HR Communications Assistant

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

Overview

Thompson Hospitality is seeking a HR Communications Assistant to support our Employee Engagement team. In this role, you will develop communication strategies, measure engagement outcomes, and create initiatives that strengthen the employee experience. This role requires someone who can connect communication efforts with business objectives, interpret engagement data, identify trends, and recommend solutions that improve employee participation, recognition, and organizational culture.

The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator who understands how to translate data into meaningful action, build engagement across a diverse workforce, and collaborate with leaders to drive measurable results.

Responsibilities

Employee Engagement & Communications

• 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.

Engagement Strategy & Analytics

• 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.

Employee Experience

• 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.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Human Resources, 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 Human Capital Management (HCM) systems is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Professional, collaborative, and customer-service focused with excellent interpersonal skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain seated and work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to regularly use a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other standard office equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through digital communication platforms.
• Ability to occasionally move throughout the office and attend meetings, events, and employee engagement activities.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry office materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work in a standard office environment with extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and occasional bending or reaching.
• Requires close visual acuity for reading, analyzing data, reviewing written communications, and working on a computer.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Who We Are:

Thompson Hospitalityis of the largest restaurants, food service, and facilities management companies in the country. We are highly built upon our values, do the right thing, do the best you can, and treat others how you want to be treated, which are shaped by more than 33 years of relationships with our clients, guests, and communities. We offer competitive benefits, see our website for more. https://www.thompsonhospitality.com/

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.