Communications Specialist

Communications SpecialistThe Communications Specialist is a key member of the Media Relations team within the Office of University Communications (OUC). Reporting to the Director of Media Relations, the position supports enterprise-wide public relations, media relations, issues management, media events, and strategic communications activities that enhance Howard University's visibility, elevate its academic and research enterprise, and protect and strengthen the University's reputation.The Communications Specialist develops and executes communications plans, media strategies, and high-quality written materials for external and internal audiences. The position proactively identifies and pitches stories; responds to media inquiries; develops press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, briefing materials, and other communications; and supports University leaders, faculty experts, and other spokespersons in media engagements.Serving as a communications liaison to an assigned portfolio of schools, colleges, academic units, and/or administrative offices, the Specialist builds strong relationships with campus partners to identify compelling stories and communications opportunities that elevate faculty expertise, research and innovation, academic achievements, student success, institutional initiatives, and the University's broader impact. The position also collaborates across OUC on editorial, digital, social, multimedia, and executive communications to support integrated institutional storytelling.The Communications Specialist supervises and provides guidance to student interns and/or student workers assigned to support media relations and communications activities. The Specialist serves as communications liaison to a designated portfolio of schools, colleges, academic units, centers, institutes, and/or administrative offices. The position supports the Director of Media Relations and senior OUC leadership in executing proactive and responsive media relations, issues management, and reputation-building strategies. The Specialist develops and maintains productive working relationships with journalists, producers, faculty experts, University leaders, campus communicators, and other key stakeholders.The Communications Specialist serves as a point of contact for media inquiries, coordinating timely, accurate responses and connecting journalists with appropriate University spokespersons and subject matter experts. The position develops and executes proactive media relations plans that increase positive visibility for Howard University, its faculty, research, academic programs, students, alumni, and institutional priorities. The Specialist researches, identifies, develops, and pitches compelling story ideas to local, national, trade, higher education, and industry-specific media outlets. The position builds and maintains relationships with reporters, editors, producers, assignment desks, podcast producers, and other media professionals whose coverage aligns with University priorities and areas of expertise. The Specialist creates and maintains targeted media lists, journalist databases, subject matter expert resources, and media archives. The position collaborates with senior media relations staff to build and maintain a University subject matter expert database and identify faculty and administrative spokespersons for media opportunities. The Specialist monitors the University community, academic enterprise, research activity, and external news cycle to identify timely opportunities for expert commentary, thought leadership, and institutional storytelling.The Communications Specialist researches source materials and writes, edits, and fact-checks press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, media briefings, Q&As, fact sheets, backgrounders, pitches, executive remarks, op-eds, and other strategic communications materials. The position develops clear, audience-appropriate messaging that translates complex academic, research, policy, operational, and institutional information into accessible and compelling communications. The Specialist prepares briefing materials and interview preparation documents for University leaders, faculty experts, and other spokespersons; participates in media preparation sessions and staff interviews as assigned. The position applies AP Style, University editorial standards, brand voice, and established approval protocols consistently across communications materials. The Specialist exercises strong news judgment and editorial judgment to ensure content is accurate, timely, relevant, and aligned with institutional priorities.The Communications Specialist serves as the primary OUC media relations liaison for an assigned portfolio of University schools, colleges, academic units, centers, institutes, and/or administrative offices. The position develops working knowledge of assigned units, including faculty expertise, research priorities, academic programs, major initiatives, leadership priorities, events, and emerging communications needs. The Specialist meets regularly with designated campus partners to develop communications and media plans, identify newsworthy stories, anticipate upcoming announcements, and build a sustainable pipeline of institutional storytelling. The position advises campus partners on media relations opportunities, messaging, communications planning, spokesperson preparation, and approaches to elevating faculty expertise and institutional achievements. The Specialist coordinates with school, college, and administrative communicators to promote consistency in messaging and alignment with University-wide communications priorities.The Communications Specialist collaborates with OUC editorial colleagues to develop news stories, profiles, announcements, web content, and other editorial materials for University channels. The position works across OUC media relations, editorial, social media, digital, multimedia, creative services, internal communications, and executive communications functions to extend and amplify priority stories across platforms. The Specialist identifies opportunities to adapt media relations content for University websites, newsletters, social channels, multimedia storytelling, executive communications, and other owned platforms. The position collaborates with photographers, videographers, digital content staff, and creative partners to identify visual and multimedia assets that strengthen media outreach and institutional storytelling.The Communications Specialist supports the Director of Media Relations and OUC leadership in issues management and crisis communications, including research, media monitoring, rapid-response messaging, talking points, statements, Q&As, and media coordination. The position monitors emerging media narratives, reputational issues, and external developments that may affect the University and promptly elevates significant developments to appropriate leadership. The Specialist assists with development of proactive and reactive communications strategies that provide accurate information, protect institutional credibility, and support timely stakeholder communications. The position maintains discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive, confidential, high-profile, or rapidly evolving matters.The Communications Specialist assists in planning and executing press conferences, media briefings, interviews, announcements, and other media-facing events. The position coordinates media logistics, credentials, interview schedules, briefing materials, media staging, and on-site press interactions. The Specialist staffs University faculty experts, and other spokespersons during media interviews and high-profile events as assigned. The position coordinates with multimedia, photography, digital, events, public safety, and other University partners to support successful media events.The Communications Specialist monitors print, broadcast, digital, social, and trade media coverage of Howard University, higher education, assigned portfolio areas, and relevant emerging issues. The position uses industry media intelligence and monitoring platforms to track coverage, journalist activity, share of voice, sentiment, reach, message penetration, and other relevant performance indicators. The Specialist develops and maintains electronic media monitoring files, coverage reports, media archives, and metrics presentations. The position prepares timely media summaries, analyses, and reports for OUC and University leadership, identifying trends, opportunities, reputational considerations, and communications implications. The Specialist evaluates media relations campaigns and outreach efforts using quantitative and qualitative measures and applies insights to improve future strategies.The Communications Specialist works collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, University leadership, and campus communicators to secure information and develop accurate, high-quality communications content. The position manages multiple communications projects, media requests, assignments, and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining responsiveness, accuracy, and high editorial standards. The Specialist maintains organized project files, media contacts, source materials, approvals, and communications records in accordance with OUC practices. The position participates in OUC planning meetings, cross-functional project teams, and campus communicator initiatives. The Specialist provides professional, responsive service to internal and external stakeholders and contributes to a collaborative, high-performing communications culture.The Communications Specialist stays current on evolving media trends, newsroom practices, higher education communications, digital journalism, artificial intelligence, media intelligence tools, and emerging communications technologies. The position uses generative AI and emerging tools responsibly, where appropriate and consistent with University policy, to support research, ideation, workflow efficiency, and communications development while maintaining human editorial oversight, accuracy, confidentiality, and institutional standards. The Specialist identifies opportunities to improve media relations workflows, communications planning, measurement, and cross-campus collaboration. The position performs other duties as assigned.Core competencies include demonstrated experience in media relations, public relations, strategic communications, journalism, or related communications environments. The position requires strong news judgment and knowledge of media relations practices, including proactive pitching, reporter engagement, spokesperson coordination, media events, and issues management. Exceptional writing, editing, research, and verbal communication skills are necessary, with demonstrated proficiency in AP Style and the ability to produce accurate, compelling content on short deadlines. The Specialist must translate complex academic, research, institutional, policy, and operational information into clear and accessible communications for diverse audiences. Experience using media monitoring, media intelligence, journalist database, and reporting platforms to conduct research, track coverage, identify media opportunities, and measure communications outcomes is required. Knowledge of contemporary communications channels and the relationship among earned media, owned media, social media, digital content, multimedia, and executive communications is necessary. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with journalists, senior leaders, faculty experts, students, staff, and communications colleagues are essential. Sound judgment, discretion, critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving ability, particularly in high-profile, sensitive, or rapidly changing communications situations, are required. Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple assignments, competing deadlines, and complex approval processes, are necessary. The position requires the ability to work independently within defined responsibilities while collaborating effectively across teams and contributing to enterprise communications priorities. Demonstrated cultural competence and ability to establish effective working relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds are essential. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with content management systems, media monitoring platforms, database tools