Pennsylvania State University
Change Management Communications Specialist
🇺🇸 Hybrid - University Park, PA
🕑 Full-Time
💰 $46K - $67K
💻 Communications
🗓️ October 17th, 2025
Edtech.com's Summary
The Pennsylvania State University is hiring a Change Management Communications Specialist. This role involves developing and executing strategic communications plans to effectively communicate institutional change initiatives to diverse University audiences. The specialist collaborates with multiple teams and university leaders to support change-related projects and broader communication priorities, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across the University community.
Highlights
- Develop comprehensive communication plans for faculty, staff, senior leaders, and external stakeholders to support change initiatives.
- Anticipate concerns and recommend consistent communication approaches for the university community.
- Collaborate with project teams and executive sponsors to align communications with project goals and timelines.
- Advise university leaders on messaging, tone, and communication strategies for change initiatives.
- Monitor and analyze communication impact using key performance indicators to refine strategies.
- Support broader office priorities and maintain university communication platforms, including websites and email channels.
- Required skills include excellent writing, ability to simplify complex topics, experience in executive messaging, and strong interpersonal skills.
- Preferred experience with large-scale, organization-wide communication planning and change-related communications.
- Minimum qualifications: Bachelor's degree and at least 1 year of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
- Salary range: $46,400 to $67,300 with a competitive benefits package including a 75% tuition discount.
Change Management Communications Specialist Full Description
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications—the University's central public relations and marketing division—seeks a Change Management Communications Specialist to help develop and execute strategic communications plans and collateral that will contribute to shaping how institutional change is communicated to and understood by members of the University community.
As part of the Internal Communications team in the Office of Strategic Communications, the successful candidate will collaborate with the division's social, proactive media, graphic design, and creative teams, as well as communicators, senior leadership, subject-matter experts, and other stakeholders throughout the University. While primarily focusing on helping to develop communications tactics and strategies to support change initiatives led by Penn State's Office of Enterprise Change and Transformation, this person will also work on broader communications priorities within the Office of Strategic Communications.
This is an excellent opportunity for a communicator who wants to help drive the progress and continued success of a major public university—one that educates more Pennsylvanians than any other institution of higher education and whose impacts spread to all corners of the state, nation, and world.
This position offers a hybrid work arrangement that combines remote and on-campus working.
Key Responsibilities:
- Help develop comprehensive communications plans designed for multiple audiences (including faculty, staff, senior leaders, and external stakeholders such as community members and news media) in support of change-related initiatives at Penn State
- Anticipate constituent concerns and recommend consistent communications approaches to meet them
- Encourage application of best practices in change communications that cross all major communications initiatives and bring consistency in approach for the University community
- Collaborate with project teams and executive sponsors to understand project goals, timelines, and stakeholder needs
- Assist with providing communications advice and support to university leaders who are leading change initiatives, offering guidance on key messages, tone, and approach
- Assist with monitoring key performance indicators and metrics to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of communications strategies and initiatives, using data analysis to continually refine communications strategies and approaches
- Collaborate with colleagues in the Office of Strategic Communications and other units across Penn State to promote consistency in messaging and standards
- Support other teams in the Office of Strategic Communications on presidential, institutional, and unit priorities
- Assist with maintaining various University-owned communications platforms, including websites and email communications dedicated to specific initiatives
Preferred Skills and Experience
The ideal candidate will:
- Be an excellent writer and communicator who can understand the needs and perspectives of target audiences and craft communications that address those needs and perspectives
- Have the ability to translate complex or data-heavy topics into understandable prose with appropriate framing
- Have experience developing executive messaging geared toward various audiences, including peers, advisory committees, University-wide leadership councils, and broader audiences
- Be comfortable advising on appropriate communications-related approaches for major strategic initiatives
- Have knowledge of the steps needed to strategize, develop, and execute large-scale communications plans
- Possess outstanding interpersonal, editing, and verbal communications skills
- Be a self-starter who works effectively alone and with others
- Have the ability to build authentic relationships with people at all levels of an organization
- Have a solid work ethic, sound judgment, and strong problem-solving skills
- Be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities
- Feel comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment while participating in and contributing to integrated teams
Experience with large-scale, organization-wide communications planning and execution is highly desired. Specific experience with change-related communications is preferred but not required.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSBachelor's Degree1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
acceptedRequired Certifications:None
About Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications
As Penn State's central public relations and marketing division, the Office of Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award-winning, best-in-class marketing and public relations team defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creative driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution's reputation in regional, national and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource and leadership goals.
Spanning Penn State's large-scale enterprise—including campus locations across Pennsylvania, nearly 90,000 students, and an alumni base exceeding 700,000—the Office of Strategic Communications' work encompasses all forms of communications and engagement, ranging from branding, marketing, and trademark and event management to internal communications, proactive and social media, research communications, and crisis and issues management. We've attracted talented and diverse team members from private and public sectors at all levels of our division, giving us the ability to build a strategic program of excellence recognized throughout the University.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCESEmployment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITSThe salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $46,400.00 - $67,300.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.
Similar Jobs
Associate Director for Communications
Colorado State University
🇺🇸 Fort Collins, CO
Assistant Communications Director
Syracuse University
🇺🇸 Syracuse, NY
Coordinator of Communications
University of Maryland
🇺🇸 Hybrid - College Park, MD
Director, Academic & EdTech Communications
Western Governors University
🇺🇸 Salt Lake City, UT
Assistant Director, Communications
Lehigh University
🇺🇸 Bethlehem, PA
