Student Communications Specialist

The Opportunity
The University of Minnesota Duluth's Enrollment Marketing and Communications office is building a more integrated approach to student communications that supports students beyond admission and throughout their academic journey.

As our Student Communications Specialist, you will develop and implement communications that help continuing students successfully navigate the essential processes of university life. Working closely with Financial Aid & Scholarships, the Office of the Registrar, One Stop Student Services, Student Financial Services, collegiate partners, and others, you will create clear, timely, and student-centered communications that reduce confusion, encourage action, and improve the overall student experience.

This position serves as the primary steward of student-facing enrollment websites and digital content, helping shape the digital experience for continuing students by ensuring information is accurate, accessible, easy to navigate, and designed to help students successfully complete important university processes.

Beyond maintaining communications, this position is expected to continuously improve them by identifying recurring student questions, simplifying complex processes, and developing communication approaches that help students successfully complete important actions and connect with campus resources.

If you enjoy solving communication challenges, improving digital experiences, collaborating across departments, and helping students succeed through thoughtful communication, we'd love to hear from you.

On-site with option for hybrid flexibility of up to two remote days per week, pending satisfactory performance and completion of the 3-month probationary period.

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Position Summary
The Student Communications Specialist develops, coordinates, and maintains communications and digital content that support continuing students throughout their enrollment experience. Working collaboratively with strategic enrollment management units and campus partners, the position delivers clear, accessible, and timely communications across multiple channels while managing student-facing websites and digital content. The position is expected to approach communications not simply as information sharing, but as an opportunity to improve students' understanding, reduce barriers, and help students successfully navigate the university.

In this role, you'll have opportunities to:

• Improve the digital experience for continuing students by maintaining and enhancing enrollment-related websites and online content.
• Develop and implement communication plans and coordinated outreach that help students understand important processes, complete key actions, and connect with campus resources.
• Partner with strategic enrollment management unit offices to simplify complex information and improve the clarity and timing of student communications.
• Identify opportunities to improve communication effectiveness through thoughtful planning, user feedback, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to a collaborative enrollment marketing and communications team focused on providing an exceptional student experience.

Responsibilities

Student Communications Strategy & Implementation (45%)
Lead the planning, development, and implementation of communications that support continuing students throughout their enrollment experience.

• Develop, coordinate, and implement communications across email, websites, digital displays, print, forms, and other communication platforms.
• Serve as the primary communications partner for Financial Aid & Scholarships, the Office of the Registrar, One Stop Student Services, Student Financial Services, collegiate partners, and other campus offices by developing clear, timely, and student-centered communications across multiple communication channels.
• Translate complex policies, deadlines, and administrative processes into communications that are easy for students to understand and act upon.
• Coordinate and manage recurring communication cycles and workflows, annual calendars, content review cycles, and operational communication processes to ensure information remains timely, accurate, and aligned across enrollment services.
• Review and recommend improvements to communication strategies that reduce student confusion, encourage timely action, and improve the student experience.
• Develop and coordinate communications related to enrollment processes, financial aid & scholarships, registration, billing, academic deadlines, student services, and other continuing student initiatives.
• Maintain consistency across student-facing communications by coordinating messaging, reviewing content, and helping ensure alignment with University and campus brand, accessibility compliance, and communication standards.
• Develop communication plans for new initiatives, policy changes, and student service improvements in collaboration with enrollment and campus partners.
• Coordinate communication review, approval, and implementation processes with campus partners to ensure communications are accurate, timely, and appropriately vetted.

Digital Content & Website Management (30%)
Serve as the primary steward for assigned enrollment-related websites and digital content.

• Manage and continuously improve assigned enrollment-related websites and digital content to support an intuitive, student-centered online experience.
• Develop, edit, and organize web content that is accurate, accessible, user-friendly, and aligned with University standards.
• Conduct regular audits of website content, navigation, and accessibility, using analytics and user feedback to identify and implement improvements.
• Develop and maintain online forms and digital resources that support student success and efficient service delivery.
• Collaborate with campus partners through regular review and content governance practices to keep digital content accurate, current, and consistent across student-facing platforms and enrollment service units.

Communication Improvement & Project Coordination (20%)
Support continuous improvement of enrollment communications through collaboration, project coordination, and thoughtful communication planning.

• Identify opportunities to improve student communications, including recurring questions, communication gaps, and navigation barriers by applying user-centered practices to simplify information and improve timing, sequencing, and delivery.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of communication initiatives that support student persistence, engagement, and successful navigation of university services.
• Coordinate communication projects across multiple strategic enrollment management units while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Coordinate with vendors and campus partners on assigned communication and production projects.

Team Support & Professional Contributions (5%)
Contribute to the success of the Enrollment Marketing & Communications team.

• Assist with writing copy, graphic production, and communications projects as needed using established templates and brand standards.
• Support shared office processes, project management systems, take part in communication planning activities, proofing, and project reviews
• Participate in professional development and remain current on communication trends, accessibility standards, and digital communication practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, apply by August 20, 2026.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Writing, Public Relations, English, Digital Media, or a related field plus at least two years of relevant professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience totaling six years.
• Experience developing communications across multiple digital and print channels.
• Strong written, editing, and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with others, manage multiple projects with competing deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, enrollment management, student services, or a similarly complex organization.
• Experience developing communications that simplify complex information for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing communications for operational or service-oriented units.
• Experience coordinating communication calendars and multiple concurrent projects.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues from diverse functional areas.
• Commitment to creating inclusive, and student-centered communications that comply with digital accessibility requirements, standards, and best practices.
• Experience using Drupal or a comparable CMS (content management system) for website maintenance (HTML and CSS knowledge is a plus)
• Experience creating and maintaining email communications using CRM (customer relationship management) email marketing platforms such as Salesforce or Technolutions Slate
• Experience using website analytics to improve communications and digital content.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat.
• Experience creating accessible fillable forms, digital documents, or other student-facing resources.
• Familiarity with higher education technology, PeopleSoft, JADU forms, or similar systems.

The Enrollment Marketing and Communications office is part of the University of Minnesota Duluth's Division of Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) and leads the university's enrollment marketing, communications, and creative services efforts. The office develops integrated marketing and communication strategies that support student recruitment, student success, and institutional enrollment goals through recruitment marketing, CRM communications, digital content, websites, publications, creative services, and student lifecycle communications.

Strategic Enrollment Management is an integrated division that partners across the university to advance enrollment, student success, and institutional vitality. Guided by commitments to access, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, SEM brings together Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Enrollment Marketing and Communications, Institutional Research, the Office of the Registrar, and the Bulldog Resource Center/One Stop Student Services to support students from their first interaction with UMD through graduation.

Pay Range: $51,355.20 per year - $57,782.40 per year; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Please include a resume and cover letter to be considered. A Writing Sample or Portfolio is optional, but highly encouraged to submit.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD)

The University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) consistently ranks among the top Midwestern, regional universities in U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" issue.

Overlooking Lake Superior, UMD provides an alternative to both large research and small liberal arts environments and attracts students looking for a personalized learning experience on a medium-sized campus of a major university. A firm liberal arts foundation anchors a variety of traditional degree programs, as well as professional and graduate students that draw on UMD's many research institutes and labs.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.