Employee Engagement & Communications Specialist

Austin Grill LLC; Reston, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Thompson Hospitality in Reston, VA is seeking an HR Communications Assistant to support our Employee Engagement team, developing communication strategies and measuring engagement outcomes. You will create initiatives that strengthen the employee experience, translate data into action, and collaborate with leaders to drive participation, recognition, and a positive culture.

Proficiency in Canva, newsletters, and MS Office is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, HR, Public Relations, or a related field preferred.
• 1-2 years of experience in internal communications, employee engagement, human resources, or corporate communications.
• Graphic design experience using Canva is a requirement.
• Excellent written, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret employee data, engagement surveys, communication metrics, and participation trends to inform decision-making.
• Experience creating newsletters and employee communications using Microsoft Office and digital communication platforms.
• Experience with UKG or other HCM systems is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Professional, collaborative, and customer-service focused with excellent interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute internal communication strategies that strengthen employee engagement and organizational alignment.
• Create and manage communications across multiple channels, including newsletters, digital platforms, executive messaging, and recognition campaigns.
• Maintain employee communication platforms, including UKG Home Page Gadgets, ensuring timely, consistent, and brand-aligned messaging.
• Monitor engagement and communication metrics to identify trends and measure program effectiveness.
• Translate data into actionable recommendations that improve employee participation, recognition, and engagement.
• Prepare dashboards and reports for leadership and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead company-wide recognition programs, including Service Awards, Team Member of the Month, promotions, and milestone celebrations.
• Coordinate executive and Home Office onboarding communications and support employee appreciation events and engagement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the employee experience through innovative communication and recognition strategies.
• Partner with Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Operations, Marketing, and leadership to support organizational initiatives and drive employee engagement.
• Consult with stakeholders to develop communication strategies that support business priorities, organizational change, and company culture.

Skills

Written communication

Editing

Proofreading

Analytical skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, HR, Public Relations, or related field

Tools

Canva

Microsoft Office

UKG

Job description

Thompson Hospitality in Reston, VA is seeking an HR Communications Assistant to support our Employee Engagement team, developing communication strategies and measuring engagement outcomes. You will create initiatives that strengthen the employee experience, translate data into action, and collaborate with leaders to drive participation, recognition, and a positive culture.

Proficiency in Canva, newsletters, and MS Office is required.