MK41P4 Sr Communications Specialist

The American Chemical Society (ACS) seeks a strategic and creative Corporate Communications Specialist to shape how employees experience and connect with ACS's mission. Reporting to the Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, this role serves as a trusted advisor to leadership and manages internal and crisis communications that foster transparency, alignment, and engagement across a global workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Internal Communications Strategy and Execution
• Develop and manage a strategic editorial calendar that aligns with organizational priorities and enhances employee engagement.
• Create compelling, multi-channel content (announcements, intranet posts, leadership messages) tailored to diverse audiences.
• Advise senior leaders on communication strategies that foster trust and clarity across ACS.
• Crisis Communications and Preparedness
• Lead development and periodic review of ACS's crisis communication protocols and staff preparedness training.
• Serve as a key partner in rapid response efforts, ensuring timely, coordinated messaging during critical incidents.
• Employee Engagement and Events
  
  
  
  • Plan and execute high-impact internal events (enterprise events, hybrid gatherings) that strengthen organizational culture and employee connection to ACS's mission.
  • Innovate event formats to maximize engagement and inclusivity.
  
  
  
  
• Measurement and Continuous Improvement
• Track and analyze engagement metrics to assess effectiveness of internal communications impacting behavioral change and employee engagement and inform the internal communications strategy.
• Provide actionable insights to improve clarity, reach, and impact of internal messaging.
• Team Collaboration
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure unified messaging and alignment with ACS's strategic priorities.
• Influence stakeholders and build consensus to deliver impactful communications across the enterprise.

Qualifications & Behaviors

• Candor: Maintains effective, respectful, and transparent communication with others in order to influence positive outcomes.
• Change Agility: Adapts to change with flexibility and resilience and pursue thoughtful development opportunities that consider evolving organizational needs
• Continuous Improvement: Consistently strives to produce quality work that considers business impact and improves the way we approach and complete our work.
• Global Mindset: Applies a global perspective to our daily work and values individual and cultural differences and supports an open and inclusive culture that drives the organization's global impact.
• Partnership Building: Builds trusting and supportive networks of relationships and considers diverse perspectives to collectively accomplish goals.
• Solutions Focused: Uses business and organizational knowledge to proactively offer strategic and results-driven solutions that consider global perspectives and the broader business context.
• Instills Trust: Gains confidence of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Decision Quality: Ability to make sound, timely, and effective decisions, even without complete information.
• Ensures Accountability: Holds oneself and others responsible for meeting commitments.
• Builds Effective Teams: Establishes a foundation of trust, shared purpose, and clear goals.

Other Educational and Work Experience Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or related fields.
• 5+ years of experience in corporate communications, internal communications, or employee engagement.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling messages.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and build consensus.
  Experience managing internal communications platforms and leveraging multimedia formats.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Data-driven mindset with experience using analytics to measure communication effectiveness.
• Creative thinker who enjoys improving processes and centers the employee experience.
• Experience in crisis communication planning and response.
• Familiarity with change management principles and their application in communications.
• Knowledge of employee engagement best practices and organizational culture initiatives.
• Ability to think strategically and influence stakeholders to achieve strategic outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting communications during organizational change.
• Hands-on experience using social media (Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn) to contribute to strengthening the employer brand.
• Experience with graphic design, photo editing, and publishing.
• Ability to identify target audiences' preferences and produce tailored content.
• Experience with analytics tools and data-driven decision-making.

Why Join Us
The Corporate Communications Specialist will play a key role in strengthening ACS' employee experience and culture at a time of growth and transformation. With a major rebrand planned for late 2026, this role will help keep our global staff informed, engaged, and inspired as we define the future of ACS together.

A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $100,000-$115,000 per year.

This role is based in our Washington, DC office. ACS Education employees work a hybrid schedule, consisting of working onsite two days per work week, exact days are determined by functional area. The balance of the week is open to working remotely, though employees are always welcome onsite each day if they choose.

ACS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account or health care savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and 4-week work from anywhere; each benefit is subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply based on skills, experience, and location.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.

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