Student Communications

INTRODUCTION: University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited, 100% online university. Today, UoPeople has over 170,000 students enrolled from more than 200 countries and territories, including 18,800 students who are refugees. UoPeople is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is recognized by the DEAC as an accredited online University. We believe that higher education is a basic human right and that it can transform not only the lives of students, but also their families' lives, their communities, their nations, and, by extension, the world. See President Reshef’s TED talk when he announced the founding of the University.[ TED talk ] UoPeople is an innovative university, and we welcome team members who bring creativity and innovation to their roles. We’re a fast-paced organization with remote teams all around the globe. If you’re a self-starter who wants to succeed alongside a passionate team, we’d love to hear from you UoPeople is supported by the generosity of individuals and foundations, including the Gates, Hewlett, Ford Foundations, Fondation Hoffmann, and others. The University has been covered by the New York Times, BBC, NPR, Times Higher Education, US News and World Report, and more. President Reshef’s TED Talk and Nas Daily interview about the University have 30 million views combined. Job Title: Student Communications & Engagement Lead Department: Retention and Student Experience Location: Remote Reports to: Sr. Student Marcom Manager Position Summary The Student Communications & Engagement Lead plays a vital role in supporting student engagement, communication, and retention initiatives across multiple university networks and digital platforms. This role is both operational and strategic — requiring an individual who can manage daily communications while also leading term-based projects that enhance the student experience. The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, and creative, with the ability to interpret data from various sources (including surveys, Viva Engage, and email communications) to inform engagement strategies. This person must work well independently, meet strict deadlines, collaborate effectively across departments, and present information clearly and concisely to stakeholders. Key Responsibilities Network Management & Engagement (Viva Engage, DSS, NDSS) - Manage daily communications within DSS and NDSS networks, including monitoring and responding to comments, queries, and complaints. - Research and develop engaging, student-centered content for Viva Engage and other community platforms. - Coordinate with the design team to create compelling visuals and multimedia assets. - Add and remove students manually each term to maintain accurate and active network participation lists. - Develop and manage term calendars for DSS and NDSS activities and campaigns. - Collaborate with the social media team on promotional posts and awareness initiatives. - Work with IT to troubleshoot issues and implement technical updates as needed. - Strategize on ways to enhance community participation and engagement metrics each term. Survey Management & Data Reporting • Plan and maintain the survey calendar to align with university objectives. - Build and configure surveys in Qualtrics, including email setup, reminders, and segmentation. - Partner with the Data Team to generate, validate, and upload contact lists. - Manage survey launches, reminders, and response collection with accuracy and timeliness. - Analyze data from surveys, Viva Engage, and other communication channels to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement. - Summarize findings in professional presentations and reports for university leadership. - Recommend data-informed adjustments to strengthen engagement and better serve the UoPeople student body. Marketing Communications (MarCom) Support - Create and maintain the term-based MarCom calendar for all student communication initiatives. - Conduct quality checks of email content to ensure accuracy and alignment with UoPeople’s voice and standards. - Coordinate with internal teams to schedule and launch posts in Viva Engage and the Media Center. - Update Wrike project tasks to track communication deliverables and ensure timely completion. - Work collaboratively with the MarCom and Retention teams to evaluate campaign performance and optimize future communications. Media Center Coordination - Manage and plan Media Center content releases within the UoPeople student portal. - Partner with IT for technical support and platform enhancements. - Lead initiatives to expand Media Center usage and visibility among the student community. Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration - Lead or support term-based projects focused on improving student engagement, retention, and overall experience. - Collaborate effectively with departments such as IT, Marketing, Data, and Student Affairs to execute initiatives that require cross-functional coordination. - Present insights, data, and project outcomes in a clear, concise, and actionable manner to leadership teams. - Work independently and proactively manage multiple projects under tight timelines while maintaining high-quality outcomes. Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Education, or related field. - Minimum 2–3 years of experience in communications, project coordination, or data-driven engagement (experience in higher education preferred). - Strong understanding of data collection, interpretation, and reporting, with the ability to translate insights into action. - Proficiency with platforms such as Microsoft Viva Engage, Qualtrics, SharePoint, Wrike, and Microsoft 365. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail and brand consistency. - Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently. - Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills to work effectively across departments and with international teams. - Comfortable presenting data and project outcomes in both written and visual formats (e.g., PowerPoint).