Digital Marketing and Community Manager

at  Rice University

POSITION SUMMARY:

The digital marketing and community manager has an integral role as part of the marketing team—serving as the digital voice and amplifier of the stories and impact of innovation and entrepreneurship happening at the Ion, the heart of Houston’s innovation corridor in midtown.
You will shape the growth and strength of our online presence, engaging with prospective startups, investors, corporations, partners, and the community. As a digital community builder, you will envision and implement a cohesive social media strategy that turns followers into active members of our ecosystem as they attend events, participate in programming, and become tenants, partners, or sponsors.
The digital marketing and community manager will work with our data analyst to turn our robust email database into a segmented and activated network for driving prospective startups, investors, partners, and supporters into our programs. This includes developing and implementing an email marketing strategy that maximizes the activation of our stakeholders.
Events are a critical first step in engaging our community, and the digital marketing and community manager plays a key role in making sure these events are well-attended. This includes creating content, managing and updating our websites, SEO, updating our online events calendar, and maximizing the effectiveness of our social media.
Through your work, you’ll create an active digital ambassador network, working with our ecosystem to leverage our joint networks to tell the story of Houston and Rice innovation.
In early 2024, Rice University further leaned into efforts at the Ion, bringing the Ion under the responsibility of Rice’s Office of Innovation and engaging the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship to lead Ion programming. The Rice Alliance is Rice University’s nationally recognized initiative, which has over two decades of experience in executing flagship programming and developing a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. The digital marketing and community manager serves as an integral part of the marketing team tasked with developing a cohesive brand strategy for the Ion and Rice Alliance brands. This role will be responsible for managing all digital assets for these organizations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree
• In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted.
• 3 years of professional work experience

SKILLS

• Knowledge of the web, technology, social platforms, current and future trends
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Demonstrated problem solver
• Ability to leverage current and future trends to produce measurable results that aid in the success of the organization
• Ability to work independently to meet expected deadlines and schedules
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of different social publishing platforms (Sprout Social preferred)
• Experience with Content Management Systems (WordPress and Drupal preferred, but not required)
• Experience with email marketing systems (ex: Hubspot, Mailchimp)
• Understanding of website metrics and best practices

• Manages the development and implementation of the digital communication and community strategy for the Ion and Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship brand
• Manages the writing, design and coordination of the production of digital communication and marketing materials
• Oversees digital community-building through social media channels, email marketing and the web
• In partnership with the marketing director and graphic designer, manages development and implementation of digital community strategy Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Ion; including how to engage the community and fundamentally impact the relationship between the organization and the entrepreneurship community
• Participates in university-wide and community-wide initiatives and cross-functional teams to establish the organization as a strategic partner and thought leader
• Responsible for ownership and management of digital channels and / or the website
• Ensure brand consistency and integrity across all digital channels and assets, including messaging, imagery, and tone of voice.
• Implements a cohesive editorial strategy and voice
• Partners with internal stakeholders such as program teams, service teams, IT, campus partners to achieve program goals and to ensure coordination
• Manages constituent complaints and reputational issues and other high priorities on digital channels
• Manages the execution of robust email marketing campaigns; including segmentation, automation and other email best practices that deliver conversions
• Execution of digital platforms to support event attendance and execution, including adding events to public calendar
• Performs all other duties as assigned