Senior Director, Data Strategy - INTERNAL OPENING FOR KSU EMPLOYEES ONLY

Kent State • Kent, OH

19h • $86,439 - $107,778

About The Position

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.

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

• 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.)

Responsibilities

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level