Specialist, Communications & Marketing Services

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications & Marketing Services Specialist provides strategic communications and marketing support to departments across Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). In partnership with departmental leaders and stakeholders, the Specialist advises on communications approaches, develops and executes content and marketing initiatives, and manages digital communications channels to enhance visibility, engagement, and audience reach.

The role plans, creates, and maintains communications materials, including web content, e-newsletters, event promotions, and digital campaigns. The Specialist manages communications workflows, prioritizes requests, and coordinates projects for timely, high-quality delivery consistent with institutional goals, accessibility requirements, and brand standards. Reporting to the Associate Director, Communications & Marketing Services, the Specialist serves as a trusted partner to assigned departments and independently manages projects and stakeholder relationships.

The position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a hybrid arrangement requiring at least three workdays per week on campus. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support events, communications initiatives, or departmental priorities. The standard schedule is 35 hours per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least three years of progressively responsible communications, marketing, public relations, digital communications, or related experience.
• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and content development skills.
• Experience creating and managing content across multiple communications channels.
• Familiarity with Drupal or similar content management systems.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently and drive projects to completion.
• Strong client service orientation and stakeholder relationship management skills.
• Understanding of digital communications best practices, web content strategy, accessibility standards, and branding principles.
• Experience developing newsletters, website content, and promotional communications.
• Comfort using AI tools and emerging technologies to support communications and content development.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Advise departments on communications and marketing strategies, tactics, and channels to increase awareness, engagement, and effectiveness.
• Consult with stakeholders to understand communications objectives and recommend appropriate approaches and solutions.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen outreach, storytelling, audience engagement, and brand visibility.
• Support departmental communications planning and campaign development.
• Lead the development, writing, editing, design coordination, and distribution of e-newsletters, website content, event promotions, digital communications, and marketing collateral.
• Develop content tailored to diverse audiences and communications channels, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, brand standards, and editorial best practices.
• Coordinate communications review and approval processes with stakeholders.
• Manage and maintain departmental websites using Drupal or similar content management systems.
• Ensure digital content is accurate, relevant, accessible, and usable; implement updates and improvements based on communications priorities and user needs.
• Monitor website content and recommend enhancements to improve user experience and engagement.
• Serve as a central point of contact for communications and marketing requests; triage, assess, and prioritize projects based on urgency, impact, and available resources.
• Identify and engage stakeholders, subject matter experts, and communications partners to advance projects.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, communications calendars, and workflow tracking processes.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and quality standards.
• Build relationships with departmental leaders, faculty, administrators, and colleagues, and provide responsive, customer-focused communications support and consultation.
• Collaborate with internal communications, marketing, digital, and creative teams to coordinate communications efforts.
• Present recommendations and communications solutions clearly and effectively to stakeholders.
• Support implementation of communications standards, policies, and best practices.
• Use data, analytics, and stakeholder feedback to improve communications effectiveness.
• Explore and use AI-enabled tools and technologies to improve productivity, content development, and workflow efficiency.
• Stay current with communications, marketing, digital content, and accessibility trends and best practices.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level