<p>This study investigates the effect of digital communication tools, namely social media engagement, video conferencing, and instant messaging, on employee performance in higher education, with particular attention to the mediating role of job satisfaction. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire distributed through purposive sampling. The responses from 310 faculty members across two Malaysian universities were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings indicate that social media engagement, video conferencing, and instant messaging significantly enhance both employee performance and job satisfaction. Furthermore, job satisfaction mediates the relationship between these digital communication tools and employee performance. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on digital workplace communication by providing empirical evidence from the higher education context. It offers implications for managerial strategies and policy formulation in academic institutions.</p>