Senior Communications Specialist

Senior Communications Specialist / Knowledge Manager

The Senior Communications Specialist / Knowledge Manager is the communications and knowledge-sharing engine for the Finance Office's continuous improvement work. As the Finance Office advances Workday and broader financial systems initiatives—streamlining business processes, rolling out new functionality, and improving the end-user experience across Northeastern—this role ensures that progress, changes, and resources reach the right people clearly and at the right time.

The Specialist blends strong content development and editorial skills with a practical command of content management systems, translating complex financial systems and process changes into accessible, actionable communications and knowledge resources. Working cross-functionally with central finance departments, Business Systems Analysts, and ITS partners, the Specialist executes communications strategies, maintains the Finance Office's web and intranet presence, and builds and maintains the knowledge infrastructure that helps finance staff and the broader Northeastern community navigate and adopt evolving systems and workflows.

The ideal candidate brings both a writer's instinct and a systems thinker's discipline—comfortable crafting compelling narratives and equally comfortable organizing, governing, and continuously improving the digital environments where that content lives. A genuine curiosity about financial systems and business processes—and the ability to become conversant in Workday Financials to system end-users—is essential to success in this role.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required in Communications, English, Information Science, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• Four to six years of progressive experience in communications, content management, knowledge management, or a related field; higher education or finance environment experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing intranet or content management systems (e.g., SharePoint, Confluence, or similar platforms), including governance, taxonomy, and content lifecycle management.
• Proven ability to develop a variety of written communications—newsletters, web content, announcements, presentations, process documentation—with clarity, accuracy, and audience awareness.
• Experience supporting change communications, user adoption campaigns, or end-user training content for system implementations (ERP, HRIS, or similar) strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Workday Financials or comparable enterprise financial systems is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate complex financial systems concepts and process changes into clear, accessible content for diverse audiences—from finance professionals to general staff.
• Proficiency in content management systems and intranet platforms; experience with version control, content governance frameworks, and information architecture.
• Comfort with data—able to track content performance metrics, conduct content audits, and use findings to improve user experience and engagement.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, or similar design tools; basic familiarity with visual design principles.
• Familiarity with change management principles and the ability to support stakeholders through transitions involving new systems or processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with distributed stakeholders across a complex, matrixed organization.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering quality outcomes; equally comfortable working independently and collaboratively.
• Alignment with Northeastern's brand standards and commitment to consistent, high-quality communications.

Finance & Systems Communications

• Partner with the Director of Continuous Improvement to deliver the Finance Office's operational communications, building awareness and understanding of Workday updates, system changes, and business process improvements among finance staff and the broader Northeastern…