Marketing and Communications Specialist - Graduate & Professional Admissions

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY • Forest Grove, OR

5d • $48,000 - $53,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Serves as the primary communications coordinator for Graduate Admissions. Reporting to the Assoc. VP of Enrollment, the communication specialist assists in the planning and implementing of the marketing, communication, and events strategies to recruit graduate students to Pacific University.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Five years of experience in communications, marketing, advertising or public relations
• Familiarity with FERPA and other relevant higher education regulations
• Valid driver’s license and willingness and ability to travel.
• Excellent customer service and successful written and verbal communication with a broad and diverse audience in a culturally responsive manner.
• Ability to maintain confidential, detailed records.
• Proficient in the use of common office software, spreadsheets, email, databases, and electronic platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with people in a wide range of roles.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.
• Ability to build and sustain rich collaborative relationships with university staff, students, and university partners of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to prioritize and perform multiple projects, track data, meet timelines, respond to others in a timely manner, and work both independently and as a collaborative member of the University with a high standard of integrity and ethics, in support of the University’s strategic vision and the division’s annual goals.
• Able to make independent decisions and recommendations that align with policies, rules, and procedures; ability to ask questions and seek assistance when needed.
• Able to handle a variety of tasks in a fast-paced environment, working independently and/or as part of a team.
• Ability to learn student/events database management.
• Ability to successfully organize and execute tasks and events under pressure
• Self-starter with strong work ethic.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; strong public presentation skills
• Strong understanding of prospect management philosophies and recruitment-based financial aid strategies.
• Proven ability to work with recruitment software packages, Microsoft Office, and strong email and web skills.
• An understanding of technology-based research and its appropriate application to recruitment strategies
• Evidence of good people skills, intra-campus relationships, good judgment, and flexibility.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness and ability to travel.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience working in a higher education setting, preferred
• Experience working in a higher education setting, particularly with Graduate Student populations.
• Familiarity with Slate, Canvas, Salesforce
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education
• Bilingual or multilingual skills, especially in Spanish
• Experience managing budgets or overseeing operational processes
• Familiarity with institutional research, assessment practices, or data-informed decision-making

Responsibilities

• Manages the flow of graduate admissions information to students and families, including managing web content and written communications.
• Coordinates with other key offices in the campus community to ensure a consistent, timely and relevant communication strategy.
• Is a core member of the cross-functional enrollment marketing team, in collaboration with Marketing and Communications.
• Creates, organizes, and manages a regular communication plan for prospective students throughout the admission cycle, to include all mediums of communication.
• Coordinates and maintains the Grad Admissions office's social media and web strategy, and ensures that the office is on the cutting edge of communication with students.
• Leads the development and implementation of the strategic annual and long-term communication, marketing, and outreach planning efforts.
• Participates in recruitment events as needed.
• Develops and implements a social media communication plan.
• Supports the design, production, printing and budget management of all admissions publications.
• Maintains an integrated marketing communications strategy and develops creative approaches that align with that strategy.
• Maintains an admission database that documents the admission process and ensures mailings (electronic and print) and other appropriate communications are timely and thorough.
• Participates in the development of the office's marketing strategy.
• Assists with Grad Admissions events planning and execution.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off (for vacation, holidays—including winter break—and sick leave)
• Medical coverage with alternative care options (with in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction)
• Comprehensive dental and vision plans
• Generous retirement contribution after one year of service with no match required
• Free mental health appointments
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependent child(ren) who meet eligibility requirements
• On-campus benefits, including free access to our sports facility and library
• Discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services, and outdoor program gear rentals (including kayaks, snowshoes, and bikes)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level