Marketing Specialist III

Position Title: Marketing Specialist III Job Group: Professional & Scientific Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience Job Description: Shape the Future of Graduate Education Marketing The Graduate College at Iowa State University is seeking a strategic marketing and communications professional to lead marketing efforts that advance graduate education, support enrollment goals, and strengthen the College’s visibility and reputation. Working independently under broad direction, this position develops and implements integrated marketing strategies that engage prospective and current graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external partners. The Marketing Specialist III serves as a key marketing liaison with Enrollment Management and University Marketing and Communications and collaborates across academic colleges, graduate programs, and university partners to support recruitment, student success, and institutional priorities. The successful candidate will bring strategic thinking, strong communication and organizational skills, and the ability to translate complex academic and research topics into compelling communications for a range of audiences. What You’ll Do Establish and implement a unified marketing and communications vision for the Graduate College that aligns with university-wide enrollment and branding objectives. Develop a compelling and differentiated Graduate College brand narrative that supports Iowa State University's strategic priorities and graduate enrollment goals. Create integrated marketing plans that support graduate student recruitment, enrollment growth, retention, engagement, and program visibility. Utilize enrollment trends, audience insights, market research, and performance metrics to inform marketing strategy and decision-making. Build strong collaborative partnerships with Enrollment Management, academic colleges, and university marketing leaders to provide seamless and student-centered experience. Identify opportunities to strengthen alignment between Graduate College marketing efforts and broader university recruitment, marketing, and communication initiatives. Why You’ll Love This Role This new role offers the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the Graduate College and help shape its marketing and communications efforts. You’ll join a close-knit team that values collaboration, strong working relationships, and supporting one another. With a lot of opportunities to build and strengthen the Graduate College’s marketing presence, you’ll have the chance to develop strategies and initiatives that support graduate enrollment, engagement, and the College’s broader goals. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field. Experience developing and leading integrated marketing or communications strategies from planning through execution and evaluation. Experience creating and managing content across websites, social media, email, and other digital channels. Experience using analytics, audience insights, market research, or other data to inform marketing strategy and evaluate results. Experience building collaborative partnerships across teams or organizations to advance shared goals. Experience developing marketing or communications strategies that support enrollment, recruitment, engagement, or other organizational goals. This is a 3-year term position that may have the possibility of renewal. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position. Application Instructions: To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: Resume/Curriculum Vitae Letter of Application/Cover Letter Why Choose Iowa State University? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental, as well as: Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) Life insurance and long-term disability Flexible Spending Accounts Various voluntary benefits and discounts Employee Assistance Program Wellbeing program Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager. If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu, or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Appointment Type: Regular with Term Appointment (Fixed Term) Proposed End Date or Length of Term: November 8, 2029 Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period Time Type: Full time Pay Grade: PS810 Original Posting Date: October 8, 2026 Posting Close Date: October 18, 2026 Job Requisition Number: R20040 Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu. General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications. Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub. By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities. Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community. Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work. All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu. If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942. General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.