Senior Communications Specialist I

Job Title

Senior Communications Specialist I

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Here’s a Glimpse of the Job

The Senior Communications Specialist I is essential to strategic communications for the College of Arts and Sciences, focusing on executive communications, internal engagement and issues management. This position will work closely with College leadership and will report directly to the Director of Marketing & Communications. Responsibilities for this role will include facilitating the development of promotional materials for external stakeholders and audiences, crafting leadership talking points and presentations, and executing internal communication plans aligned with strategic goals. The position also fosters employee engagement, monitors feedback channels, and assists with crisis communication protocols and compliance with state and federal policies.

Opportunities to Contribute:

• Work closely with the Director of Marketing & Communications to develop messaging and promotional materials demonstrating the state and national impact of the College.
• Develop talking points, speeches and presentations for college leadership speaking engagements to external audiences.
• Work closely with Donor and Alumni Relations team to support fundraising, elevate the image of the College, and increase donor and alumni engagement.
• Create and execute comprehensive internal communication plans that align with the College's strategic plans.
• Develop, curate and distribute content for email messages to faculty and staff from the Dean’s office.
• Partner with HROE, IT and other units within the college and university to ensure communication efforts are unified and effective.
• Identify opportunities to promote employee engagement and help foster a positive culture.
• Monitor internal channels for employee feedback and comments to address concerns and inform communication strategies.
• Implement crisis communication and issues management protocols and processes, as determined by Texas A&M and the A&M System, to mitigate reputational risk of the college.
• Monitor internal communication controls to comply with state and federal policies.
• Conduct ongoing media monitoring and reputation tracking to identify emerging issues, assess public sentiment and inform proactive issues management strategies.
• Ensure crisis communication supports the College’s emergency preparedness and crisis plan.
• Collaborate closely with Texas A&M University and Texas A&M System issues management and crisis communications teams to ensure alignment, share timely information and coordinate unified responses during sensitive or high-risk situations.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, business, or related field.
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, media or public relations, advertising, communications, or related field with recent experience in higher education or in a higher education supporting organization.
  
  
  

A well-qualified candidate may also possess:

• Master’s degree in journalism, communications, business, or related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear and concise messages for multiple audiences and channels.
• Possess an awareness of and understanding for the national and state political landscape, higher education and policy impacting the college and university.
• Excellent editing, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to remain calm and composed under pressure and make sound decisions in time-sensitive situations.
• Ability to generate imaginative solutions and create cost-effective alternatives.
  
  
  

Salary: $70,000.000 – 75,000.00

Special Note: May require work outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

What You Need to Do:

Apply! Submitting a cover letter, resume’/CV to assist us with the review process. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume. 

Why Texas A&M University?

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

The College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart and foundation of Texas A&M University. Our 18 departments and more than 130 academic programs of study offer students the opportunity to pursue an extraordinarily wide range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, languages, and life sciences. The college is home to preeminent scholars and researchers, world-class academic programs, and exceptional students eager to learn, discover, and make a difference. The educational experience in Arts and Sciences supports, engages, and inspires students during every step of their academic journey, from choosing to become an Aggie, to launching their successful career. It includes amazing opportunities for participating in cutting-edge research, study abroad experiences, immersive field work with world-renowned experts, and hands-on experiences through internships and professional programs. The College of Arts and Science is home to over 30 centers and institutes as well as many specialized laboratories and active research groups, where innovation by our top researchers continues to lead to groundbreaking discoveries and societal solutions in myriad world-changing areas. Be Here. Be ArtSci. Learn more about us at https://artsci.tamu.edu

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees
  
  
  

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.