eCommerce Specialist

POSITION PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The eCommerce Specialist is critical to ensuring the ongoing success and optimization of Extended Stay America's digital brand ecosystem: esa.com and mobile app. This role will provide tactical support in the areas of content management, search engine optimization, accessibility compliance and user acceptance testing. The eCommerce Specialist will be a content management subject matter expert, with a strong understanding of ESA's content management system (CMS) and the ability to work cross functionally to manage the platform and ensure it continues to meet business needs. Integral to this role is expertise in search engine optimization and the ability to work with an agency to execute optimization recommendations. The eCommerce Specialist will also serve ESA's digital accessibility expert, ensuring ESA's digital ecosystem is always in compliance with standard accessibility requirements. Finally, this role will support ongoing web and mobile development efforts by conducting thorough user acceptance testing, ensuring all features and functions are delivered without issue.

The eCommerce Specialist must be able to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. Flexibility, attention to detail, adherence to deadlines and a proactive mindset are required for success in this role.

MAJOR / KEY JOB DUTIES

Content Management

• Manages all property content on esa.com and the mobile app including hotel descriptions, photos, amenities, policies, room types, room type photos and room type descriptions.
• Ensures property pages on esa.com and the mobile app are visually appealing and optimized for user experience and engagement.
• Manages general esa.com and mobile app content including homepage modules, special offers and programs, promotions, services, SEO landing pages etc.
• Works closely with key stakeholders across the ecommerce and marketing team to understand content needs and provides best practices.
• Enters and updates content ensuring accuracy, brand alignment and timely delivery.
• Conducts CMS UAT, ensuring CMS functions support the business requirements and are implemented effectively.
• Serves as the subject matter expert for dotCMS.
• Works closely with IT and dotCMS resources to ensure dotCMS functions as expected.
• Provides recommendations for dotCMS enhancements and works closely with ecommerce leadership on implementation.

SEO Implementation

• Work closely with ESA's SEO agency, ecommerce leadership and IT to support implementation of the esa.com SEO roadmap.
• Ensure technical and content-driven SEO and AI platform best practices, including meta tags, schema markup, URL structure, keyword optimization, and performance tracking are applied to all content pages.
• Stay updated on SEO and AI platform best practices and trends. Recommend and implement opportunities for optimization.

ADA Compliance

• Ensures all website content meets WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards to provide an inclusive user experience across all digital touchpoints.
• Manages ESA's accessibility platform.
• Conducts regular site scans and provides results to ecommerce leadership and legal.
• Works closely with the ESA eCommerce Director to prioritize and implement all necessary requests to ensure esa.com and the mobile app are ADA compliant.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT):

• Supports esa.com functional enhancements and day-to-day operations by conducting thorough UAT focusing on content verification, website functionality, responsiveness across devices, and identification of bugs or issues, working closely with IT and leadership teams to resolve them before release.
• Thoroughly document findings and communicate in accordance with ESA's lifecycle development methodology.
• Participates in necessary development life cycle meetings to share findings and ensure they are addressed.
• Works closely with ecommerce leadership and business stakeholders to ensure a thorough understanding of esa.com features and functions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Works closely with developers, designers, SEO specialists, and project managers in a collaborative team environment to deliver high-quality digital experiences.

Project Management

• Utilizes tools such as JIRA and Trello to track tasks, report progress, and manage content workflows efficiently.

Flexible Work Schedule

• Adapts to a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with occasional late-night work based on release schedules and project needs.

OTHER DUTIES

• Performs other duties as assigned