Job Summary

Based at the Cal Poly Solano Campus in Vallejo, California, the Digital Communications Specialist is the lead storyteller for Cal Poly Maritime Academy — identifying, shaping and telling the stories that define Cal Poly Maritime Academy during a pivotal period of transition and growth.

A skilled writer and editor with sharp editorial instincts, the Digital Communications Specialist brings the Cal Poly Maritime Academy experience to life across websites, social media, e-newsletters and universitywide channels — capturing what happens in classrooms, in laboratories and aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear, and connecting those stories to audiences that matter: prospective students, alumni, industry partners and the broader Cal Poly community.

This position is located in Vallejo, California, at the Cal Poly Maritime Academy.

Department Summary

University Communications and Marketing (UCM) serves as the ambassadors, stewards and protectors of Cal Poly's reputation and brand. Through strategic communications, storytelling and digital engagement, UCM advances the university's visibility and helps tell the story of what sets Cal Poly apart, including the power of its hands-on, Learn by Doing philosophy and the achievements of its students, faculty, staff and alumni across California and beyond.

Key Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to identify, develop and execute compelling stories that support organizational priorities and engage diverse audiences.
• Strong editorial judgment and content planning skills, including the ability to shape narratives, prioritize content opportunities, maintain a consistent voice and align communications with strategic objectives.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, including thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, AP style and digital content best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct interviews, gather information from diverse sources, synthesize complex information and translate it into clear, compelling, audience-centered communications.
• Experience developing, managing and executing editorial content across multiple digital channels, including websites, social media platforms, e-newsletters and other online communications.

Education and Experience:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field and two years of experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. A graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Licenses, Certificates, Credentials:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license or the ability to obtain by date of hire.

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $65,940 - $81,984 per year

Classification Range: $62,136 - $90,516 per year

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the university anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Cal Poly Maritime Academy at the Solano Campus

Located in Vallejo, California, Cal Poly Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast and a nationally recognized public maritime university on the Solano Campus of California Polytechnic State University. Cal Poly Maritime Academy prepares students for leadership roles in maritime, engineering, logistics, business, global supply chains and national security. Through Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy, students gain real-world experience in classrooms, laboratories and aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear. For more information, please visit Cal Poly Maritime Academy.

Please watch the video linked here to learn more about the CSU system. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last seven years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.  Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.