Student Communications Specialist (Academic Support Specialist III)

Title: Student Communications Specialist (Academic Support Specialist III)

Salary Range: 47,118.00

Contract Term Length: 12 Months

Standard Hours: 37.50

Work Location: Discretionary Hybrid

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

College: Gateway Community & Technical College

Campus Location: Gateway Edgewood Campus

Department: Academic Support Services

Total Rewards

Gateway Community & Technical College offers a competitive benefits package and an attractive work environment that supports excellence, innovation, and creativity including:

• Exceptional health care, vision, dental coverage for you and your family
• Tuition reimbursement/waiver for you, your spouse, and dependents
• 403(b) retirement plan: a 5% employee contribution receives a 10% employer match
• Vacation/Sick Time
• Work-Life Balance
• 9.5 Paid Holidays
• 2 Weeks Institutional Closing Pay (Last 2 weeks of December) for qualifying positions
• Employee Assistance Program

Job Summary

The Communication Specialist supports the college’s student success, retention, and engagement goals by developing and delivering timely, targeted, and student-friendly communications throughout the entire student lifecycle—from applicant to graduate. This role combines strategic messaging, data-informed outreach, and creative storytelling to connect students with resources, deadlines, and opportunities that promote persistence and completion. This position will start in January 2026 for the Spring semester.

Job Duties:

• Update and manage the student communication calendar
  
• Partner with the Marketing and Communications team to align student communications with institutional branding, visual standards, and tone.
  
• Coordinate shared campaigns and messaging to ensure clarity and avoid duplication across audiences.
  
• Maintain a comprehensive communication calendar that aligns with college-wide enrollment, advising, financial aid, and academic deadlines.
  
• Coordinate messaging across departments to ensure clear, consistent, and timely outreach to all student populations, including new, returning, transfer, credit-for-prior-learning, English language learners, and dual-credit students.
  
• Create and deliver multi-channel communications
  
• Write, design, and distribute targeted messages across email, Constant Contact and text that engage students and promote participation.
  
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop student engagement content for social media channels, ensuring consistency with the college’s social media strategy.
  
• Lead coordinated campus-wide campaigns
  
• Collaborate with Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid, Student Success & Engagement, and Academic Affairs to execute unified communication strategies for major initiatives (e.g., registration, FAFSA completion, student events, and graduation).
  
• Track and evaluate outcomes to improve reach and effectiveness.
  
• Leverage data to enhance communication and retention
  
• Use analytics and student data to assess campaign impact, identify communication gaps, and refine strategies in support of the college’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) goals.
  
• Manage current and future communication tools and technology
  
• Serve as lead user for communication systems such as Signal Vine, Constant Contact, and Anthology Reach.
  
• Oversee platform setup, audience segmentation, compliance, and staff training while maintaining message accuracy and accessibility across all channels.
  
• Support strategic enrollment, retention, and college-wide goals
  
• Lead SEM Communication team and assist in developing and implementing communication strategies aligned with
• Gateway’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan and the broader Strategic Plan.
  
• Ensure all outreach advances institutional priorities—expanding access, improving student success, and strengthening organizational sustainability.
  
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
  
• 4 to 6 years of experience
  
• Degree in Communication, Marketing or equivalent
  
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, ability to work independently and adapt seamlessly to fast-paced, dynamic environments.
  
• Skilled in engaging and supporting students from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and meet tight deadlines.
  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Forms, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word).
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working at the community college level
  
• Strategic communication planning
  
• Data informed decision making
  
• Digital marketing and engagement tools such as Signal Vine, Anthology Reach, Constant Contact or other CRM
  
• Writing and Editing expertise
  
• Design and Visual Communication such as Canva, Adobe
  

Employee Rights - Employee Polygraph Protection Act

Equal Opportunity Employer - The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is an equal educational and employment opportunity institution.