Senior External Communications Manager

Compensation Range:

$115,000.00 - $155,000.00 Annual Salary

Job Description Summary:

Oversee and direct team responsible for media relations, public relations, digital media, events management, internal/employee communications, visual communications, and brand management.

Job Description:

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Strategic Communications Planning:

• Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies aligned with the company's overall objectives for both maintaining and growing market share, geographic or market penetration, and brand visibility, recognition, and relevance, with a focus on elevating and championing the firm’s position as an industry expert.
• Work closely with the Company's regional marketing directors to create and implement external campaigns in support of strategic regional, divisional, and local goals for growth, awareness, and brand relevance.
• Drive communication plans and campaigns that enhance brand visibility and reputation within the AEC industry.
• Establish consistent timelines for the multi-faceted communications plan, including achievable key milestones and deadlines.
• Set challenging yet realistic objectives that can be measured for the return on their respective investments.
• Incorporate mechanisms for gathering feedback and evaluating the success of the communications efforts. This may involve measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) and adjusting strategies based on results.

Content Creation and Curation

• Develop engaging and informative content tailored to different audiences; includes writing and editing national and regional press releases, social media posts, website content, external publication articles, strategic campaign collateral, and other materials to support pre-positioning, company promotion, and recruitment efforts.
• Ensure external messages are clear, consistent, and aligned with strategic goals.
• Maintain consistency in messaging and branding.
• Act as a champion for the company’s brand, ensuring that all external communications reflect the company’s identity and core values.

Media Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key national media outlets and journalists.
• Create and distribute press releases, media kits, and other materials to secure positive media coverage.
• Participate as part of the firm’s Crisis Communication Task Force; situation analysis, message development, monitoring and response, media inquiries, internal communication, and reputation management.

Public Relations:

• Develop and execute PR campaigns to promote company initiatives and projects.
• Identify opportunities for company executives and subject matter experts to contribute thought leadership articles, op-eds, and expert commentary in industry publications.
• Identify speaking opportunities and coordinate participation in industry conferences and events.

Digital Media Management:

• Oversee the company's online presence, including the website and social media channels.
• Develop engaging content, including articles, blog posts, and multimedia assets, to support communication goals.
• Measure the performance of digital media efforts, track key performance indicators, and adjust strategies accordingly for maximum impact. Identify true ROI vs. vanity statistics.

External Publications

• Coordinate the planning, creation, and production of external publications, including company newsletters and industry reports, i.e., Swinerton Quarterly and Market Analysis.
• Manage the distribution channels for external publications; utilizing the most effective platforms to maximize reach and engagement.

Regional External Communications:

• Lead a team of dedicated regional communications specialists to implement consistent strategies at the regional and divisional level, consistent with overall national strategies to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
• Work collaboratively with regional, divisional, and local teams to plan, coordinate, and execute industry-facing or client-facing events, i.e., groundbreaking ceremonies, project milestones, and client engagement activities.

Complete other responsibilities as assigned

MINIMUM SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in marketing, communications and branding, or a related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in a team management/leadership role.
• High-level understanding of construction, architecture and/or engineering industry (AEC) preferred.
• Intimate kno