Communications Specialist - Digital Learning - UTK

Responsibilities

• The Communications Specialist leads the strategy, design, and execution of email and SMS campaigns within the Digital Learning customer relationship management (CRM) systems. This role is highly email-build centric, responsible for coding, designing, testing, and deploying dynamic, data-driven communications that support student acquisition, engagement, and conversion through to graduation.
• Digital Assets
• Lead the design and build development and execution of email and SMS-centric marketing and retention automation tactics, including triggered communication campaigns, behavioral targeting, omni-channell sequencing, and integrated advertising tactics to drive acquisition and conversion.
• Architect, design, and optimize automated customer journeys within the CRMs and marketing automation platforms, leveraging advanced segmentation, personalization logic, dynamic content, and lifecycle mapping to improve engagement across all audience segments using UX and design best practices through accessible email templates.
• Design, code, and deploy responsive, mobile-first HTML email campaigns. Build modular, reusable templates using a combination of hand-coded HTML/CSS and email builder tools; develop custom components; and ensure cross-client compatibility across major email clients and devices.
• Create compelling, brand-aligned visual assets and graphics to support email and digital campaigns, ensuring consistency in typography, layout, and visual hierarchy to enhance user experience and performance.
• Establish and enforce a comprehensive QA and testing framework for all digital communications, including code validation, rendering tests, link validation, personalization checks, accessibility compliance, and performance verification prior to deployment.
• Ensure compliance with email marketing regulations and data privacy standards, including CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and institutional policies, while maintaining proper consent management protocols.
• Stay current on emerging trends in email development, automation technology, accessibility standards, and digital design best practices to continuously improve campaign performance and technical execution.
• Performance Optimization & Experience Quality

Requirements

• Education : High School Diploma or GED
• Experience :
• -6 years of experience in marketing, communications, and/or higher education (recruitment, admissions, enrollment, student services, student success preferred) or combination of other relevant experience such as part-time work.
• -Demonstrated experience in customer relationship management (CRM) and email marketing platforms, as well as intermediate to advanced knowledge of HTML and CSS.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• -Intermediate knowledge of UI/UX best practices for email and other types of marketing communications including but not limited to SMS
• -Intermediate level knowledge and skills in Adobe Creative Suite
• -Sound knowledge of digital marketing and communication principles
• -Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• -Proficient in Microsoft office (word, excel, powerpoint) Solid writing and copy-editing skills; knowledge of basic style guides such as AP and Chicago Manual of style.

Preferred

• Education : Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in related field
• -5+ years of experience in email marketing, audience-focused communications, and/or omni-channel marketing
• -Higher education experience (recruitment, admissions, enrollment, student services, or student success communications)
• -Demonstrated experience in Salesforce Marketing Cloud and/or Education Cloud.
• -Demonstrated experience in Slate.
• -Demonstrated experience in designing and testing emails for accessibility in Litmus or other testing platform