Manager of Student Communications

Job Summary

The Student Communications Manager serves as the central coordinator and editorial authority for student-facing communications across the Division of Continuing Education, leading a coherent, student-centered communication strategy that supports enrollment, persistence, and retention. This role combines strong relationship and project management skills to align cross-departmental messaging, govern content, timing, and cadence, and continuously improve communication quality and effectiveness across channels.

Job-Specific Responsibilities

The Student Communications Manager, reporting to the Director of Enrollment and Retention within the Office of Enrollment Management, serves as the central coordinator and editorial authority for student-facing communications across the Division of Continuing Education (DCE). This role combines strong relationship management and project management to lead a coherent, student-centered communication strategy, coordinating high-volume messages across departments and channels (primarily email, with expanding use of text, chat, and web). The Manager exercises governance over the content, timing, medium, and cadence of student communications, using data, student feedback, and best practices to continuously improve the quality, clarity, and impact of messaging in support of DCE's enrollment, persistence, and retention goals.

Key responsibilities include:

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Serve as central point of contact and trusted advisor for DCE departments that send student communications, building strong, collaborative relationships across the division.
• Facilitate collaboration among departments to prioritize student experience and success over competing objectives, and to reduce duplication, conflict, and over-messaging.
• Consult with stakeholders on communication needs, helping them clarify goals, audiences, timing, and measures of success, while guiding them toward shared standards and processes.

Communication Strategy, Governance & Editorial Authority

• Implement and support a division-wide student communication strategy that promotes coherent, student-centered messaging across programs, populations, and channels.
• Exercise editorial and governance authority over student-facing communications, including review and approval of content, timing, and send cadence to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency of tone and brand, accessibility, and compliance with Harvard and legal requirements.
• Develop and maintain common taxonomies, vocabularies, and messaging standards to be used across departments and channels, and ensure adherence to these standards.
• Create and maintain a master communications calendar to coordinate timing, avoid conflicts, and manage send cadence for approximately 60+ monthly email communications and other outbound messages.

Project Management & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional communication projects (e.g., communication journey mapping, campaign redesigns, new channel rollouts), including project planning, timelines, stakeholder alignment, risk management, and follow-through.
• Translate journey mapping and other insights into concrete communication plans, templates, and campaigns, and ensure they are implemented, monitored, and iterated on.
• Track and report on project milestones and outcomes, escalating risks, issues, and resource needs to leadership as appropriate.

Content Development, Quality, & Compliance

• Advise on and support content development and editing to ensure messages are student-centered, accurate, accessible, and aligned with DCE's voice and brand.
• Build, manage, and deploy email campaigns within DCE systems, overseeing audience selection, testing, and final approval.
• Ensure adoption of communication best practices and compliance with institutional and legal standards (e.g., privacy, accessibility, opt-out requirements) across all student-facing communications.

Channel Management & Technology Enablement

• Partner with relevant departments (e.g., IT, marketing, student services) to develop, refine, and document technology, workflows, and processes used for student communications.
• Recommend and help implement effective modalities (email, text, chat, web, etc.) that align with a student-centered mindset and improve reach and engagement.
• Stay up-to-date on trends, technologies, and media channels, and share learnings and recommendations with stakeholders to inform ongoing strategy and practice.

Training, Standards, & Continuous Improvement

• Create templates, best practices, and standards that can be used across DCE to improve communication quality, consistency, and efficiency.
• Provide training and coaching to staff on communication best practices, tools, and processes, reinforcing governance expectations and quality standards.
• Measure message and channel effectiveness (e.g., engagement metrics, response rates, student feedback) and use data to inform recommendations, refinements, and longer-term strategy.

Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Hybrid workplace models in place at DCE with a minimum of 2 days per week on campus. DCE or department may adjust these as necessary or appropriate.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in communications
• Bachelor's degree

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Knowledge of and experience working with a CRM (Salesforce preferred) and an email/messaging platform (Marketing Cloud preferred).
• Exceptional written, verbal, and editorial skills, including the ability to translate complex academic or technical topics into engaging content.
• High level of creativity and enthusiasm for seeking new solutions to challenges.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, attention to detail, and a collaborative, proactive approach.
• Proven ability to collaborate with stakeholders and work on a team.
• Experience conceptualizing and developing communications targeted to specific audiences.

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week (Monday-Friday, 9-5pm)
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable): $70,000-$90,000/annual
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• A cover letter is required for consideration
• All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University's Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.