Job Details

Digital Marketing Specialist II

Position Number: 6389142
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Business - Marketing and Sales

Digital Marketing Specialist II

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

Perkins School of Theology is one of the 13 seminaries of The United Methodist Church and one of only five university-related United Methodist theological schools, located in the heart of Dallas, Texas, with an extension program in Houston/Galveston. The faculty and staff of Perkins are committed to our mission of equipping persons for faithful leadership and Christian ministry in a changing church and society. Students study with a faculty, diverse both culturally and in theological perspective, in the School's graduate degree and certificate studies programs. Perkins is Wesleyan by tradition, United Methodist by affiliation, inclusive of diverse Christian expressions, and welcoming of all. The oldest graduate professional School at Southern Methodist University, Perkins embraces its setting in the Southwestern United States while seeking to make theological education accessible, through in-person, hybrid, and distance learning, to students from the region, the nation, and around the world.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Digital Marketing Specialist II will design, implement, and manage digital marketing strategies that enhance brand awareness, drive engagement, and generate leads to support Perkins School of Theology's mission and strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will bring practical expertise in digital channels and will be actively involved in executing content marketing, social media, email campaigns, SEO, and paid advertising efforts using various platforms. The specialist will also manage website content using the University's content management system (CMS) and contribute to Perkins' upcoming website enhancement project, offering insight into content strategy, user experience, and accessibility.

Essential Functions:

Digital Strategy Development & Execution - Develop and execute a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that aligns with institutional priorities and KPIs; Conduct market research to identify target audiences and assess competitive positioning; Translate strategy into day-to-day campaign execution, testing, and performance optimization.
Content Marketing - Plan, create, and manage digital content, including blogs, videos, graphics, and social media posts; Ensure all content is optimized for search and consistent with brand guidelines; Design digital graphics using template-based platforms such as Canva or similar tools for use across email, web, and other digital channels; Manage content and updates to the website.
Inbound Marketing - Develop and manage inbound marketing campaigns to attract, engage, and convert leads organically; Create content assets (e.g., whitepapers, eBooks, blogs, case studies) that provide value to prospects and help nurture them through the prospective student lifecyle; Set up lead nurturing workflows, segmentation, and personalized content based on audience behavior.
Social Media Management - Develop and manage both organic and paid social media strategies; Maintain content calendars, oversee posting schedules, and respond to engagement trends; Create social media-specific visuals and short-form videos using template-based design and editing tools; Monitor performance and adjust tactics to meet audience engagement and lead generation goals.
SEO & SEM Management - Develop and implement SEO strategies to improve organic search performance and increase site visibility; Apply SEO best practices across all digital content, including keyword optimization and metadata; Plan, execute, and optimize paid advertising campaigns on platforms such as Google Ads and Meta, including audience targeting, ad copy development, and performance tracking.
Email Marketing - Plan and execute targeted email marketing campaigns to nurture leads and drive conversions; Manage email lists, segment audiences, and personalize content to improve engagement; Analyze email performance and make data-driven adjustments to optimize results.
Agency Coordination for Lead Generation Campaigns - Act as the primary point of contact with external agencies for lead generation campaigns, managing campaign briefings, deliverables, and timelines; Provide agencies with clear direction on campaign objectives, target audience, brand guidelines, and budget constraints; Monitor agency performance, review campaign metrics, and adjust strategies to improve lead acquisition and ROI.
Digital Advertising & Budget Oversight - Allocate and manage paid media budgets across platforms to ensure cost-effective performance; Plan and optimize digital ad campaigns to maximize reach, conversions, and return on investment; Adjust spending strategies based on performance data and institutional priorities.
Analytics and Reporting - Track, analyze, and report on the performance of all digital marketing campaigns using tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4), social media insights, and CRM dashboards; Provide actionable insights and data-driven recommendations to improve campaign effectiveness; Regularly report on KPIs, communicate results to stakeholders, and identify opportunities for ongoing optimization.
Minimal evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred. A degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field is highly preferred.

A minimum of three (3) years of experience is required. Experience in digital marketing or online marketing roles, with a focus on developing and executing campaigns across multiple digital channels (e.g., SEO, SEM, content marketing, email marketing, social media) is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must have strong expertise in digital marketing channels, analytics, campaign management, SEO/SEM, and content creation. Project management skills, communication, and a data-driven mindset are essential.

Candidate knowledge of marketing automation, advanced social media advertising, CRM tools, and emerging digital marketing trends is a plus. Creative design and advanced data visualization skills would further strengthen the role.

Candidate must be proficient in analytics and data analysis to measure and optimize the performance of digital marketing campaigns using tools like Google Analytics, CRM systems, and social media insights.

Candidate knowledge of content management including creating, optimizing, and distributing digital content (e.g., blogs, videos, social media posts, email newsletters) is essential.

Candidate must possess the ability to manage paid advertising campaigns, such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or other PPC platforms.

Candidate must be able to demonstrate proficiency in marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo).

Candidate familiarity with digital advertising platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Facebook Ads), Asana and/or project management tools and Sprout Social, Hootsuite and/or social content scheduling platform is essential.

Candidate knowledge of web development basics (HTML, CSS) and database proficiency is a plus.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time
Stand
Walk for long distances
Carry/lift 25 lbs.

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by July 31, 2025.

This position is open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Marketing and Communications

Organization: Perkins School of Theology

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: No

Job Posting: Jul 16, 2025, 6:58:52 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=PER00000077&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC