Digital Communications Specialist

Description

Recruitment Period: 10/12/2026 - Until Filled

Status: Full-Time 40 Hours/Week

Salary Range: $48,000 – $72,000 annually

Hiring Rate: 23.07/Hour- 34.61/Hour

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) does not sponsor employment visas. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment with PNWU. Employment eligibility will be verified in accordance with federal law. 

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) was founded as a 501(c) (3) non-profit medical institution in 2005 aimed at increasing access to health care in medically underserved areas of the Pacific Northwest.

The University currently offers the degrees of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy enrolling over 550 students annually . Interprofessional education partnerships with other universities adds another 100 students to the population. The campus includes 300 employees with academic programming spread over a five-state region.

PNWU is located in Yakima, WA, a city of approximately 95,000 located in the south-central part of the state near the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in a major agricultural and outdoor recreation region. It is approximately 140 miles from Seattle, 170 miles from Portland, and 200 miles from Spokane. The Yakima Valley is a wonderful place to live, work and play. For more information, visit https://www.visityakima.com/. 

General Summary:

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, the Digital Communications Specialist serves as the primary communications liaison between the Marketing and Communications Department, Enrollment Services, and Advancement. This position plans, coordinates, executes, and evaluates communications to prospective students, applicants, alumni, donors, and friends of the University, helping each audience feel connected to PNWU and its mission.

The Digital Communications Specialist manages communication workflows and projects in partnership with Enrollment and Advancement staff, ensuring timely and effective delivery of email, SMS, direct mail, and digital communications. The position develops communication plans, builds and distributes communications through platforms including Slate, Raiser’s Edge, and Almabase, and coordinates projects with the Marketing and Communications team to support enrollment, fundraising, alumni engagement, and institutional goals. Work is guided by defined results and established practices, with the Specialist carrying out day-to-day activities independently and drawing on the supervisor to resolve problems as they arise.

Essential Job Functions:

•  Develops and executes prospective student communication campaigns through Slate, including email, SMS, event promotion, application cycle communications, and enrollment nurturing strategies.
• Develops and executes donor and alumni communication campaigns through Raiser’s Edge, Almabase, email platforms, and other engagement tools to support fundraising and alumni relations goals.
• Serves as project manager for Enrollment and Advancement marketing and communications initiatives, coordinating timelines, deliverables, approvals, meetings, and resource allocation across departments.
• Collaborates with Enrollment and Advancement leaders to develop annual communication plans, campaign strategies, audience segmentation, and communication calendars.
• Writes and coordinates digital communication content for emails, landing page copy, and event communications.
• Coordinates with other Marketing and Communications team members to ensure projects are completed on time and according to brand standards.
• Analyzes communication performance and prepare reports to inform strategy and continuous improvement efforts.
• Performs other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need.

Standard Institutional Requirements:

• Performs job duties in accordance with safety, legal, and regulatory requirements; University policy and procedures; and accepted business practices.
• Acts with the highest level of professional ethical standards in all aspects of job performance, in accordance with the mission and values of PNWU.
• Understands and adheres to accreditation standards and expectations specific to the department.

This description is a general statement of the major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis, with or without reasonable accommodation. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions and does not exclude other duties as assigned. Job descriptions are reviewed regularly and may be updated to reflect changing institutional needs.

Required Education and Experience:

To perform the essential functions of this position, the incumbent must have:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in marketing, communications, or a related field AND three or more years of experience in communications, marketing, project management, enrollment marketing, advancement communications, or a related field, including experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously, OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential functions of the position.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build productive working relationships across departments and to include the right people at the right time.
• Experience developing communications for multiple audience segments.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Experience with CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and communication databases.
• Ability to analyze campaign performance and use data to improve communication outcomes.
• Knowledge of higher education enrollment and advancement communications practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education.
• Experience using Slate, Raiser’s Edge, Almabase, Salesforce, or similar CRM/database platforms.
• Experience developing email marketing and audience engagement campaigns.

To ensure full consideration submit:

• A letter of introduction outlining background and qualifications for the position
• Detailed resume
• Contact information for three professional references

The job announcement above is not the full job description but represents the job responsibilities and requirements. A full job description can be provided upon request. 

PNWU offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees first of the month following date of hire and competitive salary. 

Benefit Package (benefit eligible is at least .5 FTE):

• Health Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 403b with Roth Option
• Paid Holidays

For information about life in Yakima visit our PNWU page.

PNWU is a drug-free workplace, equal opportunity employer and educational institution. To request this publication in an alternative format, or to apply in an alternative format, please call Human Resources, 509.452.5100.