Senior Communications Specialist (Marketing Communications Professional III)

Job Description

Job Title

Senior Communications Specialist

Classification

Marketing Communications Professional III

Auto Req. ID

562883

Salary Range

Classification Range $5,877 - $8,561 per month

(Hiring range depending on qualifications, not anticipated to exceed $5,877 - $7,219 per month)

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; occasional early morning, evening and/or weekend hours.

Why CSUF

California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) is a leading public university committed to student success, academic excellence, and inclusive excellence. The university fosters a collaborative environment that supports teaching, research, and service while promoting innovation and professional growth. Cal State Fullerton is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and a recipient of the Seal of Excelencia (2021 and 2024) from Excelencia in Education. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a community dedicated to advancing student achievement, career success, and economic mobility.

Department

Strategic Communications and Brand Management plays an integral role in helping to shape and strengthen the institutions brand and advance in a wide range of institutional effectiveness. We are a team of creative, thoughtful, and empathetic storytellers that take pride in representing the university’s image and reputation through inspiring and motivating stories of our exceptional faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors. We seek an exceptional individual to join our Strategic Communications team as the Senior Communications Specialist (Marketing Communications Professional III). The ideal candidate in this role should have a positive attitude and an active, energetic mind characterized by highly ethical practices and a commitment to inclusivity, openness, flexibility, integrity, and kindness.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Communications Specialist plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission, vision, and priorities of CSUF through clear, authentic, and high-impact communications. Overseeing daily newsroom, editorial, and content, the Senior Communications Specialist is a creative problem-solver who drives strategic, multichannel storytelling, and implements editorial strategy across editorial channels: CSUF news, newsletters, and magazine. Working alongside the Assistant Editorial Director, Branding, Strategic Communications and Media Relations teams, the Senior Communications Specialist will contribute ideas, develop content, and edit content relevant to the university’s audiences, mission, and leadership priorities.

Reporting to the Director of Presidential Communications and Strategic Communications and working in close alignment with department leadership, the Senior Communications Specialist serves as a core writer, digital gatekeeper, and content strategist experienced with digital insights to inform editorial content development and posting/publication. The role ensures that the university's aspirational positioning, breaking news, and vital accountability-driven stories are effectively produced, optimized, and seen across all digital front-pages and channels. Other duties assigned.

Essential Qualifications

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field and four years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Works independently under general supervision, performs advanced work by exercising significant authority for most marketing and communications projects and responsibilities. Projects involve the execution of public affairs, media relations, publications, and marketing programs. The work is more complex, broader in scope and has significant impact on the success of the project or program. Applies professional knowledge or expertise in one or more specialty area, including developing and implementing strategic marketing and/or communication plans and initiatives. Work is focused on ensuring alignment with overall objectives. Demonstrates advanced discernment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Often accountable for smaller programs/projects or a major portion of a larger program/project. Oversees complex projects and initiatives to promote the university’s brand image and reputation. In collaboration with management, assesses, formulates, and evaluates marketing programs, processes, and procedures. Decision-making is based on marketing and communication best practices, standards, and guidelines; university policy; and overall marketing strategies and goals. The work involves daily contact with university management, members of the media, and other key constituencies. Conducts media outreach to build relationships and university credibility with the media. Handles multiple work priorities and may provide lead work direction with accountability for results.

Thorough and advanced knowledge and understanding of marketing, branding, communications, public relations, and related roles. Thorough knowledge of and ability to effectively use media outlets including planning media coverage and media publicity campaigns for the university and events. 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. Demonstrated competence in independently applying advanced judgment to create and implement strategies and initiatives. Proven experience in developing and implementing strategies and campaigns, with a record of accomplishment of achieving measurable results. Advanced analytical and organizational skills to organize, prioritize and manage the successful completion of initiatives and projects within time and budget constraints. 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. Advanced public and internal relations skills to effectively represent the university, engage and collaborate with internal stakeholders, and manage and/or negotiate vendor partnerships. Advanced communication and interpersonal skills to build and foster strong relationships as well as drive change initiatives. Advanced skill in mentoring or overseeing the work of others. Advanced skill to appropriately use technology and relevant event planning and management tools.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to complete the background check satisfactorily may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Preferred Qualifications

A master’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience, is a plus. A successful candidate will have a proven track record of designing creative storytelling formats and solving complex distribution, display, and multiplatform packaging challenges. Experience advising and collaborating with writers, student interns, freelancers, digital journalists, or other content contributors in a digital news environment is also preferred. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to leverage data visualization tools and interpret website, social media, and newsletter analytics to inform daily coverage decisions aligned with the institutional mission, leadership priorities, and key audience objectives. Experience coordinating with social media and web teams to provide routine insights and content performance reports that inform digital storytelling decisions is desirable. In addition, the candidate should have a strong understanding of media law, copyright guidelines, AP Style, and ethical standards related to emerging and changing technologies, including the responsible and ethical application of generative AI.

License/Certifications

A valid California driver’s license.

Special Working Conditions

Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator

Benefits at a Glance

• An array of health plans that include prescription drug coverage
• Dental and Vision coverage
• Income protection benefits including life insurance and disability
• Retirement plan through CalPERS
• Tuition waiver for employees and dependents if eligible
• FlexCash (in lieu of health and dental)
• Employee Assistance Programs
• 15 paid holidays

See our CSUF Benefits website for additional information.

Additional Information

California State University, Fullerton is committed to fostering an environment where students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. We welcome individuals ready to make an impact on student and staff success to apply and become part of the Titan Community. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination based on regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or any other protected status.

As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.

If you are applying for a staff position, please note that you are not eligible to work concurrently in a staff position and an Academic Student position such as a Graduate Assistant, Teaching Associate, Instructional Student Assistant, or Student Assistant position.

Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.

Employee/applicant who applies for a position may be required to successfully complete job-related performance test(s) as part of the selection process.

Online application/resume must be received by electronic submission on the final filing date by 9:00 PM (Pacific Standard Time)/midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Applicants who fail to complete all sections of the online application form will be disqualified from consideration.

California State University, Fullerton is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

Effective October 1, 2025, the California State University (CSU) will implement a salary step structure for CSUEU-represented employees in bargaining units 2, 5, 7, and 9. This position may be subject to changes resulting from this implementation, in alignment with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.

Hiring Preference

On-Campus CSUEU Employees

Advertised: Oct 15 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Oct 29 2026 Pacific Daylight Time