Type of Appointment: Full Time, Probationary

Job Classification: Public Affairs/ Communications Specialist II

Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,146 - $5,316 per month

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm


THE DEPARTMENT:

The Dean's Office in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is the administrative unit responsible for 12 academic departments, over 130 tenured and tenure track faculty, more than 200 temporary faculty, and over 40 staff members. The college generates the largest amount of FTEs each quarter and has the second largest budget among the eight academic colleges and school.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Content Development and Strategic Communication Leadership

• Use independent judgment and strategic insight to create, write, edit, and review compelling written and visual communications tailored to a wide range of audiences including students, faculty, alumni, and potential students and their supporters. This includes print materials including fact sheets, posters, and programs, as well as digital communications such as websites, newsletters, social media, digital signage, and video content.
• Lead the development and implementation of a cohesive college communications strategy that aligns with the college’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities and department priorities.
• Ensure the college’s key messages are effectively communicated and that all materials meet both college and university branding, editorial, and accessibility standards.
• Ensure consistency of messaging and tone across all channels and platforms.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Dean and senior leadership on matters of communication and positioning.
• Collaborate with and support faculty and staff across 12 academic departments in the humanities, social sciences, and performing arts to elevate the visibility and impact of the college.
• Act as the college’s liaison to the university’s Department of Strategic Communications, ensuring alignment between college-level and university-wide messaging.
• Work in close partnership with the Dean’s Office to anticipate and respond to high-priority communication needs and emerging opportunities including presentations and reports.
• Provide consultation and leadership on communications to faculty and staff and serve on college and university committees as needed.

Event Planning

• Collaborate with college and department staff in the planning and coordination of high-profile and mission-critical events—both in person and virtual—that showcase the college’s initiatives, research, and community engagement.
• Develop promotional content (flyers, digital invitations), and assist with securing venues or virtual platforms, managing logistics, and executing communication strategies that increase event visibility and attendance. This includes regular events (e.g., fall conference, open house, commencement) and ad hoc events (e.g., donor recognition, alumni panels) with a focus on enhancing college reputation and community engagement.

Marketing and Impact Measurement

• Develop and execute marketing plans that support strategic goals and drive engagement with key audiences, including prospective students, alumni, donors, and community partners.
• Maintain and update the college’s digital presence, including timely content creation for websites and active engagement on social media platforms.
• Monitor performance across channels, engage in real-time conversations, and identify trends that can inform content strategy.
• Develop, track, and analyze communication metrics to assess effectiveness, inform continuous improvement, and demonstrate impact.
• Prepare and present regular reports with actionable recommendations to college leadership, contributing to data-informed decision-making in marketing and communications.

Student Intern

• Supervision and Mentorship Supervise and mentor undergraduate student interns who support the college’s communications, events, and advancement activities for approximately 10 hours per week during the academic term.
• Develop meaningful assignments that allow students to contribute to priority projects in areas such as event planning, fundraising/advancement, social media content creation, website updates, and internal communications and meet learning outcomes.
• Provide onboarding and ongoing training to ensure students understand the goals, tools, and standards related to their work.
• Encourage professional development by exposing students to team-based collaboration, communications workflows, and operational practices, including front desk and general office support.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive work environment that promotes learning, accountability, and initiative.
• Serve as a consistent resource and supervisor throughout the term, holding regular check-ins, offering constructive feedback, and helping students reflect on and articulate the skills they are gaining.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree in public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field with demonstrated experience in storytelling, editing especially on digital platforms
• Up to two years related professional or technical experience.
• Comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of communications, strategic communications, media, and/or marketing theories and concepts in order to develop and execute communications strategies and plans to promote and position the university.
• Expert knowledge of university communication objectives and ability to translate them into effective communication and media campaigns.
• Ability to understand issues from a broad, strategic perspective.
• Ability to effectively manage media relations and apply effective media strategies and techniques.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in communication, writing, or journalism and/or ten years of relevant professional experience.
• Previous experience in a higher educational environment.
• Previous experience in using website content manager system.
• The ability to initiate projects, and work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Demonstrated experience in writing, design, layout, editing, printing, production and distribution of promotional materials, both printed and web-based.
• Working knowledge of and ability to apply standard theories, practices, principles and techniques related to communications in the public affairs, media, marketing, and/or sports information areas.
• Thorough knowledge of and ability to use effectively media outlets including planning media coverage and media publicity campaigns for the university and events.
• Ability to build and manage more sophisticated media contacts.
• 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.
• Working knowledge of copyright and other applicable laws pertaining to publications and the media.
• Thorough knowledge of web communication techniques, vehicles and formats.
• Ability to effectively use web technology to achieve communication goals.
• 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 or sports information.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including strong public speaking, listening and interpretive skills.
• Ability to provide lead work direction.

Out of State Work

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers. Part of CSU’s mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture, and future. As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California. The CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. For more information, go to the California State University Out-of-State Employment Policy.

Background Check

Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment to final job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check). The conditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. In determining the suitability of the candidate for the position, Cal Poly Pomona will give an individualized assessment to any information that the applicant submits for consideration regarding the criminal conviction history such as the nature, gravity and recency of the conviction, the candidate’s conduct, performance or rehabilitation efforts since the conviction and the nature of the job applied for. For more information, go to the California State University Background Check Policy.

CSU Classification Salary Range

This position is part of the CSUEU bargaining unit 9. The CSU Classification Standards for this position are located on the CSU Classification Standards website. The CSU Salary Schedule is located on the CSU Salary Schedule website. The classification salary range for this position according to the respective skill level is: minimum $4,146 and maximum $7,500 per month. Please refer to the anticipated hiring range for the appropriate salary rate for this particular position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. For more information, go the I-9 Acceptable Documents website.

University Driving Requirement

Positions that require driving for university business by using a personal or state vehicle must comply with the Authorized University Driver Policy. Driving records are monitored and evaluated by the Risk Management Department. The Risk Management Department evaluates a good driving report based on the following criteria. The driver must: 1. Have a valid California or other State Driver’s license. 2. Have no more than 3 motor vehicle violations or been the cause of 3 accidents in a 12-month period (or any combination of 3 thereof) 3. Not have more than 3 DMV Points, if their license is Class C or, 4. Not have more than 5 DMV Points, if their license is Class A, B, or C with endorsements. For more information, go to the Authorized University Driver Policy.

Conflict of Interest

This position is a “designated position” in the California State University’s Conflict of Interest Code. The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file financial interest disclosure forms subject to state regulations. For more information, go to the Conflict of Interest policy.

Security & Fire Safety

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing at the Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Fire Safety Report.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. For more information, see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision poster.

Reasonable Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at ADACoordinator@cpp.edu. For more information, go to Employment Notices.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Other Notices

For other important employment notices, we invite you to visit Cal Poly Pomona’s Employment Notices web page.