Student Communications Manager

Portland State University; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 62,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Tuition support

Job summary

Portland State University seeks a Student Communications Manager to lead the strategy and execution of a comprehensive student messaging plan. You will coordinate email, SMS, and automated campaigns with campus partners and advise on timing and audience segmentation.

You will maintain templates, calendars, and messaging standards, ensuring consistent communication across PSU. Excellent writing, analytics, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in communications, marketing, strategic messaging, or related fields.
• Experience implementing communications strategies across multiple audiences and channels.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Experience using analytics and insights to guide strategy and measure outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and communities and to support PSU’s equity and inclusion values.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and execution of a comprehensive student communications plan.
• Coordinate communications with campus stakeholders across email, SMS, and automated campaigns.
• Advise on timing and audience segmentation for campaigns.
• Maintain communication templates and calendars.
• Ensure consistent messaging standards across campus.

Skills

4+ years experience

Strong writing

Analytics

Diversity & equity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field

Experience in higher education

Tools

Slate CRM

Job description

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Portland State University

Position Details

Proposed Start Date: 10/01/2026

Classification Title: Communications / Marketing

Rank: N - No Rank

Working Title: Student Communications Manager

Department: 101400 - OMC Marketing & Communications

Position Number: D91663

Representation: UU - Unclassified Unrepresented

Renewable: Renewable

Position FTE: 1.0

Tenure Status: N - not applicable

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept

From our campus in the heart of Portland, University Marketing & Communications (UMC) is the university’s strategic and creative powerhouse. We tell the bold, vibrant stories that showcase PSU as a diverse, forward-thinking, impact-driven institution. We act as stewards of the university’s brand and animators of its narrative, driving enrollment, employee pride, community engagement and global reputation. Through compelling visual and written content and a strategic approach to social media, media relations and internal communications, we highlight Portland State's achievements, foster engagement and reinforce the university’s contributions to our community and beyond.

Position Summary

The Student Communications Manager is responsible for leading the strategy and execution of a comprehensive student communications plan designed to ensure that students receive clear and timely messages that facilitate their success at PSU. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications, the manager partners with campus stakeholders to coordinate communications, build and manage targeted email, SMS and automated communication campaigns, including advising on timing and audience segmentation. The manager will maintain communication templates and calendars and ensure messaging standards are followed by partners across campus.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in communications, marketing, strategic messaging, or related fields.
• Experience implementing communications strategies, working with partners to coordinate priorities and implementing across multiple audiences and channels.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Experience using analytics and insights to guide strategy and measure outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and communities and to support PSU’s equity and inclusion values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Slate CRM to deliver customized communications campaigns.
• Experience working in higher education.

Key Cultural Competencies

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Work Days/Hours

Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm; All PSU staff work in-office at least 4 days per week.

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

The starting annual salary for this position will be between $61,620 and $77,034, but may be negotiated above this range, dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

• 95% premium paid healthcare
• a generous retirement and vacation package
• reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools

Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Search Details

Projected Close Date for Posting: Open Until Finalists Identified

Application screening begins: 09/03/2026

Quick Link: https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/50355

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