Content Specialist

The Content Specialist is a high-level individual contributor responsible for developing compelling written content and stories that support the college’s marketing, enrollment, and communications goals. This role serves as a primary institutional storyteller, proactively identifying and developing content that highlights students, employees, alumni, community impact, academic programs, and campus life. The Content Specialist collaborates with the Marketing & PR team and college partners to produce accurate, engaging, and audience-focused content across web, campaigns, social media, and internal communications.

• Writes original, audience-focused content for website pages, feature stories, social media, marketing campaigns, recruitment and enrollment communications, and select internal communications.
• Proactively identifies and develops storytelling opportunities by building relationships across the college and conducting interviews with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners.
• Ensures all written content aligns with the college’s brand voice, tone, messaging standards, and audience goals.
• Edits and refines content for clarity, accuracy, consistency, inclusivity, and accessibility.
• Collaborates with the Director to plan content priorities and storytelling initiatives that support departmental and institutional goals.
• Contributes to content calendars and campaign planning in coordination with the Director, Social Media Coordinator and Public Relations Specialist.
• Assists with website content updates, including posting news stories and events, in coordination with the website administrator and established web publishing workflows.
• Captures occasional smartphone photography and short-form video to support storytelling and social media content needs.
• Supports department efficiency by following established workflows and timelines and contributing to content templates, guidelines, and best practices as needed.
• Helps identify messaging gaps and opportunities to strengthen storytelling across campaigns and channels.
• Uses appropriate tools (CMS, analytics, AI support, etc.) to enhance productivity and improve content development processes.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, English, or a related field required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in writing, content development, communications, or marketing required.
• Demonstrated strong writing, interviewing, storytelling, and editing skills, along with sound judgment and the ability to work independently and proactively.
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple projects and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Experience in higher education communications and marketing or similar institutional setting preferred.
• Photography or videography experience (professional or smartphone-based) preferred.

Familiarity with digital publishing platforms (e.g., WordPress or comparable CMS, email marketing tools, and social media publishing/scheduling tools) and accessibility best practices preferred.

• Assists with additional communications and marketing projects as assigned to support institutional priorities.
• Collaborates with student workers or interns on content-related projects as needed, assigning discrete tasks and providing guidance and feedback.
• Provide occasional evening or weekend and on-site coverage at Quad-Cities Campus, East Campus, and other district locations as needed to support storytelling, content development, or key college events.
• Reports directly to the Director of Marketing & Public Relations.
• Works collaboratively with Marketing & PR staff.