Communication Specialist

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

4d•$5,877 - $8,561•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Student Success (OSS) at Cal Poly Pomona provides institutional leadership for advancing student success by developing and implementing strategies that promote academic achievement, persistence, graduation, and post-graduate success. Guided by the university's commitment to inclusive excellence, equity, and student-centered innovation, OSS works to ensure that every student has equitable access to the resources, opportunities, and support needed to thrive academically, personally, and professionally. Working collaboratively across academic colleges and administrative divisions, OSS leads a coordinated and holistic approach to student success by aligning academic advising, learning support, career development, student engagement, and data-informed decision-making. The office provides leadership in academic policy, academic petitions, and university-wide initiatives that strengthen student retention, improve timely degree completion, and advance equitable outcomes for all students. Through high-impact educational practices, culturally responsive programming, and proactive student support, OSS fosters academic momentum and helps students navigate their academic journey with confidence and purpose. By removing barriers to success and creating pathways for engagement and achievement, the office advances Cal Poly Pomona's commitment to preparing graduates who are equipped to lead and succeed in an increasingly diverse and dynamic world. The Office of Student Success oversees a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services that support students throughout their educational journey. These include the Bronco Advising Center; the Bronco Scholars Program; the Career Center; CSU AANHPI Initiatives; the Early Assessment Program (EAP); E-Advising Tools; First Year Experience (FYE); Graduation Pledge Programs; I Am First; the Learning Resource Center; the PolyTransfer Program; Pre-Health Professional Advising; Project CAMINOS; the Reading, Advising, and Mentoring Program (TRIO SSS); Student Success Communication; Testing Services; Undeclared & Exploratory Advising; and University Advising. Together, these programs provide coordinated academic guidance, learning support, career readiness, transition services, and targeted interventions that empower students from enrollment through graduation and beyond.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree - Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
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Four years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
Thorough and advanced knowledge and understanding of marketing, branding, communications, public relations, and related roles.
Thorough knowledge of and ability to effectively use media outlets, including planning media coverage and media publicity campaigns for the university and events.
Demonstrated ability to keep abreast of campus events and subject matter expertise in relation to current events to identify and capitalize on media opportunities that will promote the university and increase positive media coverage.
Demonstrated competence in independently applying advanced judgment to create and implement strategies and initiatives.
Proven experience in developing and implementing strategies and campaigns, with a record of accomplishment of achieving measurable results.
Advanced analytical and organizational skills to organize, prioritize, and manage the successful completion of initiatives and projects within time and budget constraints.
Ability to analyze and select pertinent facts and integrate them into communication vehicles.
Strong story development and journalistic writing skills, as well as advanced editorial skills.
Knowledge of interview techniques and the ability to define and deliver media messages.
Working knowledge of marketing and research techniques and methods.
Ability to apply market research to identify communication needs and target audiences.
Ability to apply appropriate statistical techniques and methods to research.
Advanced public and internal relations skills to effectively represent the university, engage and collaborate with internal stakeholders, and manage and/or negotiate vendor partnerships.
Advanced communication and interpersonal skills to build and foster strong relationships as well as drive change initiatives.
Advanced skill in mentoring or overseeing the work of others.
Advanced skill to appropriately use technology and relevant event planning and management tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and implementing strategic, integrated communication and marketing plans for diverse audiences, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex organization.
Demonstrated experience leading complex communication projects, collaborating across organizational boundaries, and providing lead work direction or professional guidance.
Experience developing multi-channel campaigns and using analytics and assessment to improve communication strategies.
Familiarity with emerging communication technologies, including AI-enabled and digital engagement tools, and demonstrated ability to translate complex information and data into clear, engaging communications for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated communication strategy across the Advising, Career, and Academic Engagement & Success portfolios.
Advise the Associate Provost for Student Success and Student Success leaders on communication priorities, messaging, audiences, communication approaches, and emerging communication needs.
Lead communication strategy for complex and cross-functional initiatives that span multiple areas of the Student Success portfolio.
Develop coordinated communication approaches that connect students with academic advising, academic support and engagement opportunities, career development, employer engagement, and other resources throughout the student lifecycle.
Develop integrated communication strategies for targeted student populations, including new students, transfer students, continuing students, part-time students, stop-out students, and students approaching critical academic, enrollment, or career milestones.
Develop and lead communication and marketing strategies for Student Success signature events, including audience identification, key messaging, promotional strategy, communication timelines, channel selection, and assessment.
Provide strategic communication guidance for major Career Center programs and events, including career fairs, career readiness initiatives, employer engagement activities, and other high-impact programs.
Identify opportunities to integrate career development messaging into broader Student Success communications and connect students with career resources throughout their academic journey.
Partner with Student Success leaders to translate complex programs, policies, processes, and initiatives into clear and actionable communications.
Collaborate with Enrollment Management on communications supporting new student onboarding, continuing student enrollment, registration, retention, and other critical enrollment activities.
Partner with Student Accounting & Cashiering Services on communications related to financial processes that may affect enrollment and persistence.
Collaborate with New Student Programs & Family Engagement on communication strategies supporting orientation and new student transition.
Partner with Strategic Communications on university-wide campaigns and major Student Success initiatives to ensure alignment with university priorities, messaging, and brand standards.
Collaborate with Information Technology and Institutional Research on communication components of MyCPP and other student-facing technologies.
Develop presentations, reports, talking points, announcements, and other strategic communications supporting the Associate Provost for Student Success and Student Success priorities.
Represent Student Success on university committees and cross-divisional initiatives involving student communication, engagement, career readiness, marketing, and technology.
Serve as the professional communications lead across Advising, Career, and Academic Engagement & Success, promoting an integrated approach while maintaining clear responsibility within each portfolio.
Provide lead work direction, mentoring, and professional guidance to the Communications Specialist supporting Advising and Academic Engagement & Success and the Career Center marketing and communications professional.
Establish broad communication priorities and provide guidance on major campaigns, audiences, messaging, communication channels, brand alignment, and complex communication projects.
Facilitate regular communication planning across the team, including shared calendars, coordinated campaigns, cross-promotion, and exchange of resources and best practices.
Foster collaboration between the Communications Specialist and Career Center marketing and communications professional as peer partners within the broader Student Success communications team.
Identify opportunities to connect academic progress, student engagement, career development, employer engagement, and post-graduation preparation through coordinated messaging and campaigns.
Provide strategic guidance on major Career Center communication and marketing campaigns while supporting the Career Center marketing professional's responsibility for day-to-day execution.
Provide strategic oversight of Billy Chat, including overall campaign strategy, communication priorities, audience segmentation, platform effectiveness, and alignment with broader Student Success priorities.
Partner with the Communications Specialist II, who manages Billy Chat's day-to-day operations, campaign calendar, content, knowledge base, and student inquiries.
Ensure programs and opportunities across Advising, Career, and Academic Engagement & Success are appropriately represented through Billy Chat and other shared Student Success communication channels.
Review Billy Chat engagement and campaign results to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for targeted and proactive outreach.
Coordinate with Information Technology, Enrollment Management, campus subject matter experts, and other partners on significant Billy Chat enhancements, integrations, content strategies, and new functionality.
Establish workflows and project management practices that strengthen coordination, consistency, and efficiency across Student Success communications.
Lead assessment of communication strategies and channels across the Advising, Career, and Academic Engagement & Success portfolios.
Gather and analyze communication and student engagement data from Billy Chat, Tableau, websites, social media, email platforms, surveys, and other available sources.
Work with communications staff and Student Success leaders to establish appropriate measures for evaluating campaign effectiveness and student engagement.
Analyze student engagement with advising, academic support, engagement opportunities, career services, career events, and employer opportunities to identify communication gaps and opportunities.
Design or coordinate surveys, focus groups, and other feedback methods to better understand student communication preferences, experiences, and needs.
Regularly review Student Success digital communications for accuracy, clarity, accessibility, relevance, consistency, and ease of use and recommend improvements.
Partner with Enrollment Management to review enrollment-related forms, websites, and communications and identify opportunities to simplify, streamline, and standardize student-facing information.
Evaluate existing and emerging communication technologies, including AI-powered platforms, text messaging, mobile communications, social media, and interactive content.
Research higher education communication and marketing trends, including emerging approaches to student engagement, career readiness communications, and employer-facing communications.
Use assessment findings to recommend improvements to communication strategies, processes, technologies, audience segmentation, and delivery methods.
Develop communication assessment and engagement summaries that demonstrate outcomes and inform future communication priorities.
Lead or provide strategic communications support for special projects assigned by the Associate Provost for Student Success.
Develop communication strategies for emerging Student Success and Academic Affairs priorities requiring coordination across Advising, Career, Academic Engagement & Success, or other university areas.
Lead communications for initiatives that cut across multiple Student Success portfolios.
Support development of the Student Success Annual Report, strategic plan updates, major presentations, and other materials communicating Student Success outcomes and accomplishments.
Develop communication strategies for initiatives related to summer enrollment, completion, re-engagement, career readiness, and other emerging Student Success priorities.
Support communications associated with new programs, partnerships, technologies, organizational changes, or initiatives requiring advanced professional judgment.
Identify opportunities to highlight Student Success accomplishments, student outcomes, career readiness initiatives, employer partnerships, program achievements, and innovative practices.
Coordinate with university partners on special communication initiatives that advance Student Success and Academic Affairs priorities.