Web and Digital Content Specialist

The Web and Digital Content Specialist manages day-to-day content across Alfred University’s website, blog, and other digital platforms to support student recruitment, increase institutional visibility and awareness, strengthen engagement, and advance University priorities. The Specialist develops, edits, publishes, and optimizes digital content that showcases Alfred’s academic programs, student experiences, faculty expertise, outcomes, and distinctive opportunities for prospective students, families, and other key audiences. 

The Specialist manages web content with a focus on improving how audiences discover and engage with Alfred University online. Using SEO best practices, website analytics, search data, and audience insights, the position identifies opportunities to increase organic search visibility, strengthen high-priority recruitment and academic program pages, improve the user experience, and drive audiences toward actions such as exploring programs, visiting campus, requesting information, and applying. 

Working within established University marketing and communications strategy, the specialist independently manages assisgned web and content projects, monitors performance, identifies opportunities for improvement, and makes routine content and optimization decisions based on analytics, audience needs, and institutional priorities. 

Rate:$24.48-$25.89, 35 hours/week

Essential Functions

• Manage and maintain content across Alfred University's website, ensuring information is accurate, current, accessible, engaging, and aligned with university brand standards.
• Manage assigned website and digital content projects from planning and content development through publication and evaluation.
• Develop, edit, publish, and optimize website content and landing pages supporting recruitment, academic programs, institutional visibility, and engagement. 
• Manage the Alfred University blog, including the editorial calendar, content development, publishing, and performance.
• Apply SEO best practices to improve organic search visibility and digital discovery.
• Monitor and analyze website performance using Google Analytics 4, Looker Studio, Google Search Console, and other digital tools.
• Interpret website traffic, search performance, audience behavior, and engagement data and make routine content and optimization adjustments based on results.
• Provide recommendations to the Social and Digital Media Manager and Marketing and
• Communications team based on analytics, content performance, and audience insights.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications colleagues and campus partners to identify content needs, develop stories, and maintain high-quality web content.
• Monitor emerging web, search, AI discovery, accessibility, and digital content practices and recommend appropriate improvements.

 Other Duties & Responsibilities

• Supports and assists in creating intersections and pathways for faculty, staff and students that will assist in transforming people's lives.
• Supports and assists in creating an envolving culture of connection, mentoring and rich engagement opportunities for faculty, staff, and students. 
• Maintains a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and a high degree of cultural competence and respect for a wide range of identittes and experiences, therfore welcoming and supporting all faculty, staff and students and expanding access to the AU experience. 
• Maintains a safe working environment within and around their facilities and associated equipment and supplies including, but not limited to, obtaining Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information pertaining to any hazards associated with their work environment. 
• Participates in all required assigned training, including safety training and will comply with safety rules, regulations, and protocols. 
• Effective written and oral communication skills.
• Contributes to the overall success of the University by performing other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications-Education & Experience, Knowledgg, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, digital media, journalism, or a related field. Three or more years of professional experience in website content, digital communications, content marketing, or a related field. 
• Experience managing content within a CMS; experience with Cascade or a comparable platform preferred.
• Working knowledge of SEO, Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console, Looker Studio, or similar tools. 
• Strong writing, editing, digital content, and organizational skills. 
• Ability to interpret digital analytics and use results to make content recommendations and routine improvements. 
• Knowledge of website accessibility, user experience, and digital content best practices. 
• Ability to independently manage assigned projects, prioritize competing needs, and meet deadlines. Higher education experience preferred. 

Physical Demands & Work Environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Personal Protective Equipment must be worn when required.  A respiratory function test and the ability to use respirators may be required.  Stairs and uneven surfaces may be present; artificial lifts, etc., may or may not be available.  The position may require the incumbent to walk outdoors in all types of weather to other buildings or offices located on the campus.  The Campus is in an area that contains numerous hills and slopes and may not always be fully accessible for mobility-impaired individuals.

About Alfred University:
Lighting the way for students since 1836. “We've always been a place for makers, especially those who make the future. Our commitment to independent thinking, creativity, academic rigor, and community have made us a unique kind of leader since 1836.”

Alfred University (AU) was founded on principles of social justice in 1836 by liberal, independent thinkers who placed high value on education for all citizens. The University has retained and built upon the strong values of its founders, developing as an institution of national and international renown that is responsive to the needs of contemporary society while remaining consistent with the spirit of its origins. Alfred University is the second oldest coeducational college in the United States as well as one of the earliest nineteenth-century colleges to have enrolled African American and Native American students. It has a long-standing history of educating socially conscious students who make a difference in their professions and their communities.

Over the course of the twentieth century, Alfred University evolved into a complex institution offering a full range of programs in the liberal arts and sciences, art and design, engineering, business, education, counseling, and school psychology to its nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students that live, learn, and play on a 232-acre campus located in an idyllic, creative valley in Western New York.

Alfred University actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee, student or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, marital status, genetic information, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction status, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.