Specialist, Corporate Communications

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); Alexandria (VA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule (3 days in-office/2 in

Health, dental, vision

Well-being programs

Retirement plan

Open leave

Annual discretionary bonus

Job summary

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) seeks a Specialist, Corporate Communications to develop and coordinate internal and external communications. The role supports executive communications, employee engagement initiatives, and production of written and digital materials for SHRM and its subsidiaries.

The position reports to the Manager, CEO Communications and requires strong writing, organizational, and project coordination skills to manage multiple priorities and work with stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism or related field preferred.
• Equivalent relevant experience in lieu of degree.

Responsibilities

• Support CEO speaking engagements by researching, drafting talking points and briefing materials, and developing PowerPoint presentations.
• Draft internal staff communications on behalf of the CEO, ensuring clarity and alignment with messaging.
• Coordinate communications activities and deliverables for special projects supporting the Chief Marketing Officer.
• Support employee engagement initiatives through the weekly internal newsletter and HR collab on employee communications.
• Coordinate planning, communications, and logistics for employee engagement activities and all-hands meetings.
• Maintain SHRM intranet and external communications materials for accuracy and relevance.
• Draft and coordinate external SHRM communications related to news and events with stakeholders.
• Coordinate activities for SHRM's industry analyst relations program and engagements.
• Support planning and coordination of analyst participation at SHRM's annual conference.
• Collaborate with Events to coordinate analyst logistics and experiences.
• Manage multiple concurrent communications and marketing projects with schedules and status updates.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and progress communications.
• Collaborate with SMEs and vendors to support project execution.
• Coordinate print and digital communications materials for organizational initiatives.

Skills

Strong writing

Project coordination

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Adaptability

AI-assisted workflows

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Office

AI tools

Job description

Summary

The Specialist, Corporate Communications is responsible for developing and coordinating internal and external communications that support SHRM's organizational objectives. As part of the Communications Team, this role creates content for executive communications, supports employee engagement initiatives, and develops written and digital materials to meet the communications needs of SHRM and its subsidiaries.

Reporting to the Manager, CEO Communications, the Specialist collaborates with cross-functional teams to coordinate communications projects, manage assigned deliverables, and support initiatives aligned with SHRM's mission and objectives. The role requires strong writing, organizational, and project coordination skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively with stakeholders at various levels.

Responsibilities

Executive Communications

• Collaborate with the Executive Communications team to support CEO speaking engagements by conducting research, drafting talking points and briefing materials, and developing PowerPoint presentations.
• Draft internal staff communications on behalf of the CEO, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with organizational messaging.
• Coordinate communications activities and deliverables for special projects supporting the Chief Marketing Officer.

Employee Engagement and Internal Communications

• Support employee engagement initiatives through the development and distribution of the weekly internal newsletter and collaboration with HR on employee communications.
• Coordinate planning, communications, and logistics for employee engagement activities, including staff events and all-hands meetings.
• Maintain and update internal communications platforms, including the SHRM intranet, ensuring content is accurate, relevant, and accessible.
• Draft and coordinate external communications related to SHRM news and relevant events, collaborating with internal stakeholders to support appropriate messaging and distribution.

Analyst Relations

• Coordinate activities supporting SHRM's industry analyst relations program, including communications, scheduling, and engagement opportunities.
• Serve as a point of contact for the industry analyst agency, coordinating deliverables and supporting ongoing program activities.
• Support planning and coordination of industry analyst participation at SHRM's annual conference.
• Collaborate with the Events team to coordinate logistics and ensure a positive experience for participating analysts.

Communications and Project Coordination

• Coordinate multiple concurrent communications and marketing projects, ensuring assigned activities and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and status updates, communicating progress and identifying potential challenges.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, subject matter experts, and external vendors to support project execution.
• Coordinate the development and production of print and digital communications materials to support organizational initiatives.

Continuous Improvement and Special Initiatives

• Contribute ideas and recommendations to enhance communications effectiveness, employee engagement, and project execution.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, streamline workflows, and apply lessons learned to future initiatives.
• Participate in special projects and cross-functional initiatives as assigned.
• Provide communications and project coordination support for time-sensitive requests and organizational priorities.

Education & Experience Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism or a related field preferred or equivalent relevant experience in lieu of degree.

Experience

• Three (3) or more years of experience in project management, corporate communications, or marketing role, with a proven track record of delivering complex projects successfully.
• Experience developing written communications for internal and external audiences.
• Experience coordinating projects, managing multiple deliverables, and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience supporting executive communications, employee engagement, or corporate events preferred.

Certifications - NA

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop clear, concise, and engaging content tailored to various audiences.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments, prioritize competing deadlines, and deliver quality work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly PowerPoint, and familiarity with project management and digital communications tools.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, senior leaders, and external partners while maintaining professionalism and discretion.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to ensure accuracy and consistency in communications materials.
• Ability to work independently on assigned responsibilities while seeking guidance on complex or sensitive matters.
• Resourcefulness, adaptability, and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for process and communications improvements.
• Ability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and improve overall work quality.

Physical Requirements

This position operates in a typical office environment (which includes a home office setting) and requires the ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical requirements may include:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, handling documents, and using office equipment.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds as needed.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with colleagues and stakeholders.

Work Environment

Hybrid Schedule (3 Days In-Office/2 Days Remote)

This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with Tuesday through Thursday in office and Monday and Friday remote. Employees must be available during standard business hours, with core hours beginning between 8:00-9:00 a.m. and concluding between 5:00-6:00 p.m. local time.

Travel: Occasional 0-10%

#LI

The hiring range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000 per year. This range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.