Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Internal Communications Partner

• Title: Internal Communications Partner
• Class: Confidential
• Exempt Level: Exempt
• Grade: II

Job Summary

The Internal Communications Partner serves as the lead communicator for all employee communications related to Finance, Operations, and People Strategy, Equity & Culture (PSEC) at Portland Community College. Under the guidance of the Internal Communications Manager and the AVP of Marketing & Communications, this position ensures timely, clear, and coordinated communication about operational, policy, and administrative information impacting employees at the college.

This role works closely with senior leaders, operational teams, and employee-facing departments to develop, manage, and execute communication strategies that align with the college’s internal communications framework. The Internal Communications Coordinator serves as the first point of contact for leaders in Finance, Operations, and PSEC, identifying communication needs, advising on message, and implementing communication plans that reinforce transparency, engagement, and strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities include leading communication efforts for major college-wide operational initiatives, drafting and managing internal messaging, maintaining editorial calendars, and ensuring employees receive consistent, actionable information. The Internal Communications Coordinator also collaborates with the Brand Management team to ensure that internal messaging aligns with PCC’s values, voice, and strategic direction.

 

Distinguishing Characteristics

This position is part of the Internal Communications team within Marketing & Communications and is distinguished by its direct responsibility for managing internal communications for critical administrative functions, including Finance, Operations, and PSEC. The roles responsible for providing high-level communications support to multiple executive leaders (AVPs and VPs). Assignments require a high degree of confidentiality and involve interactions with multiple levels of staff and contacts college wide. The Internal Communications Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day execution of internal communications within their assigned portfolio, ensuring clarity, consistency, and timeliness. This includes proactively managing communication requests from executive leaders, identifying gaps, and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.

The Internal Communications Manager oversee college-wide internal communication planning, strategy, and training, with a focus on executive communications, leadership alignment, and employee engagement.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership Support

• Serves as the primary liaison between the Internal Communications team and Finance, Operations, and PSEC, partnering with executive leaders and their designees in assigned areas to identify employee communications needs related to operational or policy changes.
• Develops messaging frameworks that translate complex financial, operational, and PSEC-related initiatives into clear, accessible, and engaging employee communications.
• Coordinates announcements related to Finance, Operations, and PSEC, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Advises Finance, Operations, and PSEC leaders on communication best practices, audience segmentation, and timing for employee engagement in accordance with federal and state compliance requirements.
• Supports leaders in preparing memos, employee announcements, reports, and talking points for internal audiences.

Communications Strategy

• Manages internal communications calendars for Finance, Operations, and PSEC, ensuring a cohesive and organized flow of information.
• Anticipates potential communication challenges related to policy or process changes and works with leaders to develop proactive messaging.
• Ensures all employee-facing messages align with the college’s Leadership Communication Plan, and broader internal engagement strategies.
• Maintains an organized knowledge base of past communications for reference and continuity.
• Develops and refines FAQ documents, toolkits, and training materials to support employees in understanding key initiatives.
• Writes and designs content for internal platforms, including InsidePCC, PCC Intranet, all-staff emails, and internal FAQs related to Finance, Operations, and PSEC.
• Creates basic design elements (flyers, digital signage, email layouts, presentation slides) using branded templates to enhance the effectiveness of internal communications.
• Collaborates with executives and their assistants to support town halls, shared governance councils, Q&A sessions, and engagement events that connect employees with leadership in Finance, Operations, and PSEC.
• Monitors employee sentiment and feedback, adjusting communication strategies as needed based on engagement trends.
• Edits and formats internal materials to ensure accessibility, clarity, and alignment with the college’s brand standards.

Communications Strategy

• Works closely with the Internal Communications Manager to align messaging across departments and ensure consistency in employee engagement strategies.
• Collaborates with the Brand Management Team to ensure internal messaging aligns with PCC’s voice, tone, and visual identity.
• Partners with the Web and IT teams to ensure internal communication tools are effective, accessible, and user-friendly.
• Supports crisis communications efforts related to Finance, Operations, and PSEC, ensuring employees receive timely, and transparent updates, in high-impact situations.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business Administration, Public Relations, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, or related field. Experience may substitute for the degree on a year for year basis. Five (5) years of experience in executive support, communications, administrative coordination, or a related role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Business communication best practices, including drafting clear, concise, and professional messages.
• Organizational structure, administrative procedures, and leadership workflows in a complex institution.
• Meeting coordination, project tracking, and information flow management across departments.
• Basic design principles for formatting professional documents, presentations, or simple marketing materials.
• Writing editing, and storytelling techniques for employee engagement.

Skills in:

• Writing and editing skills and ability to draft professional correspondence, reports and/or executive level materials, with the ability to adapt tone and style for different internal audiences.
• Engaging with senior leaders and serving as a trusted liaison between teams.

Ability to:

• Handle confidential or sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Translate complex or technical information into clear, accessible content for employees.
• Anticipate needs, manage complex schedules, coordinate projects, manage multiple priorities, and work independently.
• Use business software and familiarity with related tools for creating templated emails, flyers, or presentations.

New: 04/2025