Assistant Director, Writing and Content Strategy

5466

In the Catholic tradition the Student Affairs Division strives to create an inclusive educational environment which motivates and supports student learning and personal development serves the University community and inspires students to make a positive contribution to society. Our philosophy and approach is to collaboratively work with Academic Affairs and all areas of the University to create an integrated learning environment.

The Student Affairs Division is a dynamic student centered and learning organization. We are poised to create a vibrant and active co-curricular learning experience for all students. Our emphasis on leadership development and social change allows us to work on developing future ethical leaders to serve in a complex global and changing world. We are committed to fostering a sense of belonging and continuously building toward a just welcoming and caring community for all.

The University of San Diego an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972 USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any or no religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanitys urgent challenges.

The Assistant Director Writing and Content Strategy plays a critical role in shaping refining and ensuring the clarity and consistency of the Division of Student Affairs written communications. This position oversees content strategy for the Universitys Knowledge Base in collaboration with ITS the Torero Hub and Marketing and Communications. This role also supports a wide range of writing needs for the Division of Student Affairs including reports brochures and print/digital resources. This position leads efforts to uphold a cohesive USD brand tone across all materials and ensures content is accessible inclusive and reflective of the universitys mission.

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs Assessment and Research this role collaborates closely with the Assistant Director of Student Affairs Technology and Integrated Communications Marketing and Communications and key campus partners including the Torero Hub and New Student Onboarding teams.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Knowledge Base (KB) Strategy & Management

• Lead the creation review and ongoing improvement of content within the USD Knowledge Base (KB) which is a repository of articles in Salesforce that answer questions a variety of audiences (e.g. prospective students current students and family members) may have.
• Convene and facilitate quarterly meetings with campus partners who contribute content to the KB to ensure strategic alignment and consistency. This includes: the Torero Hub New Student Onboarding Enrollment Management Registrars Parking Services and Campus Card teams.
• Create and maintain a yearly calendar to ensure all KB articles stay up to date and identify any duplicate articles that may be combined for clarity.
• Serve as lead editor for all KB content to ensure clarity consistent tone and grammatical accuracy and alignment with USDs branding guidelines.
• Train campus partners and content maintainers on how to make updates and new entries into the KB.
• Design and implement effective tagging categorization and planning strategies to ensure content is clear and discoverable by end users. Liaison with ITS to ensure correct categorization of all KB items.
• Monitor search queries to identify gaps in content and improve search functionality.
• Conduct keyword research to optimize content for relevant search terms used by students.
• Gather and analyze user feedback to continuously improve the usability of the KB.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Director Student Affairs Technology and Integrated Communications to ensure the USD website maintainers update web content with relevant KB articles.

Strategic Writing and Editorial Oversight

• Serve as content reviewer for all Student Affairs website updates submitted by individual units.
• Write edit and proofread divisional documents such as the Student Affairs Annual Report brochures websites student-facing communications staff newsletters guides and presentations.
• Develop content that is accessible inclusive and aligned with the universitys brand tone and divisional messaging priorities.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of Student Affairs Technology and Integrated Communications to align written content with visual and digital elements.

Cross-Campus Collaboration and Liaison Work

• Serve as a key liaison to USDs central Marketing and Communications team to ensure divisional messaging is aligned with institutional campaigns tone and branding.
• Collaborate with departments across the Division of Student Affairs to identify and fulfill content needs including event coverage campaign messaging websites or strategic storytelling.
• Work in tandem with the Assistant Director of Student Affairs Technology and Integrated Communications on coordinated communications efforts that span writing design social media and web platforms.

Innovation and Leadership

• Stay informed about best practices in content strategy inclusive communication and digital accessibility.
• Contribute to or lead additional division/campus projects outside of typical duties to help further accomplish student or organizational goals. Additional assignments may be seasonal ad hoc or ongoing depending on the project.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Working beyond regularly scheduled hours may be required during busy times of the year including occasional nights and weekends.

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Communications Journalism Marketing English or a related field is required.
• Three years of professional experience in writing editing content strategy or a similar communications role is required. Substitution: A Masters degree may substitute for one year of work experience as the rate of two years of education is equivalent to one year of work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree is preferred.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit communications.
• Familiarity with knowledge base systems web content management systems (CMS) or CRM platforms such as Salesforce.
• Knowledge of inclusive language practices accessibility standards and brand management.

Performance Expectations- Knowledge Skills andAbilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required as well as exceptional critical listening and thinking skills. Command of the English language including AP writing style and standard grammar spelling punctuation syntax and excellent proofreading skills
• Project management ability to handle competing priorities.
• Flexibility and versatility able to adapt to and perform in new changing or pressure situations
• Strong interest in working at a mission driven faith-based institution. The role of the assistant director in working with students and the responsibilities of the position are significantly tethered in the universitys contemporary Roman Catholic mission.
• Sensitivity to values and procedures of an academic institution.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to work well independently and with others in a team environment and under deadline pressure. Must have strong initiative and ability to complete assignments without close supervision
• Advanced knowledge of Google Suite
• Ability to respond promptly to all questions and requests for information
• Understanding of modern marketing communication techniques and heightened awareness of social media trends
• Demonstrated commitment to student learning and development in the co-curriculum and experience assessing the impact of programs and related services.
• Excellent skills in the use of tools and equipment as identified below

$5858.67 - 5975.84 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical dental vision a retirement contribution given to you by the University and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience education and other factors including departmental budget.

Click the Apply Now button to complete our online addition please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date:Open until filled

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information visit Experience:

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