers, photographers, videographers, and project managers
• Web content production skills with proficiency in HTML, and familiarity with professional graphic software applications (Adobe Express, Photoshop, and other Adobe applications or equivalents) and an understanding of digital media capabilities and limitations (color space, image resolutions and formats, etc.)
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills using a variety of digital tools and techniques
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated organizational, time-management, and multi-tasking skills with ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment
• Occasional weekends and evenings
• Required reference and background checks, including CORI check

Preferred

• Web and graphic design experience
• Proficiency in Asana or similar project management app
• Familiarity with Emma or similar email marketing platform
• Familiarity with Google Analytics
• Interest in one or more additional aspects of digital design, such as photography, accessibility, or user experience
• Experience in a higher education or nonprofit communications environment
• Experience in user training and ability to explain digital communications concepts to a non-technical audience

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.