Student Communications Specialist

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: Office of Strategic Enrollment Management

Department: Division Strategic Enrollment Management

Duties & Responsibilities:

Position Summary:

The Student Communications Specialist serves as a critical member of the Enrolled Student Communications Team within the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success (SEMSS). This position provides support for the, execution of multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns that promote specific, measurable student success behaviors—such as timely registration, advising engagement, or course completion. In close collaboration with SEMSS units, this role helps define expected behavioral outcomes, implements aligned strategies, and evaluates their impact upon the expected behavioral outcomes.

Core Responsibilities:

(45%) Strategic Campaign Development, Content Development and Support:

• Collaborate with SEMSS units to define target student behaviors and measurable communication outcomes.

• Draft, edit, publish, and support multi-channel marketing campaigns across email, web, text, chatbot, social media.

• Recommend effective sequencing and delivery timing for communications.

• Create and maintain project plans; manage timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables.

• Coordinate production of campaign assets through internal and external resources.

• Track and report on campaign performance (e.g., open rates, click-throughs, student actions taken).

(15%) Behavioral Strategy, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement:

• Partner with SEMSS units and SEMSS Enrollment Research and Evaluation (ERE) or other data-focused staff to define behavior-based KPIs.

• Implement evaluation methods and reporting mechanisms to assess communication effectiveness and recommend improvements.

• Report behavioral response data (e.g., open rates, click-throughs, student actions taken).

• Apply behavioral science principles (social norms, nudges, etc.) into campaign implementations.

(30%) Chatbot Knowledgebase Management and Reporting:

• Monitor SEMSS chatbot usage reports to identify gaps in content.

• Update chatbot knowledge entries in partnership with content owners.

• Review and test chatbot tone, accuracy, and responsiveness for student-facing interactions.

• Provide basic support for content updates across digital platforms to ensure timely, accurate messaging.

(10%) Collaboration and Administration:

• Represent the communications team in planning and strategy meetings.

• Support division-wide projects and committees related to student communications.

• Contribute to maintaining brand consistency and alignment with divisional and university standards.

Other Position Details:

• This position is fully remote with the availability for on-campus work as needed.
• VCU is currently recruiting for 3 Communications Specialist vacancies.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, liberal arts, or a related field.

• 1–3 years of relevant professional or student employment experience.

• Strong written communication, editing, and storytelling skills.

• Experience in project management and executing communications across channels.

• Proficiency with CMS platforms, email tools (e.g., MAESTRO), Adobe Creative Suite.

• Understanding of digital accessibility and inclusive communication practices.

• Demonstrated commitment to student-centered engagement.

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a member of VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing behavior-based marketing campaigns.

• Knowledge of behavioral science principles as applied to communication.

• Familiarity with higher education enrollment and student retention best practices.

• Working knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, or video/screen capture tools.

• Familiarity with AP Style and FERPA-compliant messaging.

Salary Range: $48,000 - $53,000

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Remote

Job Closes: 11/5/25 at 11:55PM

Vacancies: 3