Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an independent, culturally diverse institution providing quality education and research in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and other related fields with residential campuses located in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona. The University’s Worldwide campus provides educational opportunities online and at approximately 130 locations throughout the United States, Asia, Europe, and Central/South America.

As the largest and most comprehensive aviation and aerospace-focused university in the world, Embry-Riddle is a unique institution. Over the past 90 years, the University has evolved with industry to break new ground and produce top-level graduates who serve the ever-changing needs of aviation and aerospace and other STEM-related disciplines. Embry-Riddle offers programs in seven primary fields of study including Applied Science; Aviation; Business; Computers and Technology; Engineering; Safety, Security, and Intelligence; and Space.

For Academic Year 2020-21, there were over 10,700 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students that attended the University’s residential campuses and approximately 32,700 students in total enrolled with the University around the world.

The Opportunity:

Under direct supervision of the Executive Director, Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Communications, the Director of Digital Communications helps design and implement strategies to engage alumni and cultivate, acquire and retain donors via all PAE digital and social media channels. Responsibilities will include social media management, website administration for all PAE platforms, crowdfunding support, giving form management, newsletter creation and management, digital fundraising campaign support, analytics reporting, audience segmentation and feature writing for university publications. The Director advises senior management on emerging technologies and trends, analyzes impact on institution-wide efforts, and recommends strategic direction.

Responsibilities include the following:

Digital Engagement

Social media, web and email engagement, includes strategy and campaign development, event exploitation, data analytics.  Helps manage and/or create digital assets (videos, animations, websites, microsites, etc.) to increase engagement and leverage digital interactive capabilities. Generates increases to Alumni Engagement Score by creating measurable, meaningful calls to action via email, social media and other digital means, as needed. Provides regular analytics reports for the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement teams on digital engagement projects (appeals results, crowdfunding activities/totals, social media reach and engagement, website analytics and others as needed.) Advises on emerging technologies and/or trends and suggest possible course of action, based upon analytics results.

Content Creation

Content development, to include writing features and articles for Lift Magazine, Impact Report, and other general or targeted print or digital publications, such as those to engage affinity groups.

Website Creation and Maintenance

Giving and alumni event registration, website management (givingto.erau.edu, Lift, planned giving, crowdfunding and alumni sites), including content development and accessibility compliance and administration of the online giving form.

Digital Philanthropy & Resource Acquisition

Will support digital philanthropy programs, which may include Day of Giving, annual appeals, capital campaign newsletters and other communications, departmental campaigns to attract new donors. Will also support the digital and administrative requirements for the crowdfunding program.  Will support donor stewardship by creating philanthropic impact features and other stewardship communications (event invitations, special thanks, etc.) Support alumni engagement efforts to steward event hosts and sponsors via digital means.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English or related field
• At least five years’ experience in social media, email marketing, web administration and content management is required
• Prior experience working in digital communications for high education, alumni engagement or philanthropy is strongly preferred
• Strong technical skills and proficiency in social media platforms is required

Qualified applicants will be required to provide a variety of writing samples. To save time, please upload cover letter and writing samples with application materials.

Knowledge:

• Proper business correspondence
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency with social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram) and scheduling tools (Buffer or similar)
• Understanding of digital publishing technical specifications (image resolutions, formats)
• Proficiency with image editing tools (Photoshop, Illustrator or similar)
• Proficiency with HTML/CSS and Bootstrap
• Knowledge of web accessibility standards
• Knowledge of a variety of web publishing tools/platforms in use by the university (Dreamweaver, Sitecore, et. al.)
• Basic understanding of HTML as used in mobile-friendly email marketing
• Use of general office equipment and computer
• Use of the internet as a productivity or research tool
• Business and professional etiquette
• Development and alumni relations best practices
• Basic understanding of research

Skills: 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Problem solving skills, emphasizing a solutions-oriented mentality
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills
• Basic budgeting and cost-estimating
• Customer relations skills
• Comprehend, analyze, and synthesize prospect reports, maps, tables, graphs, and other technical information

Abilities: 

• Energetic and self-motivated, well prepared, with routinely robust follow through.
• Demonstrate strong character, emphasizing integrity, caring, and honesty, as well as loyalty to the institution.
• Develop proficiency with University’s fundraising database/software
• Maintain positive and respectful engagement with colleagues and clients
• Effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Adaptable and resilient when confronted with challenges and changing priorities
• Manage and meet deadlines
• Adhere to divisional and university policies and procedures.
• Compile expense reports
• Plan and appropriately execute social engagement activities
• Read and generate prospect reports, maps, and other technical information associated with giving and engagement
• Work effectively in a multi-faceted organization and develop cooperative and mutually respectful relationships with stakeholders at all levels as well as diverse individuals and communities.vv