Marketing and Communications Specialist

McKendree University, located in Lebanon, IL and home of the Bearcats, invites qualified applicants to join our team. McKendree University offers a competitive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to influence the future leaders of tomorrow.

The mission of McKendree University is to provide a high-quality educational experience to outstanding students. We guide our students in the pursuit of academic excellence, which will prepare them for leadership roles in our society. To achieve this end we encourage broader vision, enriched purpose, engagement with community, commitment to responsible citizenship, openness to new ideas and dedication to lifelong learning. In keeping with our history and traditions, we provide our students with a rigorous, broadly based liberal arts curriculum joined with specialization in a specific discipline.

Position Summary and Key Responsibilities

The Marketing and Communications Specialist is responsible for developing and executing compelling content that aligns with the university's strategic goals. the marketing specialist plays a strategic role in elevating the university's visibility and voice through compelling content and creative campaigns across print, digital and social media platforms. This position collaborates across departments and serves as a central resource for brand-aligned messaging that supports enrollment, alumni engagement, and fundraising. The position is highly interactive and requires strong coordination with project teams, program leaders, printers, and external marketing professionals.

• Assists in the development and execution of marketing strategies that support enrollment and fundraising goals and raise institutional visibility across all marketing channels, including print, web, email, social media, and digital advertising.
• Serves as a project manager, writer and editor for both digital and print communication and marketing initiatives.
• Assess the viability of requests, ensuring alignment with overarching marketing objectives.
• Create written and editorial content for university-wide initiatives — including marketing collateral, web pages, newsletters, and other storytelling platforms.
• Strengthen storytelling consistency through alignment with the university’s messaging framework.
• Support media relations efforts by identifying and pitching newsworthy stories to local, regional, and higher education media outlets. While deep expertise is not required, this role calls for someone comfortable building relationships with reporters and proactively communicating the university’s accomplishments and initiatives.
• Provide intake and tracking of marketing requests from internal stakeholders.
• Maintain communications collateral (presentations, mailing lists, photo/video archives, brand assets) and ensure all materials meet university standards and marketing objectives.
• Contribute to broader organizational marketing and communications strategy discussions.
• Take photos and makes website edits, as needed.
• Stay informed of industry trends and best practices.
• Support the development and execution of internal and external communication strategies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in marketing, communications, public relations, or journalism.
• Minimum of two years of professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism.

• Excellent written and grammar skills.
• Experience managing external communications

• Embrace a dynamic work environment with the readiness to undertake various assigned duties to contribute to the overall success of the team and organization.

• Ability to guide and develop advanced executive-level content and writing.
• Superb editing to support clear ideas.
• Skilled in using web-based applications, including content management systems, project management tools, and social media management platforms
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented, collaborative environment.

• Crisis management communication experience
• Knowledge of higher education environments
• Persuasive communication style
• Proficiency in public and media relations
• Media contacts in the Greater St. Louis region
• Experience pitching stories to media outlets
• Strong writer and creative thinker who thrives in a collaborative environment, brings social media savvy and campaign experience, and enjoys innovative content creation on all mediums while driving measurable marketing outcomes.

Work Conditions

Office environment; 40 hours per week; normally 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; some evening and weekend work required.

Required Application Materials

Cover Letter
Resume/CV

Equal Opportunity Employer

McKendree University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. This extends to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruiting, hiring, training, on-the-job treatment, promotion, layoff, and termination.