Communications & Student Engagement Coordinator in Chicago, Illinois at DePaul University

The Highlights:

The Communications and Student Engagement Coordinator executes and coordinates college communications and student engagement initiatives that support recruitment, retention, and student success. This role translates strategy into action, ensuring communications and engagement efforts align with assessment frameworks, strategic priorities, and data-informed practices.

What You'll Do:

Communications Coordination and Execution
• Coordinates and executes all college-level communications, including newsletters, emails, and social media content.
• Manages weekly student and biweekly faculty/staff newsletters.
• Maintains shared communications calendar and ensures timely, consistent messaging.
• Manages college email inboxes and correspondence (education@ and coenews@).
• Serves as liaison to university communications outlets (e.g., DePaul Magazine, Newsline).
• Monitors performance metrics and maintains platform compliance and best practices.
• Creates and schedules social media content in alignment with established communications strategy

Student Engagement and Retention
• Plans and implements student engagement and belonging initiatives aligned with retention goals.
• Coordinates events, info sessions, and participation in recruitment activities (e.g., Preview Days).
• Serves as liaison with Student Involvement, Alumni Relations, and Career Center.
• Tracks participation and collects feedback from engagement activities to support assessment.
• Aligns programming with defined student success and belonging outcomes.

Reporting, Content, and Data Contribution
• Produces narrative reports (e.g., Annual Report, Provost reports) using standardized data sources.
• Collaborates on maintaining current and accurate website content under established governance.
• Inputs communications and engagement activity data into shared tracking systems (e.g., Smartsheet).
• In collaboration with supervisor adjusts communication and engagement strategies based on performance insights.

Advancement Operational Coordination
• Serves as liaison with Advancement, Financial Aid, and internal stakeholders.
• Supports reporting, budgeting, and preparation for leadership meetings.

What You'll Need:

Bachelor’s degree required with a preference to degrees held in English, Writing, and/or Communications.
Preference for three (3) or more years experience with development, advancement and alumni relations programs associated with higher education.

Ability to work independently; advanced skills in prospect, acknowledgment, and grant submission databases. Energetic, self-starting, entrepreneurial and creative abilities; exemplary oral and written communications skills. Excellent organizational and management skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills, particularly the ability to work with individuals, groups, and organizations, both internal and external to the university; ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
Ability to multi-task and work under pressure; skill managing donations, gift. pledge, and scholarship financial information. Skill in designing, manipulating, and maintaining databases and computer programs.
Interest in personal development and a career in development/fundraising.
Personal computer literacy: Demonstrated use and aptitude with Windows operating environment (prefer experience with Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint). Demonstrated experience with software in the following areas: web applications, databases, word processing, financial management, contact management, spreadsheet, and presentation tools. Smartsheet Work Management/similar experience.

Occasional weekend and evening work may be required for major college events.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is: $23.45 to $27.40.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Perks:

• Working for a stable and well-known University.
• Top choice medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Retirement plan matching contribution of 8%.
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
• Generous paid time off, sick time, holidays, floating holidays, and more!
• Full-Time Benefits

For consideration, please include a resume and cover letter.

Vincentian Mission:
Guided by an ethic of Vincentian personalism and professionalism, DePaul compassionately upholds the dignity of all members of its diverse, multi-faith, and inclusive community. We seek to hire collaborative, open-minded, and dedicated professionals who are committed to advancing our university mission to making education accessible to all, with special attention to including underserved and underrepresented communities. Successful candidates thrive in an environment where ideas and perspectives representing a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences are welcome and supported.

Required Background Check:

Employment at DePaul University is contingent on passing a background check. Only final candidates who are extended an offer of employment will undergo a background check.

DePaul University is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.