Senior Coordinator, HR Communications

Job Description Summary:

Develop, implement, and manage a consistent pipeline of high-impact communications to promote engagement and overall integrity of the People/HR strategy, College culture, and ACC brand. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, and in close partnership with the Office of College Relations & Marketing (OCRM), this position serves as the College's lead employment copy editor and works in a cross-functional capacity with Academic Affairs, Student Services, College Operations, and Business Services to foster effective, consistent, and timely internal communications relevant to ACC faculty and staff, while supporting the function's mission to drive enthusiastic adoption of positive employment practices.

The location of this position is the Highland Campus. This position is a hybrid role and must be flexible to be on-site as needed or deemed necessary by the Vice Chancellor, Human Resources. The College or VCHR reserves the right to change or end remote/hybrid work arrangements at any time.

About the Role

We're looking for a communications leader who can step into a dynamic, fast-moving environment and help us make sense of it - for our people.

Human Resources at ACC is in a period of significant evolution. There is a lot happening, a lot to translate, and a real opportunity to connect meaningfully with employees in ways that build trust, clarity, and engagement.

This role is not just about writing and messaging. It's about understanding what matters, simplifying what's complex, and helping people feel informed, supported, and connected to the work.

You'll partner directly with the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and sit on the HR leadership team. You'll operate with a high level of independence and judgment, advising on how we communicate, how we show up, and how our work is experienced across the College.

You'll also participate in and support meetings across all levels of the organization, from team discussions to leadership and strategic forums, bringing professionalism and discretion while capturing, synthesizing, and translating complex conversations into clear, actionable summaries and next steps that drive alignment and execution.

We're looking for someone who is:

• Deeply creative and curious
• A strong relationship builder
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity
• A go-getter who takes initiative without waiting for direction
• Grounded, resilient, and solutions-oriented
• Able to translate HR strategy into communication that meets people where they are
• HR knowledge and experience strongly preferred

If you naturally think, "there's a better way to say this, share this, or connect this," you'll thrive here.

What Success Looks Like

In Your First 30 Days

• Build relationships across all HR teams and leaders, College Relations and Marketing, employee associations, and key stakeholders
• Learn the ACC Values and Values-Based Behaviors (VBB)
• Listen deeply and assess current communications, channels, and tone
• Begin supporting priority communications with clarity and consistency
• Get a feel for the rhythm, volume, and complexity of HR work at ACC

By 90 Days

• Establish a structured and intentional HR communications cadence that integrates Values and VBB
• Begin shaping messaging that is clearer, human, and aligned to employee needs
• Have spent significant time alongside HR teams and functions
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to HR leadership on key communications
• Identify opportunities to streamline, simplify, or improve how information flows

Within Your First Year

• Build a cohesive, trusted, and recognizable HR voice across the College, championing Values and VBB
• Strengthen how employees understand and engage with HR initiatives
• Introduce more creative, effective, and modern communication approaches (including digital and emerging platforms)
• Help HR show up with greater clarity, consistency, and impact across all interactions
• Contribute to a stronger sense of connection between employees and the work of the College

This role is part of a thoughtful transition as the current incumbent prepares to retire later this summer. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to partner with them during a brief transition period to gain institutional context, while also bringing fresh perspective and new ideas to evolve how Human Resources communicates and connects across the College.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to do meaningful work, operate with autonomy, and help shape how a large, complex organization communicates with its people.

Competency Expectations

• Project Coordination: Autonomously organizes and manages activities within programmatic areas, ensuring all elements align with project and departmental goals.
• Project Planning: Leads development of comprehensive project plans for small to medium-sized initiatives, showing attention to detail and effective time management.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Demonstrates strong coordination skills by effectively engaging with college personnel and external partners, including industry stakeholders, to achieve project objectives.
• Operational Support: Oversees coordination of special, innovative departmental initiatives, demonstrating a commitment to organizational efficiency.
• Leadership and Training: Shows proficiency in training, coaching, and directing assigned personnel, adhering to organizational policies and employment laws to foster a collaborative work environment.

Description of Duties and Tasks

• Works with the Vice Chancellor, Human Resources and Associate Vice Chancellor, College Relations & Communications to develop and support broad-based communications strategies on internal communications related to people and employment.
• Develops, plans, writes, manages, and distributes a range of employee communications to include the college's HR communications channels, People/HR webpage, electronic newsletter, video communications, and employee social media platforms, in order to drive awareness and promote enthusiastic adoption of HR strategy, initiatives, and positive people practices.
• Serves as liaison and assists the Office of College Relations & Marketing (OCRM) with HR­ specific marketing and communications campaigns.
• Serves as a communications partner and Human Resources subject matter expert by providing proactive, strategic communications to College employees and managers.
• Ensures all employee messaging adheres to highest grammar and writing standards and reflects the College's culture, tone, and brand guidelines as provided in the college's writing style guide and communications practices.
• Assists department with reporting, writing, editing, and distributing information on events, services, programs, initiatives, and procedures to internal and, occasionally, external audiences at the direction of the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources.
• Develops and manages relationships with key internal stakeholders, executives, and department leaders to ensure effective and relevant employee communications.
• Ensures the HR communications strategy solicits input through formal and Informal feedback channels and reports findings to management.
• Serves as departmental copy editor/proofer for Human Resources-related communications.
• Promotes the department's strategic plan goals and priorities as it relates to the College's Strategic Plan and Chancellor's Priorities.
• Stays attuned to local, national, and internal employment climate and. alerts HR and communications team of opportunities and concerns.
• Monitors key performance indicators established by HR and OCRM for engagement with employee communications content, and uses key measurement data to inform future decisions about employee communications work.
• Stays current on emerging communications technologies, content management, and industry best practices.
• Assists with the daily operation of the People & HR database and other digital or communications platforms.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of strategic written and visual communication principles and current best practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of corporate communication practice including planning and execution.
• Thorough knowledge of technical writing and editing for print and web.
• Knowledge of editorial style guides and plain language principles.
• Planning and coordination with OCRM for regular communication through photography, video production, PR events, reports and informational publications, and public speaking engagements.
• Familiarity with online communications and client tools including web content management systems, broadcast email marketing tools, and social networking.
• Expertise In use of English grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
• The ability to present the college's employer brand in a positive way to multicultural communities.
• Knowledge of federal and state employment laws, regulations, best practices, and resources to stay abreast.
• Working knowledge of HR metrics, analytics, and data interpretation and messaging.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Use of professional discretion in dealing with sensitive employment or personal information.

Skills

• Entrepreneurial, self-directed, reporter mindset.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to Interpret complex information.
• Ability to adapt broad employment trends and information to an organizational audience.
• Ability to spot employment trends .and anticipate stakeholder needs from a communications perspective.
• Exceptional organizational skills, Including consistent, exacting attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills, including tact and diplomacy.
• Works independently but seeks direction or clarification as needed.
• Maintaining confidentiality of work-related Information and materials.
• Ability to compile and create reports.

Technology Skills

• A variety of spreadsheet, word processing, database, and presentation software to include: Workday, MS Office Suite, and Google Office Suite.
• Intermediate to advanced use of Wordpress or similar web content management systems.
• Video production tools and technologies.

Required Work Experience

Two or more years of related work experience.

Preferred Work Experience

• Experience working in Higher Education or HR experience.
• Work experience in a fast-paced, mission-driven work environment.

Required Education

Bachelor's degree.
For this position only, four years of directly related work experience may substitute for the required education.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.

Special Requirements

Licenses/Certifications; Other
Valid Texas Driver's License and reliable transportation for travel in the Austin area as required

Other Preferred Qualifications

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of HTML and experience with popular content management systems (Drupal, WordPress, etc.).
• Bilingual Spanish.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel between campuses as needed.
• Work is performed in a standard office or similar environment.
• Subject to standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling.
• Occasional lifting of objects up to 10 pounds.