Posting Details

Posting Summary

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Posting Number
STA00598PO26

Job Family
Communications and Marketing

Job Function
Marketing

USC Market Title
Director of Marketing and Communication

Link to USC Market Title
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/132426

Job Level
M3 - Managerial

Business Title (Internal Title)
Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies

Campus
Columbia

Work County
Richland

College/Division
Division of Development

Department
DEV Annual Giving

State Pay Range
G12

USC Market Range
MRK - $84,820 $108,146 $131,471

Anticipated Hiring Range
$84,820 - commensurate with qualifications

Location of Vacancy
Columbia, SC **on-site**

Part/Full Time
Full Time

Hours per Week
37.5

Work Schedule

• Standard working schedule: 8:30am - 5:00pm
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

Basis
12 months

Job Search Category
Communication Services

Position Description

Advertised Job Summary

Under limited supervision, reporting to the Executive Director of Annual Giving and Donor Experience (Executive Director), the Director of Creative Services and Data Strategies (Director) is responsible for managing creative services, data and market analysis, and digital strategy and optimization for the annual giving and donor experience programs (AGDE). The Director will collaborate with the Annual Giving Programs and Unit Strategy team and the Donor Experience program to ensure fundraising success by developing and implementing data-driven strategies, processes, and systems to streamline, optimize and enhance their respective marketing approaches. The Director will utilize Blackbaud CRM, Blackbaud Internet Solutions, Blackbaud DonorCentrics, and other analytics tools, such as Google Analytics and Meta Marketing Services, to ensure that strategies are data-driven, personalized, relevant, timely, and consistent with the goals set forth within the AGDE department. The Director will work closely with Advancement Services and University Marketing team to understand the data needs in the organization, utilize system functionalities and perform continuous user experience (UX) improvement.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

• Requires a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience in Creative Services, Advancement Services, Prospect Analysis, Market Analysis, Alumni Development, Annual Giving, or Higher Education Fundraising Operations.
• The ability to translate creative, operational, and technical needs into complete and deliverable solutions to ensure preferred fundraising and marketing outcomes.
• Previous experience with Blackbaud CRM or other higher education and/or nonprofit donor system.
• Experience in audience segmentation, prospect strategies, and UX and optimization.
• Experience with project management tools, like JIRA.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of principles and methods of planning and conducting a comprehensive integrated and omnichannel marketing fundraising program.
• Strong knowledge of predictive analytics and metrics to include effective mass solicitation and communication strategies.
• Ability to manage complex projects while also managing relationships with colleagues and supervising staff.
• Understands best industry practices as it relates to UX, design and content optimization, and analytics tools for fundraising success.
• Utilize quantitative and qualitative information to improve decision-making and outcomes and document results.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses, external vendors, and the general public.
• Work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
• Apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity.
• Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communications skills.
• Ability to adhere to industry guidelines, methodologies and code of ethics statements as defined by the Association for Professional Researchers in Advancement (APRA), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and other professional organizations and associations.

Job Duties

Job Duty

Develop and implement an annual plan and comprehensive strategy to support the goals of AGDE and the priorities of the university and its colleges and units with data-driven creative design, optimization, market analysis and reporting, data quality assurance and strategic segmentation and prospecting. Develop and implement strategies, processes, and systems to utilize data from University systems and platforms to inform outreach strategies to alumni, donors, and prospects. Recommend and implement strategic business decisions based on the results of prior fundraising and engagement results.

Essential Function
Yes

Percentage of Time
20%

Job Duty

Provide oversight, management and execution of all digital fundraising strategies, including paid digital advertising, online giving forms, search engine optimization, text messaging, and email marketing automation. Ensure policy, best practices, and quality standards are employed by analyzing the effectiveness of digital fundraising campaigns and digital presence against organizational and industry benchmarks. Monitor outcomes, performance measurement of campaigns, website metrics, and drive improvements. In collaboration with relevant university partners, implement an effective SEO strategy to increase visibility and comprehension of the online giving forms.

Essential Function
Yes

Percentage of Time
20%

Job Duty

In collaboration with other AGDE team members, provide management and oversight of all creatives services, including multi-media design of print and digital media to improve and enhance UX and donor conversion rates. Negotiate contracts with external vendors, including direct mail and printing houses. Manage vendors to produce highly segmented, customized direct mail appeals with complex variables.

Essential Function
Yes

Percentage of Time
20%

Job Duty

Manage and implement segmentation and prospecting strategies for all AGLG programs and initiatives, including but not limited to direct mail, email marketing, texting, digital, and donor experience cadences. Develop and recommend acquisition and retention strategies to identify potential new donors and activity participants based on the profiles of those who are currently engaged.

Essential Function
Yes

Percentage of Time
20%

Job Duty

Provides timely qualitative and quantitative reports of solicitation campaign performance and marketing metrics and analytics for the Annual Giving and Donor Experience team, the schools and units, and other partners as needed. Build a portfolio of best practices and emerging marketing trends to enhance solicitation practices based on national/regional data and donor trends to achieve fundraising goals.

Essential Function
Yes

Percentage of Time
15%

Job Duty

Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Essential Function
No

Percentage of Time
5%

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive
No

Hazardous weather category
Non-Essential

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies
1

Desired Start Date
10/16/2026

Job Open Date
08/10/2026

Job Close Date
09/14/2026

Open Until Filled
No

Special Instructions to Applicant

Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

We are only accepting applications submitted by September 14, 2026.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Quicklink for Posting
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/211256