(Hybrid) Marketing Specialist - WVU Hospitality Group

The Strategic Partnerships Marketing and Communications team at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Marketing Specialist to support WVU Hospitality Group.

About the Opportunity

This position serves as a dedicated marketing and communications lead for WVU Hospitality Group, a unit within WVU Strategic Partnerships that oversees campus dining services and catering. The Marketing Specialist will work closely with the Marketing Manager for WVU's food service vendor to collaboratively plan and execute marketing strategies, write communications plans and announcements, and promote dining events, services and initiatives to WVU students, families, faculty and staff.

The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a skilled communicator with experience developing communications plans, creating email campaigns, supporting events, handling media inquiries and working with cross-functional teams. This role is key to shaping how students experience dining at WVU and involves close collaboration with campus partners and the food service vendor to ensure messaging is accurate, timely and engaging.

This position reports to the Senior Digital Experience Designer for Strategic Partnerships and works closely with the Marketing Manager for the food service vendor.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with the food service vendor to develop strategic marketing and communications plans for WVU Hospitality Group, including seasonal campaign planning for the fall, spring and summer semesters.
• Represent WVU Hospitality Group at New Student Orientation, Discover WVU, Decide WVU and other campus events throughout the year.
• Attend WVU Hospitality Group events, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support student engagement and assist with capturing content.
• Assist with updates to the WVU Hospitality Group website and social media accounts, as needed.
• Schedule digital signage to run on monitors across campus using the University's signage management system.
• Design and schedule HTML email communications to students with dining plans using Mailchimp.
• Write announcements and promotional content for distribution through Unews, E-News, the WVU calendar, Mountaineer Parents Club, Student Life newsletters and other campus channels.
• Review and approve all vendor-designed digital and print materials that use WVU branding to ensure brand compliance.
• Collaborate with internal WVU units such as Student Life and Mountaineer Parents Club to ensure consistent messaging.
• Work with the campus dietitian to promote nutrition and allergy services available to students.
• Serve as the primary communications contact for WVU Hospitality Group and liaison to the food service vendor.
• Handle external media inquiries related to WVU Hospitality Group.
• Lead regular marketing meetings with WVU Hospitality Group and the food service vendor to align on goals and campaigns.
• Stay current on marketing trends and propose creative strategies to increase engagement.
• Ensure all content aligns with University brand standards and supports strategic goals while meeting vendor needs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of one (1) year of related professional experience
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong writing and editing skills with knowledge of AP style
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Understanding of brand management and consistent voice
• Experience reviewing and approving visual assets, including graphic design, photography and video
• Proficiency in social media content development, scheduling and engagement strategies
• Familiarity with website content management
• Experience using email marketing tools such as Mailchimp
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Willingness to work in a hybrid environment and attend events, including occasional evenings and weekends
• Self-motivated, organized and able to work independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with WVU brand guidelines and communication channels
• Experience working in higher education or with a student audience

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.