National Academy of Engineering - Director Communications / Media

Job Description Summary:

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is seeking a new team member to join the senior leadership team to advance the outreach and communications objectives of the new strategic plan that include enhancing public awareness of the NAE and the appreciation of the engineering profession. In this position, the successful candidate will refine and implement a NAE outreach and communications plan, developing and guiding the related team to achieve organizational goals. Solid leadership and project management experience are key to success. The Director will define and direct all internal and external communications activities, provide strategic communications advice for senior leadership, plan, implement, and oversee special initiatives and campaigns, establish and maintain a strong institutional brand, increase the NAE’s digital presence, and develop clear metrics for assessing effectiveness.

The Director will develop policies to ensure communications consistency and coordination across the NAE and in collaboration across the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). Working closely with colleagues from NAE programs, membership, and development, the Director will provide recommendations and solutions with full understanding of their outreach needs and communications impact.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

1. Leads the implementation of the NAE’s strategic priorities on outreach and communications, and periodically refresh the branding, marketing, and communications tools to meet the stated objectives. Consults with NAE and NASEM leadership, NAE members, and external stakeholders in planning and initiating creative outreach and communication efforts and overseeing their growth and evaluation.

2. Monitors contemporary trends and identifies opportunities for related tactics and strategies and ensures that the dissemination of communication products meets the needs of all stakeholders.

3. Establishes and promotes a strong institutional brand for NAE–in synergy with the National Academies brand. Develops and oversees implementation policies that ensure consistency across NAE communications.

4. Raises and refreshes the NAE’s visibility with targeted external audiences, including engineering-related businesses, academic institutions, professional societies, and relevant nongovernmental operations. Promotes the visibility of NAE leadership, programs, membership, fundraising priorities, and awards to advance the organization’s presence among targeted audiences as a top-tier influencer.

5. Enhances the NAE’s presence in news media and manages media relationships and outreach to secure news coverage and place periodic opinion-based commentaries. Works with NAE leadership, programs, membership, and development staff to develop messaging and materials for news media. Coordinates planning with NASEM media relations staff as needed and serves as NAE spokesperson when appropriate. 

6. Supports dissemination activities related to NAE awards, programs, and membership. Leads certain external engagement activities as assigned by NAE leadership.  

7. Significantly enhances the NAE’s digital presence. Develops and oversees web and social media strategies and tactics that foster the digital growth and impact of the NAE. Leads the migration of NAE.edu to a new web platform. Oversees the development of measures and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communications efforts.

8. Builds and leads a creative, dynamic, collaborative communications team and fosters strong teamwork. Inspires synergized and innovative approaches to initiating novel presentations of NAE messages and publications. Conducts staff development planning. Mentors, trains and develops employees to successfully perform current responsibilities and encourage development of staff for future roles. Conducts personnel actions, including performance and compensation reviews.

9. Exercises fiscal discipline in managing budgets and any external contracts. Ensures budget and financial compliance with organization, regulatory, and contractual obligations.

NONESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Related duties and special projects as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of engineering communication with eight+ years of related experience developing and implementing successful and comprehensive outreach, marketing, and communication plans, and public affairs programs for private sector or nonprofit organizations. 

• Ability to work successfully in a team environment; and to build, develop, and manage effective teams. Ability to develop strong relationships with e