Senior Director, Digital Strategy

The Senior Director, Digital Strategy is a highly seasoned, experienced digital marketing expert who leads high-level strategic direction for a select portfolio of complex, high-investment client accounts (3-5) that span multiple Carnegie services. This role requires a deep understanding of digital marketing strategy, campaign performance, and the ability to connect digital with broader institutional and marketing objectives. In addition to overseeing strategy execution, the Senior Director plays a key role in aligning internal cross-functional teams and driving innovation across client engagements. While this position may include oversight of other Digital Strategists, the core function is hands-on: shaping campaign strategy, analyzing performance, and delivering insights to executive-level stakeholders with clarity and impact.

Responsibilities:

• Client Strategy and Relationship Leadership
  • Serve as lead digital strategist for a small number of complex, high-touch accounts that require deep integration across Carnegie’s full suite of services and channels
  • Lead high-level client engagements, including executive-level reporting, quarterly business reviews (QBRs), and performance summaries tailored to various stakeholder audiences
  • Identify business opportunities and provide expert digital strategy consultation, with a focus on campaign ROI and ROAS
  • Participate in proposal development, client pitches, and onboarding of new accounts to establish trust and strategic direction
  • Build long-term relationships by fostering confidence in digital strategy recommendations and campaign results

• Reporting, Analysis & Optimization
  • Evaluate paid media performance across channels, proactively identify trends, and develop actionable recommendations for ongoing improvement
  • Summarize and communicate insights from complex data to clients with varying levels of digital fluency
  • Collaborate with internal analytics and media teams to ensure campaign strategies align with performance outcomes
  • Deliver highly impactful performance summaries touching on key digital KPIs and success metrics, with comfort using visualization tools (e.g., Google Looker Studio, Google Analytics) to deliver insight-rich reporting

• Internal Collaboration and Leadership
  • Work closely with the AVP of Digital Strategy and cross-functional leaders to refine team processes, innovate services, and advance product offerings
  • Act as a senior liaison between client strategy and Carnegie’s broader service teams, helping unify campaign goals across creative, research, enrollment, and branding solutions
  • Stay on top of evolving platform capabilities, industry trends, and emerging tools to inform internal education and external recommendations
  • Collaborate across divisions to ensure a seamless client experience and integrated strategic approach

• Team Oversight (as needed)
  • May manage or mentor Digital Strategists, providing feedback on strategic planning and campaign execution
  • May participate in hiring, onboarding, and professional development of Digital team members
  • Ensure quality, consistency, and client satisfaction in strategic deliverables where oversight responsibilities exist

Qualifications:

• Clear oral and written communication skills, both internally and externally to confidently speak to and present on campaign performance with both clients and internal Digital team members 
• Experience analyzing and reporting on data trends with a full understanding of digital marketing KPIs and success metrics
• Experience using and analyzing data visualization tools such as Google Looker Studio and Google Analytics
• Proven ability to lead strategic discussions and present campaign insights to senior-level clients and executive stakeholders
• Highly skilled with team management and personnel dynamics
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to effectively multitask in a deadline-driven atmosphere
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, utilizing resources to work independently and troubleshoot arising issues before escalating to senior team members
• Effective communication and time management skills for a remote work environment as well as the ability to use/learn multiple technology platforms and switch between them on a regular basis
• Must be able to work at a computer for prolonged periods

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Marketing/Advertising major or concentration preferred
• 8-10 or more years of experience with digital media planning and/or execution of digital marketing campaigns
• Direct experience with Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and/or Google Display & Video 360 or other DSP required
• Demonstrated comfort with campaign performance reporting, trend identification, and storytelling through data
• Experience creating and presenting executive-level marketing reports and business reviews
• Experience using marketing automation platforms (e.g., Skai, Fluency, Smartly.IO, or similar) to support campaign execution and optimization preferred
• Google Ads and/or Google Analytics certifications preferred
• Agency experience strongly preferred but not required
• Experience with Asana or other project management software tools a plus
• Previous management or mentorship experience a plus but not required

You Should Join Us!

We’re a fast-growing and innovative company, set apart by our incredible people. We’re a supportive, fun-loving group with diverse interests and talents. In addition to getting to work with fantastic people and do work you love, here are some items you can list in your “pros” column:

• Private health/dental/vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous holiday and PTO package
• Flexible work environment (remote, in-office, and hybrid roles)
• Half-day summer Fridays
• Fun company events and laid-back culture
• Opportunities for advancement
• Industry exposure and professional development
• Growing company with a family feel
• Entrepreneurial approach and spirit

About Carnegie

For more than 30 years, Carnegie has been a leader and innovator in higher education marketing and enrollment strategy, offering groundbreaking services in the areas of Research, Strategy, Digital Marketing, Lead Generation, Slate Optimization, Student Search, Website Development, and Creative that generate authentic connections.

Learn more about who we are, what we do, and what we care about.

 

No phone calls or unscheduled visits to the office, please. Carnegie is an equal-opportunity employer.