Sr. Communications Specialist

HNI Corporation is a global family of brands for the workplace and home dedicated to enhancing the spaces where we live, work, and gather. We pride ourselves on fostering an environment where we make a positive impact on others; upholding our beliefs in integrity, inclusion and belonging.

In this position, you'll act as a communications consultant to our IT leaders as you plan, develop, and execute a variety of communication projects. It's an exciting time for our IT organization! Not only are we are championing several key strategic initiatives in the coming years, but we're also strengthening our commitment to great internal communication.

We need a change management champion and experienced communications professional to help us meet these challenges. We're looking for someone who thrives on a blend of strategy (planning, consultation, message development) and execution (drafting, design, alignment, deployment).

Responsibilities will include strategic planning for IT communications; crafting effective communications for IT members, business stakeholders, and IT’s technology/service user community; communication deployment; and gathering feedback and success metrics to implement continual improvements.

What You Will Do: 

Lead strategic planning for IT communications

• Build relationships with IT leaders and managers to develop an understanding of IT strategy, programs and initiatives, corporate business objectives, and related communication needs.
• Lead and coordinate the communications planning process for key IT programs, processes, and initiatives (often involving multiple stakeholders across a variety of teams).
• Develop communication project plans aligned with stakeholder needs, including project-specific plans, and annual plans for ongoing communication vehicles (newsletters, quarterly member meetings, etc.)

Craft effective communications for IT members, business stakeholders, and IT user community

• Use a variety of communication media (print, electronic, face-to-face, web, and others) to craft deliverables that meet audience needs
• Research, outline, and create content/layout for communication pieces
• Align communication drafts with IT leaders, managers, and other stakeholders

Deploy communications, gather feedback and success metrics, and implement continual improvements

• Coordinate deployment approach to ensure messages reach distributed audience groups
• Collaborate with third-party IT and communications vendors to implement and distribute communications
• Create ongoing feedback channels to measure effectiveness of communication campaigns. Analyze feedback and metrics to recommend and implement continual improvements to communication strategies

Change Management Communications & Event Management

• Develop and execute communication plans in alignment with change management frameworks, ensuring timely updates and resources are available before, during, and after change implementation.
• Support planning and execution of IT-related events (e.g., town halls, training sessions, offsites) by developing event messaging, presentation materials, and post-event communications.
• Coordinate logistics and communications for both in-person and virtual events, ensuring alignment with overall IT strategy and goals.
• Gather and analyze event feedback to measure effectiveness, identify improvement opportunities, and enhance future events.

Experience and Expertise Needed

Education

• 4-year degree required; the following fields of study are preferred: Business (Marketing, Management), English, Communications, Journalism, or a related field

Experience

• 7+ years experience in marketing or communications, including communication planning, drafting, and deployment. Experience must include ownership of internal communications supporting business strategies. Experience in an IT or related context preferred
• Solid project management experience; skilled at managing multiple deliverables for a variety of projects in a fast-paced environment
• Experience consulting with others on potential communication approaches and identifying strengths and weaknesses of alternate options based on audience needs
• Experience working with senior management during times of organizational transformation and change
• Solid history of taking on larger, increasingly complex communication programs; proven achievements of large-scale communications and change programs
• Familiarity