Description

Senior Director, Data Strategy

Kent Campus - Kent, OH

Salary: $86,439 - $107,778

Basic Function:

Leads the Engagement and Optimization Team by facilitating cross-platform data integration, audience analytics and strategic performance reporting. Through a blend of technical expertise with strategic storytelling, the position collaborates with college partners and division leads to inform and improve audience engagement, campaign planning and content delivery. Coordinates with cross-university experts and users to guide institutional data strategy for audience engagement and performance measurement and to ensure alignment across the university. Reports to Senior Associate Vice President, University Communications and Marketing (UCM) and Vice President, UCM. 

Additional Basic Function – if applicable:

As Kent State advances its digital transformation vision, the Engagement & Optimization Team (EOT) will play a foundational role in operationalizing a university-wide audience engagement data strategy. This team supports strategic, data-informed communications and marketing through unified content strategy, optimization, and measurable, personalized engagement across all platforms.

These efforts span across all university communication channels and engagement systems with the goal of elevating the university's total audience engagement strategy across all user touchpoints.

The Senior Director of Data Strategy leads the Engagement & Optimization Team and directly supervises the Content Optimization Specialist and the UX and CRM Manager. This position facilitates cross-platform data integration, audience analytics, and strategic performance reporting. The Senior Director blends technical expertise with the ability to utilize data for storytelling and collaborates with University Communications and Marketing (UCM), college partners and division leads to inform and improve audience engagement, campaign planning and content delivery.

The Senior Director of Data Strategy will coordinate with a standing group of cross-university experts and users to guide institutional data strategy for audience engagement and performance measurement and to ensure alignment across the university. This position reports to the Senior Associate Vice President of University Communications and Marketing and the Vice President of University Communications and Marketing.

Examples of Duties:

Duties/essential functions may include, but not be limited to, the following: 

• Collaborate with IT and other university partners to unify and optimize audience data and reporting systems.
• Identify and deploy AI tools for analytics, audience engagement, user journeys and personalization.
• Define KPIs and develop actionable insights to guide content strategy and multichannel engagement.
• Build and maintain dashboards and performance reports using data from owned channels, paid campaigns, earned media, university CRM systems and other audience engagement efforts.
• Coordinate with cross-university experts and users to guide institutional data strategy for audience engagement and performance measurement and to ensure alignment across the university.
• Identify data-informed opportunities for improving engagement for all audiences.
• Collaborate with content creators and leadership to ensure data informs planning, testing, and optimization.
• Provide direct supervision to unclassified staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned. 

Additional Examples of Duties – if applicable:

Not applicable. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in data analytics, marketing analytics, computer science, information systems, statistics, digital marketing, or a related field. Six years of relevant experience in data strategy, marketing/performance analytics, or digital strategy roles. 

License/Certification:

None. 

Knowledge Of:

• Content optimization trends and tools
• Data governance and compliance standards (FERPA, GDPR, etc.)

Skill In:

• Communications, including the ability to convey complex data information to users that are varied in skill and understanding of data and tools
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work with stakeholders across departments
• Business intelligence platforms (e.g., Looker Studio, Power BI, Tableau)
• AI-powered analytics tools and machine learning applications in communications
• Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics GA4, Tag Manager, SiteImprove)

Ability To:

• Synthesize data into clear insights and actionable strategies
• Deploy data and integration tools necessary for full user journey analytics and reporting (e.g., Slate, Banner, Salesforce, Element 45 or like platforms) 

Preferred Qualifications – if applicable:

• Master’s degree in business analytics, digital marketing, data science, or related field.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience
• Certification or training in:
• Google Analytics (GA4)
• Tableau, Power BI, or other dashboarding platforms
• Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Slate, or CRM integration
• AI tools and automation platforms (e.g., Jasper, ChatGPT for analytics, Adobe Sensei, etc.) 

Assessments:

Asterisk (*) indicates knowledge, skills, abilities which require assessments

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements:

None. 

Working Schedule:

Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM or otherwise discussed with your supervisor. 

Additional Information:

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

Must pass a security check.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For official job descriptions, visit www.kent.edu/hr. 

Kent State University is a Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free University effective July 1, 2017. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on any of Kent State’s campuses or other locations and properties that are owned, operated, or leased by Kent State, both domestic and international. For additional details, visit www.kent.edu/smoke-free.

Disclaimer:

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted to describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related experience/education beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Kent State University reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.