Communications & Engagement Specialist

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Professional development

Tuition assistance

Commuter benefits

Campus perks

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking a Communications & Engagement Specialist for its Human Resources team. The role focuses on developing communications that advance HR programs across various audiences, with strong writing, organization, and editorial judgment.

You will work on campaigns, newsletters, and web content, coordinating across multiple channels. The position involves hands-on execution, project management, and collaboration with stakeholders, while handling confidential information.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3+ years in communications, marketing, PR or related field.

Responsibilities

• Support communications planning and content development for HHR teams across labor, benefits, career development, talent acquisition, and HR operations.
• Write, edit, and produce content including announcements, newsletters, web content, presentations, FAQs, talking points, and marketing materials.
• Develop and execute email campaigns from planning through deployment, including audience segmentation and testing.
• Coordinate HHR email communications and maintain templates and best practices.
• Monitor campaign performance and use data to improve content, targeting and timing.
• Develop, schedule, and publish social media content that promotes HHR programs and resources.
• Identify content opportunities across social channels and apply best practices.

Skills

Excellent writing

Content management

Project management

Stakeholder relations

Digital marketing

Editorial judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

Drupal

Email campaigns

CMS tools

Job description

• Union: 99 - Non-Union, Confidential Non-Ex
• Salary Grade: 056
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Job Description

The Communications & Engagement Specialist develops and delivers communications that advance Harvard Human Resources (HHR) programs, services, and organizational priorities. Reporting to the Associate Director of Communications, this position works with HHR subject matter experts and stakeholders across a broad range of HR topics and audiences and provides operational support for key communications functions.
The successful candidate is a strong writer and highly organized communications professional who enjoys hands-on execution. They bring strong project management skills, digital marketing expertise, attention to detail, and sound editorial judgment. This role regularly works with confidential and sensitive information and requires discretion and sound judgment.
Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Communications & Content

• Support communications planning and content development for HHR teams across areas such as labor and employee relations, benefits and wellbeing, career and professional development, talent acquisition, and HR operations.
• Write, edit, and produce content including announcements, newsletters, web content, presentations, FAQs, talking points, and marketing materials.

Email Marketing

• Develop and execute email campaigns from planning through deployment, including audience segmentation, personalization, list management, testing, scheduling, and quality assurance.
• Coordinate HHR email communications and maintain templates and best practices to support effective timing, audience targeting, and accessibility.
• Monitor campaign performance and use engagement data and audience insights to improve content, targeting, timing, and effectiveness.

Social Media

• Develop, schedule, and publish social media content that promotes HHR programs and resources.
• Identify content and storytelling opportunities across social channels.
• Monitor engagement and apply channel best practices and performance insights to strengthen HHR's social media presence.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible communications, marketing, public relations, digital communications, or related experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and content development skills.
• Experience creating and managing content across multiple communications channels.
• Familiarity with Drupal or similar content management systems.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and drive projects to completion.
• Strong client service orientation and stakeholder relationship management skills.
• Understanding of digital communications best practices, web content strategy, accessibility standards, and branding principles.
• Experience developing newsletters, website content, and promotional communications.
• Comfort using AI tools and emerging technologies to support communications and content development.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.

Working Conditions:

• This position requires the ability to commute to the Harvard University campus on short notice, as needed, to support communications-related activities.

Additional Information

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts . Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination . We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.