A Bi-Annual Research Study by Dr. Josie Ahlquist
How would you describe the state of your student affairs division’s marketing and communications? Is staff centralized or dispersed? Are strategies effective and consistently funded? In a bi-annual benchmark study, Dr. Josie Ahlquist is discovering trends, challenges, and strengths in student affairs.
One of the results of the study is this job description database, which will be updated on a rolling basis. All positions listed are included with permission. We’d love to include your job description too!
Mid-Level Job Descriptions
Mid-level jobs require some level of experience. They are the next step after entry-level positions and are below senior-level positions. They may require some sort of management over entry-level or student employees.
Required Years of Experience: 3
Salary: 50-60K
Location: Public research university in the Southeast
Summary: This role leads day-to-day communications efforts within the organization, may supervise a team of communications professionals, and contributes to broader strategic goals at the department, division, or college level. Responsibilities may vary by position and organizational needs. Compensation is aligned with role scope, experience, qualifications, and university guidelines.
Full Description: Communications Manager (2025)
Required Years of Experience: 4-5
Salary: Not available
Location: Public research university in the central U.S.
Summary: The Communications Manager is responsible for oversight and creation of marketing and communications materials, providing a cohesive creative and visual direction for all deliverables and reinforcing the university’s branding, working with all units across the MSC Student Programs Office to develop, manage, and ensuring brand and visual standards printed, digital, social media and multimedia. Supervises full-time marketing and communications staff on the team and advises student leaders of MSC committees on marketing and communications standards.
Full Description: Communications Manager (2023)
Required Years of Experience: 2-3
Salary: 65-70K
Location: Public research university in the Northeast
Summary: The Student Communications Manager manages design of marketing and digital media communication for Student Communications, all Student Development and Campus Life offices and other University offices centric to our students. This includes coordination of marketing initiatives (print and digital), email campaigns, statistical analysis and website construction. Duties include administrative, supervisory and programmatic responsibilities for Student Development and Campus Life and Student Communications.
Full Description: Manager, Student Communications (2023)
Required Years of Experience: Not Available
Salary: 60-65K
Location: Public research university in the Mountain West
Summary: The Manager will be responsible for updating the website and using social media, monthly all-student emails, printed materials, and other creative means to effectively share information and build engagement with prospective and current students. The Manager is empowered and expected to consult with student affairs and marketing communication staff to continuously improve communication processes so they reflect best practices across the University and the field, particularly around inclusiveness for diverse audiences.
Full Description: Communication and Social Media Manager (2023)
Required Years of Experience: 3-5
Salary: 80-90K
Location: Private college in the Mountain West
Summary: The MarComm Account Manager and Content Developer supports Ensign College’s marketing and communication efforts by leading website content strategy, developing internal and external messaging, and managing digital channels. This role collaborates closely with campus partners and senior leadership to create clear, engaging, and data-informed content across web, social media, email, and advertising platforms. The position also provides account management for internal clients, supervises student employees, and helps ensure high-quality, consistent messaging that supports the college’s mission and audience needs
Full Description: MarComm Account Manager and Content Developer (2025)
Required Years of Experience: Not available
Salary: 50-60K
Location: Private college in the mid-West
Summary: This position provides management, oversight, and strategic leadership for CIA’s digital enrollment marketing efforts, including the college’s public-facing website, social media platforms, and digital advertising. The role operates within CIA’s Office of Enrollment Marketing and reports to the Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing, working collaboratively with the Director of Enrollment Marketing and the Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Full Description: Digital Marketing Manager (2025)
Director-Level Job Descriptions
A Director typically manages a small group of people, and some may be managers. A higher level of experience is required. At this level, it’s “big-picture” as the role may entail strategic planning and goal setting.
Required Years of Experience: Not available
Salary: 70-80K
Location: Public research university in the South Central
Summary: Directs student- and employee-facing communications and outreach across Student Affairs by leading division-wide programming and communications teams. Provides strategic leadership for campus-wide student communications, trains departmental staff on social media and event marketing best practices, and ensures effective planning and promotion of programs and events. Oversees outreach initiatives, supports campus partners, and advances family engagement efforts through management of the Family Association, including membership, communications, and events.
Full Description: Director of Communications and Administration – Student Affairs (2025)
Required Years of Experience: 5+
Salary: More than 100K
Location: Private research university in the mid-Atlantic
Summary: The Director of Communications for Student Life leads strategic internal and external communications for the division, aligning messaging with the university’s mission and brand. Serving as a senior advisor to Student Life leadership, the role oversees digital content, media relations, marketing campaigns, and crisis communications. The director collaborates with campus partners to ensure consistent messaging about the student experience. The position manages staff, budgets, vendors, and student marketing teams, and establishes communication workflows and policies. The role requires significant higher education communications experience, strong leadership, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Full Description: Director of Communications, Student Life (2025)
Required Years of Experience: 5+
Salary: 80-85K
Location: Public research university in the Northeast
Summary: The Communications Director plays a key role in developing and crafting the internal and external communications strategy for the Division of Student Life, in conjunction with the Office of Communications and Marketing. The Communications Director is responsible for producing communications pieces and strategies for both internal and external audiences to address the strategic goals and objectives of the Division and its respective units, as well as overarching goals and objectives of the University.
Full Description: Director of Communications, Student Life (2023)
Required Years of Experience: 3-5
Salary: 65-70K
Location: Public research university in the Midwest
Summary: The Director of Communication advances the mission of Student Life through effective, strategic, and innovative marketing and storytelling. The Director leads division-wide marketing and communications efforts to increase awareness of Student Life programs, offices, services and events and strengthen the Student Life story. S/he provides insight and consults with all offices in Student Life to create, implement, and assess communication strategies, and creates content and manages all central Student Life social media and websites.
Full Description: Director of Communication for Student Life (2023)
Required Years of Experience: 5+
Salary: 100K+
Location: Public research university in the Northeast
Summary: The Student Life (SL) Marketing Operations Director leads marketing operations for the Office of SL to ensure alignment with university and Student Life values and strategic areas of focus.
Full Description: Director, Marketing Operations (2023)
Required Years of Experience: Not available
Salary: 80-90K
Location: Public research university in the Northeast
Summary: The Director of Student Affairs Communications leads divisional communication and marketing efforts to ensure clear, consistent, and coordinated messaging across Student Affairs. This role partners closely with senior leadership to develop and implement communication strategies, manage divisional web and content platforms, and support complex, cross-departmental initiatives. The position supervises professional and student staff, oversees mass communication projects, and serves as the primary liaison between Student Affairs and the university’s central communications and marketing teams.
Full Description: Director, Student Affairs Communication (2025)
Required Years of Experience: 5-7
Salary: 70-75K
Location: Public research university in the Northeast
Summary: The Director is responsible to develop and implement strategic communications plans and promotional campaigns for initiatives with target audiences that include both prospective and current students, as well as faculty, staff, parents and alumni. The position will serve as the main point of contact for the Office of Communications and Marketing and will lead a Student Affairs Communication Team made up of departmental communications staff.
Full Description: Director, Student Affairs Communication (2023)
Required Years of Experience: Not available
Salary: More than 100K
Location: Public research university in the Pacific Northwest
Summary: The Director of Marketing and Communications leads strategic marketing and communications efforts supporting student success initiatives within Student Affairs. Reporting to the Associate Vice Provost, this role shapes a unified brand voice across multiple offices and programs, develops high-impact campaigns, and drives engagement with students, faculty, employers, and alumni. The position oversees integrated marketing across digital and print channels to increase awareness of key programs, expand outreach, and strengthen connections that support student success and university partnerships.
Full Description: Director of Marketing and Communications (2025)
Required Years of Experience: Not available
Salary: 90-100K
Location: Public research university in the Midwest
Summary: The Director of Communication for Student Life leads division-wide marketing and communications efforts that advance the mission and visibility of Student Life. This role partners with offices across the division to develop and implement strategic messaging, manage central websites and social media channels, and ensure consistent, engaging storytelling for students and stakeholders. The position also serves as the primary liaison to University Communications and Marketing, supervises student staff, and uses data, best practices, and emerging technologies to continuously strengthen Student Life communications.
Full Description: Director of Marketing of Student Life (2025)
Required Years of Experience: Not available
Salary: 90-100K
Location: Public research university in the Midwest
Summary: The Director of Marketing for the Office of Student Life provides strategic leadership for all marketing and communications efforts supporting Student Life initiatives and programs. As a member of the Student Life Executive Council and Leadership Team, this role oversees campaign development, branding, digital and print communications, and supervises a marketing team to ensure timely, accurate, and effective messaging. The position collaborates with internal and external partners, manages complex marketing strategies and budgets, and ensures alignment between the Student Life brand and the broader IU brand.
Full Description: Director of Marketing, Office of Student Life (2025)
Required Years of Experience: 5
Salary: 65-70K
Location: Public research university in the Southeast
Summary: The Marketing and Communications Director is responsible for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating marketing communications strategy, including grants and requests for services for external customers, advertising, promotions, and public relations to support the marketing objectives for the Division of Student Affairs (STA) while adhering to the University’s social media and social brand guidelines.
Full Description: Director, Marketing and Communications (2023)
Executive-Level Job Descriptions
The executive level is the c-suite of higher education. People in these positions are typically very established in the field. They make final decisions, carry out departmental goals, policies, and procedures, and most likely oversee a department including people and budget.
Years of Experience: 10+
Salary: 100K+
Location: Public research university in the south
Summary: Reporting directly to the vice chancellor and dean, Division of Academic Affairs, this position provides professional direction and oversight of all DASA branded communications and communication strategies. Additionally, this position provides strategic guidance for the division, its departments, and at a university level. This position also leads a comprehensive marketing program that supports development, fundraising, organizational visibility and branding for the division and will oversee all division public and student publications and the web communications strategy.
Full Description: Assistant Vice Chancellor, Strategic Marketing and Communications (2023)
How Josie Supports Student Affairs
Marketing and Communications
Training
Keynote, Full Day and Multi-Day Facilitation: Customized sessions to educate your entire division, MarComm pros, executives and even students
Consulting
Semester and Yearly Services: Specializing in student-centered communications and division-wide strategy.
Cohort
Digital Community Building Cohort: A two-month higher ed group mastermind to advance social media strategy — from goal setting, tactics and analytics.
About Josie
Dr. Josie Ahlquist is a digital engagement and leadership speaker, consultant, and executive coach. She teaches organizations, executives, and education professionals how to humanize technology tools and prioritize building community online.
As a researcher and writer, Josie is extensively published and maintains an active blog and podcast, which have received accolades from EdTech Magazine, Inside Higher Ed and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Her book, Digital Leadership in Higher Education: Purposeful Social Media in a Connected World was listed as an Amazon #1 new release for college and university student life.
More from Dr. Josie
Digital Communities
Book: Digital Leadership in Higher Education (2020)
Facebook Group: Higher Ed Digital Community Builders (with over 1,500 members!)
Podcast Episode: A Blueprint for Building Campus Digital Communities
