Sr. Communications Specialist

Markel; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Markel is seeking a Communications Specialist to create, manage, and deliver clear, audience-specific communications that support business and technology change initiatives. You will partner with Change Managers, business leaders, Product, IT, and subject matter experts to ensure stakeholders understand what is changing, why it matters, and what actions are required.

You will develop and maintain change communications, leadership messaging, release communications, and employee-facing content to

Responsibilities

• Change Communications: Develop and execute communication plans for business and technology initiatives.
• Leadership and Stakeholder Enablement: Draft leadership communications, manager toolkits, talking points, and team-ready messages.
• Release Communications: Coordinate, review, edit, update, and publish weekly and monthly release notes.
• Training and Enablement Support: Assist in developing training materials, presentations, and learning assets.
• Change Management Office Support: Provide communication planning and execution support across multiple change initiatives.

Job description

What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it.

The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special! The Communications Specialist creates, manages, and delivers clear, engaging, and audience-specific communications that support business and technology change initiatives. This role partners with Change Managers, business leaders, Product, IT, and subject matter experts to ensure stakeholders understand what is changing, why it matters, and what actions are required.

The Communications Specialist develops and maintains change communications, leadership messaging, release communications, knowledge articles, and employee-facing content that build awareness, readiness, and adoption. The role also supports training and enablement efforts and provides general operational support to the Change Management Office.

Change Communications

• Develop and execute communication plans for business and technology initiatives.
• Create, edit, update, and publish clear communications across email, Teams, SharePoint, presentations, videos, and other channels.
• Translate complex business and technical information into concise content tailored to specific audiences.
• Ensure communications align with organizational goals, messaging standards, and change strategies.
• Support campaigns that build awareness, readiness, adoption, and sustained behavior change.

Leadership and Stakeholder Enablement

• Draft leadership communications, presentations, manager toolkits, talking points, and team-ready messages.
• Partner with leaders and Change Managers to tailor communications for executives, managers, and employees.
• Recommend communication timing, channels, audience segmentation, and message sequencing.
• Support two-way communication and stakeholder feedback.

Release Communications

• Coordinate, review, edit, update, and publish weekly and monthly release notes.
• Partner with Product, IT, and business teams to gather and organize release information.
• Ensure release content is accurate, clear, business-focused, and action-oriented.
• Maintain standards and reusable templates for release communications.

Training and Enablement Support

• Assist in developing training materials, presentations, job aids, FAQs, quick reference guides, and other learning assets.
• Collaborate with trainers and Change Managers to align communications and learning materials.
• Support training communications and post-training reinforcement activities.

Change Management Office Support

• Provide communication planning and execution support across multiple change initiatives.
• Maintain communication templates, standards, calendars, and best practices.
• Track communication engagement metrics and recommend improvements.