The USC Career Center is seeking a Senior Career Services Communications Strategist who demonstrates creative vision, technical sophistication, strong initiative, adaptability, entrepreneurial creativity, and is adept at various marketing and public relations strategies through various media types. The Senior Career Services Communications Strategist will focus on brand management, public relations, marketing, stakeholder outreach, and communications coordination, as well as branding USC’s centralized and decentralized career services operations to reflect a new career development philosophy and ensure consistency. The incumbent will deliver a consistent message about the Career Center and its services and resources, as well as increase student, employer, alumni, and public engagement with the Career Center. The incumbent will manage and create website content and oversee, manage, and initiate all marketing, public relations, web, and social media platforms.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Marketing

• Create, edit, and manage a diverse array of marketing, publicity, and digital media initiatives to shape the voice of the Career Center, drive revenue for operations, build audience, and expand impact.

• Oversee uConnect, our website and interactive information portal.

• Create marketing and promotional materials, campaigns, and promotions using graphic art to support (1) Career Center activities, including Career Fairs, Partner Program, First-Destination Surveys, Career Fest, Graduate Schools Fair, i3, Global Fellows Internship Program, Trojan Network, USC Career Launchpad, and more, as well as (2) employer recruitment activities to increase student engagement.

• Develop cohesive annual and long-range marketing, digital, and communications strategies and goals to build and engage the Career Center’s constituency of students, alumni, staff, faculty, families, and employers. Determine target markets and audiences. 

• Create and oversee content strategy to drive a clear and consistent message through web content, email blasts, online newsletters, marketing collateral, and social media avenues.

• Oversee all external communications for the Career Center, including supervision of brand, event, and resource marketing. Work closely with all Career Center departments to create, add, update, archive, and provide quality control of information, images, and video on the Career Center website.

• Develop and maintain a media relations strategy including the creation and submission of press releases for internal and external media outlets. Serve as the primary contact for internal and external media outlets and interface with university public relations specialists to identify and facilitate opportunities for external publicity.

• Create and manage the marketing calendar and deadlines requiring collaboration with multiple team members, Student Affairs Division colleagues, and multiple school-based career services offices.

• Monitor schedules, production, and distribution arrangements and other details to ensure timely completion and quality control of marketing and social media activities and publications.

• Work closely with the Events and Employer Engagement Coordinator to (1) create and coordinate all student and employer communications and marketing efforts for the and (2) emails and invitations.

• Work with all Career Center departments to create, update, archive, and provide quality control of information in the weekly e-newsletter, Career Center Chronicles, Daily Trojan articles, and any other publications.

• Utilize and maintain CRMs and manage data for effective building of targeted campaigns, tracking engagement, and building audience.

• Manage relationships and build partnerships across the University, including with University Communication, USC Social Media Council, the Division of Student Affairs, academic advising units, as well as with school-based career services offices.

• Guide or oversee student interns.

• Coordinate appropriate use of University and/or department logos, emblems and indicia.

• Track and analyze SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to provide effective solutions for content optimization.Prepare timely reports on web traffic and ROI.

• Stay up-to-date with new digital technologies and social media best practices.

Social Media

• Create strategic social media plan and daily posting content to increase the visibility of the Career Center while engaging students, alumni, and employers.

• Manage and create content for all social media accounts and takeovers, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

• Monitor customer responses on social presences, including troubleshooting issues as they arise through all social media avenues.

• Conduct routine research to understand student and employer trends as they relate to content and social media strategy.  Make recommendations based on research, trends, etc.

• Attend off-site events and photo shoots as necessary to garner content for social platforms.

• Compile monthly reports to measure results and optimize strategy and tactics.

• Research, prepare, and administer budget proposals for marketing and social media purposes.

• Establish and maintain contacts with internal and external marketing and social media professionals and vendors, such as artists, designers, photographers, mailing houses, postal service, list brokers, advertising representatives, media contacts, etc.

Website

• Maintain technical solutions and multimedia content and systems for the Career Center website/uConnect.

• Manage the website/uConnect content and organization of static and dynamic data. Regularly communicate and consult with staff to determine and define website/uConnect needs and functionality.

• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

Requirements:

• Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field

• At least five years of direct experience and measurable performance with graphic design and social media with strong background in web and content management (must provide examples of work)

• Excellent knowledge of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and other social media best practices

• Expert-level knowledge in Photoshop, In Design, Illustrator, and Creative Suite

• Strong marketing fundamentals and public relations experience

• Exceptional skill in writing, rewriting, copyediting, and proofreading

• Relevant brand management experience

• Demonstrated experience in typography, layout, and composition

• CRM database expertise and operational management skills, including running reports; strong quantitative and spreadsheet skills

• Demonstrated Drupal, WordPress, HTML, or digital content management systems experience

• Practical knowledge of SEO and web traffic metrics, as well as Google Analytics and web analysis tools

• Well-versed in web analytics, banner ads, and mobile apps

• High awareness of new technologies, digital trends, and innovations

• Strong knowledge and understanding of digital media

• Excellent written and oral communication, organization, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills

• Exceptional attitude and dedicated team player

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• Strong ability to manage several different projects simultaneously on tight deadlines

• Ability to work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders