Communication Specialist

The purpose of this position will be to manage, create and deliver strategic and engaging communication materials to university employees. The Communications Specialist will work as part of a small team reporting to the Manager of Communications within the Division of Human Resources to foster effective communication between the division and university staff, faculty, supervisors and other internal stakeholders to ensure they are informed and empowered regarding HR initiatives, projects and benefits. This position will work with HR stakeholders, develop communication plans and oversee the production and dissemination of communications collateral.

Remote work within the State of Arizona may be an available option.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Communication Planning & Strategy:

• Create and manage communication and marketing plans and timelines.
• Identify and document target audiences and develop tactics to reach them.
• Develop and execute key messages.
• Understand internal employee communication trends and annual calendars.
• Seek and use relevant data, feedback and metrics to evaluate how well our tactics are working and improve how we communicate.
• Stay informed about the latest trends in communication and marketing, and adapt strategies to incorporate emerging technologies and best practices.

Communications Material Creation:

• Develop, write, and edit inclusive, accessible and targeted communication material including, but not limited to: emails, articles, news posts, flyers, brochures, website content and other marketing and communication materials.
• Implement communication principles, techniques, concepts and best practices as appropriate for the communication deliverable and vehicle.
• Help ensure that communication materials are on brand, visually engaging and approachable, as appropriate. This includes using or suggesting formatting, and designing or working with graphic designer colleagues to incorporate appropriate infographics, images and other graphic elements.
• Follow and manage processes and timelines for content review and approval by engaging with content subject matter experts and central marketing/communication colleagues to ensure that content is accurate, meets the university’s style guidelines and is aligned with best practices and priorities.

Content Distribution:

• Distribute content through a variety of platforms and vehicles, including websites, email software, intranet, hard copy, etc.
• Use available distribution tools, systems and information to enhance messaging, engagement and relevance.
• Monitor analytics after distribution to understand effectiveness, allowing for data-driven adjustments and optimization.
• Track and ensure that deadlines are met.

Collaborative Activities:

• Build relationships with Human Resources leaders and team members to understand the communication needs of individual HR units and distill those into recommendations and plans.
• Support partnerships with departments outside of Human Resources to enhance content quality and reach, and to ensure HR is aligned with university priorities and messaging. This includes understanding internal communication and marketing activities and practices occuring across the university.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Ability to manage and execute multi-phase communication projects with diverse audiences.
• Skill to create, write and edit a diverse range of inclusive and accessible communication materials.
• Knowledge of how to measure and evaluate campaign success.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to maintain a collaborative, consultative and curiosity mindset and work effectively in a team-based environment.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.