Penn State Job Catalog

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Missing levels within the leveling matrix can be added based on business need.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Strategic Communications - Marketing and Communications

The Strategic Communications Specialist - Marketing and Communications works within the University's Office of Strategic Communications; provides strategic guidance and hands-on execution for the University's brand, reputation, enrollment, and engagement efforts; supports University-wide, high-priority initiatives by aligning brand strategy, integrated storytelling, advertising campaigns, and audience engagement to advance institutional goals; collaborates closely with teams across Strategic Communications and the broader University to develop, execute, analyze, and optimize campaigns and content; represents the University's voice to a global audience; provides counsel, training, and best practices to University communicators.

• Collaborate in the development, planning, and execution of enrollment, brand, and reputation campaigns
• Align messaging, creative assets, and channel strategies with the University's brand platform and audience goals
• Develop project creative briefs, messaging frameworks, and communications plans
• Identify opportunities for high-impact, University-wide storytelling that supports brand and other strategic priorities
• Write, edit, proofread, and optimize copy; source graphics, photography, and video content
• Gather background research, assets, and benchmarking insights to inform content strategy
• Assist in facilitating integrated content meetings and cross-functional communications planning
• Collaborate with other staff in the Office of Strategic Communications to extend the reach and impact of stories across platforms
• Collaborate with staff in Strategic Communications to tailor content to platform-specific audiences and goals
• Provide timely, accurate, and professional customer service to followers via comments and direct messages; develop saved responses and workflows for frequently asked questions and recurring issues
• Support monitoring of social media channels and broader digital conversations for issues that may negatively impact the University's brand and reputation, escalating emerging issues to appropriate teams and leadership and contributing to response strategy and messaging
• Support Strategic Communications' issues, crisis, internal, and proactive media teams as needed
• Provide insights into social sentiment, trends, and public reaction to University actions and positions
• Track asset and content performance over time to inform future creative and strategic decisions
• Serve as a trusted adviser to University communicators, faculty, and staff on brand strategy, messaging, and social media best practices
• Consult on campus advertising, creative, and social campaigns to ensure alignment with University priorities and standards
• May oversee and mentor student employees, interns, and brand ambassadors who support content creation and engagement efforts
• May supervise or mentor staff members, including hiring, training/development, and performance management

Level:

– Principal Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $81,312.00
• MidPoint – $101,664.00
• Maximum – $122,016.00

• Advertising
• Advertising campaigns
• Brand management
• Communication design
• Communications planning
• Content creation
• Proofreading
• Public relations
• Social media management
• Web analytics
• Web design