Employee Communications Specialist

Marketing Statement

Do you love telling stories, building connections, and creating communications that make an impact?

Metro is looking for an Employee Communications Specialist to help engage and inform more than 12,000 employees across the Authority. As part of the Office of Corporate Communications and Events, you'll play a key role in ensuring employees stay connected to the information, people, and initiatives that drive Metro forward. 

In this role, you'll go beyond writing communications. You'll build relationships with employees across departments, locations, and shifts, learn what matters most to them, and develop creative ways to deliver meaningful messages that resonate. One day you may be meeting with frontline employees to gather insights; the next, you'll be crafting strategic communications plans and compelling content to support organizational priorities.

We're seeking a skilled communicator who is naturally curious, highly collaborative, and comfortable engaging with employees at every level. The ideal candidate combines exceptional writing ability with strong interpersonal skills and enjoys working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

What You'll Bring

• At least 7 years of professional writing experience
• Strong storytelling and communication skills
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging content
• Experience building relationships with diverse audiences and stakeholders
• A collaborative, proactive, and creative approach to communications
• Experience in large, complex, or 24/7 operational environments is a plus

Important Information

• Fully onsite position (hybrid not available)
• Requires occasional early morning, evening, weekend, holiday, and special event support
• Relocation assistance is not available

The Employee Communications Specialist role works within a fast-paced internal communication department for the benefit of the Authority. The primary function is to “tell the Metro story” toa target audience of approximately twelve thousand (12,000) employees with and without desktop access to the intranet. Our employees range from C-Suite Executives to Bus Operators and Mechanics. The Employee Communications Specialist’s challenge is to break through the clutter and reach employees through various channels including video, emails and face-to-face meetings.

Principal Job Duties

• Assists in the development and implementation of major internal communications initiatives that provide a clear understanding of the purpose and promotes the Authority's objectives and management priorities. The incumbent ensures that all communications channels are considered; including online, email, podcast, and posters and/or face-to- face.
• Researches, develops and implements timely employee communications through a variety of channels. Maintains a content calendar that includes impending milestones, events and strategic initiatives, to determine the best communication channel to use to reach a particular audience in a timely fashion.
• Identifies appropriate communications tools, tone and messages to simplify complicated subjects for employees, to ensure understanding and gain buy in by all audiences.
• Assists departments with communication needs, identifying key messages and writing content on issues affecting employees. This is achieved by utilizing consistency of tone and accuracy of language.
• Creates toolkits and templates that empower managers to engage employees and facilitate efficient execution of employee communications activities. This is done to help deliver corporate messages throughout the organization.
• Oversees and coordinates several employee recognition programs or other programs as required with the objective to increase and promote employee recognition and nominations.

Other Duties

• Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with our Agency Safety Plan, other regulatory requirements within the Safety Management System and just culture principles.

The functions listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Knowledge

• Understanding of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, storyboards, audience centered assessments
• Knowledge of employee communications best practices
• Demonstrated knowledge of editing and proofing text
• Demonstrated knowledge of Adobe, Premiere, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Garage Band.

Skills

• Skilled in writing, corporate newsletters, employee campaigns, blogs, podcasts, web site and Microsoft Office (MS) Office
• Excellent oral communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
• Skilled in the use of Adobe Photoshop, design, and SharePoint
• Skilled in communicating complex ideas through concise, compelling writing, often with a point of view

Abilities

• Ability to research and frame a story properly for target audiences
• Ability to pay close attention to detail
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and handle confidential materials appropriately.

Machine, Tools, Equipment, Software, Hardware Required

• Microsoft Office (MS) Office
• Adobe Photoshop, In design, and SharePoint
• Video editing software such as Garage Band Premiere, and Apple Final Cut Pro

Supervisory Responsibility

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Marketing, English, Communications and/or Public Relations (PR), or related field
  • In lieu of Bachelor's degree, high school diploma or (GED) equivalency and minimum four (4) years of related work experience in writing speeches, newsletter articles, brochures, short messages for electronic signage, blog entries, intranet pages, and other materials. Must also include the experience referenced in the next section.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years’ writing experience to include speeches, newsletters, articles, brochures, short messages for electronic signage, blog entries, intranet pages, and/or other materials.

Minimum Certification/Licensure

• N/A

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Journalism, Marketing, English, Communications and/or Public Relations (PR)
• Exceptional editing and proofing skills

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), known as Metro, is the region’s leading public transportation provider. Serving a 2,054-square-mile jurisdiction, Metro operates six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes, and Metro Access, a shared-ride paratransit service. As one of the nation’s busiest transit systems, Metro connects communities, supports economic growth, and provides safe, reliable transportation.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.