Communications Specialist

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support

• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements

• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match

• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths

• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

BASIC FUNCTION

The Communications Specialist is a key member of the Media Relations team within the Office of University Communications (OUC). Reporting to the Director of Media Relations, the position supports enterprise-wide public relations, media relations, issues management, media events, and strategic communications activities that enhance Howard University’s visibility, elevate its academic and research enterprise, and protect and strengthen the University’s reputation.

The Communications Specialist develops and executes communications plans, media strategies, and high-quality written materials for external and internal audiences. The position proactively identifies and pitches stories; responds to media inquiries; develops press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, briefing materials, and other communications; and supports University leaders, faculty experts, and other spokespersons in media engagements.

SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY

N/A

NATURE AND SCOPE

Serving as a communications liaison to an assigned portfolio of schools, colleges, academic units, and/or administrative offices, the Specialist builds strong relationships with campus partners to identify compelling stories and communications opportunities that elevate faculty expertise, research and innovation, academic achievements, student success, institutional initiatives, and the University’s broader impact. The position also collaborates across OUC on editorial, digital, social, multimedia, and executive communications to support integrated institutional storytelling.

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Supervise and provide guidance to student interns and/or student workers assigned to support media relations and communications activities.

• Serve as communications liaison to a designated portfolio of schools, colleges, academic units, centers, institutes, and/or administrative offices.

• Support the Director of Media Relations and senior OUC leadership in executing proactive and responsive media relations, issues management, and reputation-building strategies.

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with journalists, producers, faculty experts, University leaders, campus communicators, and other key stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

MEDIA RELATIONS & PROACTIVE STORYTELLING

• Serve as a point of contact for media inquiries, coordinating timely, accurate responses and connecting journalists with appropriate University spokespersons and subject matter experts.

• Develop and execute proactive media relations plans that increase positive visibility for Howard University, its faculty, research, academic programs, students, alumni, and institutional priorities.

• Research, identify, develop, and pitch compelling story ideas to local, national, trade, higher education, and industry-specific media outlets.

• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, producers, assignment desks, podcast producers, and other media professionals whose coverage aligns with University priorities and areas of expertise.

• Create and maintain targeted media lists, journalist databases, subject matter expert resources, and media archives.

• Collaborate with senior media relations staff to build and maintain a University subject matter expert database and identify faculty and administrative spokespersons for media opportunities.

• Monitor the University community, academic enterprise, research activity, and external news cycle to identify timely opportunities for expert commentary, thought leadership, and institutional storytelling.

STRATEGIC WRITING & MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT

• Research source materials and write, edit, and fact-check press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, key messages, media briefings, Q&As, fact sheets, backgrounders, pitches, executive remarks, op-eds, and other strategic communications materials.

• Develop clear, audience-appropriate messaging that translates complex academic, research, policy, operational, and institutional information into accessible and compelling communications.

• Prepare briefing materials and interview preparation documents for University leaders, faculty experts, and other spokespersons; participate in media preparation sessions and staff interviews as assigned.

• Apply AP Style, University editorial standards, brand voice, and established approval protocols consistently across communications materials.

• Exercise strong news judgment and editorial judgment to ensure content is accurate, timely, relevant, and aligned with institutional priorities.

PORTFOLIO COMMUNICATIONS & CAMPUS PARTNERSHIP

• Serve as the primary OUC media relations liaison for an assigned portfolio of University schools, colleges, academic units, centers, institutes, and/or administrative offices.

• Develop working knowledge of assigned units, including faculty expertise, research priorities, academic programs, major initiatives, leadership priorities, events, and emerging communications needs.

• Meet regularly with designated campus partners to develop communications and media plans, identify newsworthy stories, anticipate upcoming announcements, and build a sustainable pipeline of institutional storytelling.

• Advise campus partners on media relations opportunities, messaging, communications planning, spokesperson preparation, and approaches to elevating faculty expertise and institutional achievements.

• Coordinate with school, college, and administrative communicators to promote consistency in messaging and alignment with University-wide communications priorities.

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT & INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS

• Collaborate with OUC editorial colleagues to develop news stories, profiles, announcements, web content, and other editorial materials for University channels.

• Work across OUC media relations, editorial, social media, digital, multimedia, creative services, internal communications, and executive communications functions to extend and amplify priority stories across platforms.

• Identify opportunities to adapt media relations content for University websites, newsletters, social channels, multimedia storytelling, executive communications, and other owned platforms.

• Collaborate with photographers, videographers, digital content staff, and creative partners to identify visual and multimedia assets that strengthen media outreach and institutional storytelling.

ISSUES & CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

• Support the Director of Media Relations and OUC leadership in issues management and crisis communications, including research, media monitoring, rapid-response messaging, talking points, statements, Q&As, and media coordination.

• Monitor emerging media narratives, reputational issues, and external developments that may affect the University and promptly elevate significant developments to appropriate leadership.

• Assist with development of proactive and reactive communications strategies that provide accurate information, protect institutional credibility, and support timely stakeholder communications.

• Maintain discretion