Director of Communications and Public Relations

Summary of Position:

The Director of Communications and Public Relations manages the communications, marketing and public relations for the organization.  This position develops, plans, directs and executes the organization’s strategic marketing and communications plan to ensure an accurate, consistent message in its initiatives.  The incumbent has overall management responsibility for marketing publications that support functions, events, and publications directed to members and communities, customers, markets and industries.  This position develops, plans, directs, and executes the organization’s promotions, publicity, and public relations activities.  This position functions as spokesperson for the organization.  The incumbent acts as liaison with public relations firm and drives initiatives.  The incumbent also acts as government liaison when appropriate supporting the VP of Policy. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Overall management of the Communications Department: Ensures that the department is functioning properly to accomplish the communications goals, Manages content manager/editor on a daily basis, provides annual reviews, offers strategic vision for  the communications products and oversees department’s budget.  Manages relationships with consultants, writers, and other external support.
• Strategic communications plan development and management: With guidance from the public relations agency of record, develops an annual strategic communications plan that corresponds with the overall strategic plan for the organization for each fiscal year. Ensures that the goals of the communications plan are measurable and met.
• Managing editor, The Voice of Technology magazine: Oversees the magazine from a “big picture” perspective to ensure the editorial calendar is developed and approved (by November of each year), content is sophisticated and compelling, brand messaging is correct, design is attractive and appropriate, media kit is produced (both hard copy and PDFs for the Web and e-mail correspondence), ads are sold and deadlines are met. Write feature articles, conduct Q&A features and editorial content for CEO. Supervises and serves as the conduit among all consultants—editor, art director and salesperson. Performs final proof of magazine and provides content, as needed.
• Managing editor, weekly e-newsletter: Performs the final proof, occasionally writes articles and supervises
• Managing editor, TechPolitics: develops content with VP of Policy and Director sales consultant regarding e-newsletter ad sales. of Policy, writes, edits, performs the final edit/proof and provides strategic writing counsel, as needed.
• Media relations management: Manages   media outreach efforts with strategic counsel and support from the organization’s public relations agency of record. Develops media strategy surrounding particular   initiatives or events, establishes and maintains relationships with key media, pitches stories to the media, writes and distributes news releases and media advisories, serves as one spokesperson, briefs and trains other spokespeople, updates all media resources (e.g.,   statistics document, fact sheets), and collects and distributes news clips to the Board of Directors and other interested parties.
• Internal marketing management: Creates copy for all e-blasts and works with the content manager/editor to ensure all blasts are “eye-catching,” provocative and appropriately targeted. Works with the IT manager on the distribution of all-Council e-blasts and director of member relations and committees and Programs Department for distribution of targeted e-blasts. Works with the director of member relations on the internal marketing on membership-related events and programs.
• External marketing management: Makes strategic decisions about the marketing of   events and programs in external publications, including all ad placements. Works with the director of member relations on the external marketing of membership-related events and programs.
• Speechwriter to   officers: Serves as the primary speechwriter to   officers and works directly with the officers in the development and approval of any scripts. Works with the Programs Department in the development and finalization of any PowerPoint slide shows—with the eventual goal of this responsibility being absorbed by the Communications Department.
• Liaison,   media partners and sponsors: Makes strategic decisions about media partnerships and sponsorships. Serves as the outlets’ main point of contact regarding these relationships.
• Brand management: Serves as the leader of the “brand police” team and point of contact for staff regarding any issues related to the new brand. Ensures that every communications product is properly branded both message-wise and graphically. The director also is the “keeper” of two of the   style guides (graphic design and business correspondence), ensuring that they are kept up to date. Works with the graphic designer in updating the graphic design style guide, as needed.
• Techtopia Map management: Serves as the main point of contact to the Techtopia marketing and project manager and producer. Creates the schedule for all aspects of map creation, marketing and delivery. Ensures that the freelance consultants receive the support that they need to produce and sell the map. Develops new marketing channels to help get the map out to the community and promotes from a PR perspective.
• Department liaison to Board of Directors: Serves as the Communications Department’s liaison to senior management, officers and Board of Directors.

Supervise:

Communications Manager

Outsourced and contracts for Graphics Design/Production

Research and Strategic Initiatives Manager

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proactive leader with an inclination for results, actions, and getting things done. 
• Background in, or familiarity with, both communications and public relations.
• Experience in public speaking and building relationships with press, other regional organizations and individuals are important, as are excellent written and verbal communications skills. 
• Required skill set for utilization of all communication tools, web and various services. 
• Ability to manage department with staff of three, along with management of consultants and other vendors. 
• Strategic planning as well as skilled time management and the ability to prioritize and organize.