WHAT DOES A DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST DO?

Published: Oct 25, 2024 - The Digital Communications Specialist creates and produces multimedia content, leveraging custom graphic designs across platforms to enhance brand communication. This role supports alumni engagement and fundraising efforts while consulting with campus partners on project requirements and design strategies. Additionally, it integrates new technology trends, develops web applications, and provides training and design insights to non-technical audiences.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Digital Communications Specialist

1. Digital Communications Specialist Duties

  • Messaging Consistency: Ensure consistent articulation of the Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success mission in all messaging and communications, digital and otherwise.  
  • Content Generation: Along with the communications team, generate communications content that is aligned, strategic, and consistently high-quality.  
  • Content Opportunities: Along with the communications team, proactively seek out content-generation opportunities.  
  • Digital Content: Lead digital content generation to support the office's social media strategy and its larger communications, outreach, and engagement strategy and goals.  
  • Multimedia Production: Generate daily content (photos, video, graphic design) to spread the word about the office's work, and to give voice to and advance a positive narrative about youth.  
  • Community Engagement: Create meaningful connections across the community and encourage members of the community to take action.  
  • Content Planning: Use the office's (future) content calendar to guide content generation and posting.  
  • Task Management: Juggle multiple content production tasks simultaneously.  
  • Event Coverage: Provide office event coverage video and photo.  
  • Graphic Design: Generate graphic design to support the office's communications.  
  • Website Management: Act as technical and content management lead for the office's website.  
  • Content Updates: Serve as the point for making website posts and updates.  
  • Page Maintenance: Ensure content across pages is up-to-date, links are functioning, etc.  
  • Content Planning: Leverage the content calendar to inform the above.  
  • Brand Integrity: Ensure the integrity of the office's brand and identity across digital, online, graphic, and print communications.  
  • Industry Best Practices: Stay abreast of industry best practices to constantly inform and optimize digital production and graphic design.  

2. Digital Communication Specialist Details

  • Graphic Design: Support marketing and branding strategies by creating and producing graphic assets for digital media, web, email, and social media.  
  • Content Calendar Management: Produce and maintain a social content calendar to ensure that Boltenstern has a strong content pipeline.  
  • Storytelling: Create stories to share and post across all social media platforms, transforming the story into visual and written content.  
  • Social Media Growth: Grow following and engagement across all platforms by applying advanced knowledge of growth techniques and best practices.  
  • Analytics Reporting: Track analytics and report key findings to maximize engagement and conversion.  
  • Website Maintenance: Maintain website by updating page content in Shopify.  
  • Social Media Support: Provide content and development support for social media efforts.  
  • Marketing Opportunities: Propose new digital marketing opportunities for the company.  
  • Website Management: Backoffice management of several websites and digital channels.  
  • Digital Strategy: Contribution to the digital marketing strategy of LBC.  
  • Email Marketing: Creation, planning, and scheduling of email marketing communications.  
  • Content Production: Production of digital content for websites, email marketing, and social media.  
  • Market Analysis: Market/competitor analysis and trend identification.  
  • Process Improvement: Participate in, reinforce, and help advance processes that ensure high-quality, fast-paced work of the communications team.

3. Digital Communications Specialist Responsibilities

  • Email Management: Oversee the planning, development, production, and delivery of email communications.  
  • Collaboration: Partner with the OPTAVIA Marketing Team and various departments for communication efforts.  
  • Editing and Proofreading: Assist with day-to-day editing and proofreading of content for all OPTAVIA communications and marketing materials.  
  • Subscriber Management: Upload lists and create customized data extensions to manage email subscribers and lists.  
  • Content Library Management: Manage the content, including social graphics, e-cards, newsletters, and more in the OPTAVIA Content Library.  
  • Vendor Management: Manage the relationship and expand capabilities with the software vendor.  
  • Website Management: Manage the online recognition of OPTAVIA Coaches through third-party software using HTML.  
  • Photo Editing: Use Photoshop to crop and export photos.  
  • Process Management: Understand, follow, and support internal/external processes in communications, procurement, and creative development.  
  • Text Message Management: Manage weekly text message alerts for Coaches and Clients.  
  • Vendor Management: Manage the relationship with the text message vendor and explore alternative options.  
  • Project Coordination: Schedule, track, and update weekly meetings, project plans, and matrices.  
  • Calendar Management: Update and manage calendars across departments.  
  • Event Participation: Participate in local meetings and travel to events.  

4. Digital Communications Specialist Accountabilities

  • Content Creation: Create, edit, and produce digital and multimedia branded content.  
  • Graphic Design: Develop original and custom graphic designs for various platforms.  
  • Multimedia Production: Utilize design tools and multimedia solutions for impactful content.  
  • Campaign Support: Support alumni engagement, fundraising, and brand communications.  
  • Collaboration: Consult with campus partners regarding project requirements.  
  • Content Strategy: Provide insights and recommendations for engaging content.  
  • Cost Management: Develop a cost-effective strategy for design work.  
  • Asset Management: Create and gather text, graphics, illustrations, and photo images.  
  • Programming: Write code in various programming languages for Internet applications.  
  • Logic Development: Translate instructions into logical sequences for web applications.  
  • Information Gathering: Gather and compile pertinent information for projects.  
  • Technology Trends: Provide insights on new technology and multimedia trends.  
  • Training: Deliver training to internal campus partners.  
  • Trend Research: Research and implement current trends for effective communication.  
  • Design Consulting: Provide design advice and simplify technical terms for non-technical audiences.  

5. Digital Communications Specialist Functions

  • Content Generation: Stay current on the team's work to create accurate and relevant content.  
  • Collaboration: Work closely with communications and outreach colleagues for high-quality outcomes.  
  • Editing: Proof and edit materials for accuracy and completion.  
  • Technical Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot technical issues with software.  
  • Deadline Management: Adhere to University and external deadlines and timelines.  
  • Skill Development: Maintain and enhance software and hardware skills.  
  • Trend Monitoring: Stay updated with developments in digital communications and technology.  
  • Technology Advancement: Adapt to multimedia and technological advancements.  
  • Project Participation: Engage in University Advancement and departmental projects and teams.  
  • Strategy Development: Develop and oversee the implementation of a digital communications strategy.  
  • Best Practices: Stay updated on communications best practices and integrate learnings.  
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Work with internal and external stakeholders to create content.  
  • Content Editing: Proofread and edit content to align with the tone of voice.  
  • Social Media Management: Manage and update social media and website profiles.  
  • KPI Tracking: Track and regularly update communication KPIs.  
  • Website Management: Maintain and update external website profiles.  
Relevant Information
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