Corporate Affairs Manager – USA

 

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

Working closely with the Marketing and Communications Director, US & Mexico, the US Corporate Affairs Manager is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and protecting the company’s reputation, advancing its business priorities, and driving impactful engagement with key stakeholders. This role is critical in navigating the intersection of business, policy, media, and public perception in a dynamic US environment influenced by current events, regulatory changes, and the evolving political landscape. 

The Manager will develop and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including government officials, industry associations, media outlets, and business groups. They will provide strategic counsel to senior leadership, equipping them with messaging, talking points, and communication strategies to effectively position the company during policy debates, or major shifts in national or regional legislation.

A core focus of this role will be to identify, monitor, and address emerging issues that could impact the business, particularly those related to regulatory changes, sustainability initiatives, infrastructure development, and societal trends in the transportation, energy, and built-environment industries. The Manager will also lead efforts to position the company as a thought leader and trusted advisor in these industries, leveraging insights and expertise to influence policy and public opinion.

Collaborating cross-functionally, the Manager will ensure consistent messaging across all channels, aligning corporate affairs strategies with the company’s business objectives and values. This role requires a proactive, strategic thinker with exceptional communication skills, a deep understanding of the political and regulatory landscape, and the ability to anticipate challenges, provide actionable insights, and develop forward-looking plans to advance the company’s goals.

This job can be performed in any Arcadis US office.

Reports directly to the Marketing & Communications Director, US & Mexico.

Role accountabilities:

• Co-lead the development and execution of a comprehensive corporate affairs strategy that spans key sectors, including transportation, energy, industrial manufacturing, technology, and property/investment. Ensure alignment with Arcadis’ global business objectives and regional priorities.
• Co-create and implement public affairs and issues management plans to proactively address regulatory, political, and societal challenges. Identify opportunities to influence policy and public opinion in ways that benefit Arcadis and its clients.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for government officials, industry associations, business groups, and the media. Build and maintain strong relationships to advance Arcadis’ interests and market position. 
• Proactively monitor emerging trends, policy developments, and industry issues. Identify opportunities for Arcadis to contribute to public discourse, and coordinate with internal experts to craft timely, impactful responses that enhance the company’s reputation.
• Advise leaders and designated spokespeople how to effectively engage with the media and clients and articulate Arcadis’ position. Ensure consistent, on-message communication during media opportunities, client and industry events.
• Support the development and promotion of thought leadership initiatives that position Arcadis as an industry thought leader. Collaborate with internal teams to create compelling content and campaigns that resonate with key audiences, including policymakers, clients, media, and the public.
• Develop a wide range of high-quality external communications materials, including op-eds, blogs, press releases, story pitches, talking points, and reactive media statements.

Issues and Public Affairs Management

• Proactively identify, monitor, and address emerging regulatory, political, and policy issues that could impact Arcadis and its clients across key sectors, including transportation, energy, property and investment, technology, and industrial manufacturing.
• Develop and execute public affairs strategies to position Arcadis well in the market, and as a thought leader on critical industry issues.

Media/PR

• Build and maintain strong relationships with national and trade journalists, ensuring Arcadis is recognized as a go-to