Web Content Specialist and Team Lead (Student Recruitment)

Role Description

Overview of the role and the department

As we respond to the rise of AI and increasing competition for students, it is more vital than ever that our website is as effective as possible for that audience. This role has been created to lead a two-year project to achieve that, leading a team of content developers to drive and maximise our website’s performance, reach and effectiveness for student recruitment.

You will work closely with marketing, design and development colleagues, plus external partners, to identify, prioritise and deliver the improvements we need to help more students choose York for their studies.

The role is based within the Digital and Creative Services team within Communications. The Digital and Creative Services team comprises three core branches: creative (graphic design, photography, video, print and production), digital (web design and development, digital platforms) and web content and support (content strategy and implementation, supporting the wider University community’s comms needs). We work closely with Marketing on student recruitment and many other areas of the University on work for their audiences.

About the Role

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Lead content strategy and design to deliver a user-focused, persuasive, sustainable and on-brand online presence for student recruitment at York

• Collaborate with marketing, brand development and digital platforms teams to identify, prioritise, plan and implement web experience improvements for prospective students

• Play a lead role in the governance and management of website improvements, including effective engagement and signoff with senior stakeholders

• Procure and manage external partners for website improvement services, supported by the Head of Digital and Creative Services

• Use SEO, web analytics and quality assurance tools to identify opportunities, benchmark performance and report on improvements

• Develop a deep understanding of prospective student needs and user journeys (working with colleagues, external partners and real users) to maximise leads and conversions. 

See the full job description for more details.

Skills, Experience & Qualification needed

You will bring to the role:

•  Strong understanding of how to  deliver a good digital user experience, including content strategy, content design, web usability and digital accessibility

• High level of skill and experience working with an enterprise web content management system to build and optimise web content

• Experience crafting on-brand content that is both informative and emotive, bringing a strong brand voice to web content that inspires action

• Ability to inspire, upskill and manage a team of web specialists

• Knowledge of prioritisation processes and frameworks suitable for creating and managing a website project backlog and roadmap

Interview date: To be confirmed

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact: Dan Wiggle, Head of Digital and Creative Services, at dan.wiggle@york.ac.uk

The University strives to be diverse and inclusive  – a place where we can ALL be ourselves.

We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. 

We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, with forums and inclusive facilities to support our staff. #EqualityatYork