The
Digital Marketing Specialist helps
build, launch, and optimize KU Marketing’s digital communications across websites, email campaigns, and digital advertising platforms. This role translates marketing strategy into effective digital experiences that reach and engage audiences across the University of Kansas community and beyond.
At KU Marketing, we tell the story of how the University of Kansas harnesses the talent, ingenuity, and determination of Jayhawks to create, discover, and make a meaningful impact. Our team elevates the KU brand by sharing stories that highlight the university’s leadership in research, innovation, health care, economic development, and creative discovery.
Working within a collaborative marketing environment, the Digital Marketing Specialist helps plan, build, and optimize digital campaigns that support university priorities. The position combines technical implementation with marketing insight, using analytics, research, and digital best practices to improve performance and user experience across KU Marketing’s digital channels.
This role requires collaboration across marketing functions and university partners to understand campaign goals, audiences, messaging priorities, and key performance indicators. The Digital Marketing Specialist continually evaluates digital efforts through data analysis, user-experience insights, and evolving digital marketing practices.
About KU Marketing
KU Marketing is a collaborative group of strategists, creators, analysts, and digital specialists working together to tell the story of the University of Kansas. We value curiosity, shared learning, and the exchange of ideas, and we approach our work with a spirit of collaboration and mutual support.
Team members are encouraged to grow their skills, explore new tools and practices, and contribute ideas that strengthen our work. We strive to create an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and proud of the digital experiences and stories we create together for KU.
As a part of The University of Kansas community, employees also benefit from a comprehensive benefits package designed to support well-being, financial security, and professional growth. Benefits include paid vacation leave, retirement programs, health insurance options that may include medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, tuition assistance for employees and eligible family members, and access to wellness programs and resources. Learn more about KU’s employee benefits:
https://humanresources.ku.edu/benefits
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate enjoys building effective digital experiences and working at the intersection of marketing strategy and technical implementation. They are curious about how audiences interact with digital content and motivated to continually improve results through experimentation, research, and data analysis.
Successful candidates often:
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Are comfortable working across multiple digital platforms and learning new tools.
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Appreciate collaboration and enjoy contributing their expertise within a team environment.
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Communicate clearly, thoughtfully, consistently and respectfully across all formats.
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Are naturally curious about performance data and interested in understanding what works—and why.
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Balance strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
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Are comfortable navigating ambiguity and taking initiative to move projects forward while seeking input when needed.
30% - Email Marketing & CRM CampaignsCreate, deploy, and evaluate mass marketing emails and other CRM-driven communications.
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Collaborate across the marketing team to develop, test, schedule, and send targeted marketing emails.
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Develop expertise in KU CRM systems and marketing automation tools, primarily Hubspot and Emma, to ensure campaigns are accurate, efficient, and strategically targeted.
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Manage audience lists and segmentation to ensure communications reach appropriate audiences.
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Monitor campaign performance and collaborate with colleagues to evaluate results and identify improvements.
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Research emerging best practices in email marketing, personalization, automation, and deliverability.
30% - Websites, User Experience, and AccessibilityBuild, maintain, and continuously improve KU Marketing web properties while supporting effective user journeys and accessibility compliance.
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Create, edit, audit, and maintain websites primarily using Drupal CMS.
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Organize and publish web content in alignment with campaign goals and audience needs.
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Conduct regular site audits to ensure content accuracy, usability, and brand consistency meet standards as well as analyze user journeys and site performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
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Ensure digital experiences meet accessibility standards and coordinate accessibility improvements across marketing efforts.
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Provide guidance on web best practices including usability, content structure, and digital experience design.
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Perform or coordinate web development tasks such as CSS, HTML, or JavaScript updates when appropriate. Coordinate with technology partners when additional development or testing is required.
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Address light maintenance in other digital platforms such as a digital signage CMS, digital asset manager, event calendars, and other third-party systems.
20% - Digital & Social Advertising Campaigns
Plan, launch, manage, and optimize digital advertising campaigns supporting KU Marketing initiatives.
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Research and select appropriate advertising platforms, audiences, and targeting strategies.
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Configure and launch campaigns across platforms such as Google Ads, Meta, and LinkedIn.
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Coordinate development of campaign messaging and creative assets.
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Monitor campaign performance and optimize campaigns to achieve defined KPIs and improve future efforts.
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Utilize industry tools such as Google Search Console, Tag Manager, and analytics platforms to support campaign planning and measurement.
10% - Consultation & Partner Support
Provide digital marketing guidance and tactical support to partners and other KU staff in communication roles.
- Provide recommendations, workshops, or audits related to digital marketing performance, user experience, and content effectiveness.
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Assist university partners with email marketing, digital advertising, and web content efforts.
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Contribute to office-wide standards and documentation that improve our workflows and share processes with partners when necessary.
10% - Team Collaboration & Additional Responsibilities
Support the broader goals of KU Marketing through collaboration, research, and continuous improvement.
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Participate in creative and strategic discussions, campaign development, and problem-solving across initiatives.
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Prepare and share project updates, process documents, evaluations, or recommendations as needed.
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Monitor trends in digital marketing, accessibility, web strategy, and analytics.
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Perform other related duties as assigned.
In addition to the online application, applicants should submit resume and cover letter describing their interest in the position and how their experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications outlined in this posting.
Review of applications will begin Monday, April 13th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.