Job Description:

Communications Director Media Relations and Strategic Events

Job Locations

US-MA-Watertown | US-NY-New York City | US-MA-Boston | US-CT-Wethersfield | US-NH-Bedford

Overview

About Us

WE ARE VHB-a passionate team of engineers, scientists, surveyors, planners, and designers tackling exciting challenges in the transportation, real estate, institutional, applied technology, and energy industries-serving a range of public- and private-sector clients. At VHB, we are dedicated to improving mobility, enhancing communities, and balancing development and infrastructure needs with environmental stewardship.

We are creative problem-solvers
• We work hard, and we give back


• We like our colleagues, and we love Mondays (really)


• We are diverse, caring, welcoming, and fun!

It's not surprising that VHB has consistently been rated one of the top AEC firms to work for across our 30+ offices on the East Coast. We're growing, and we hope you'll join us!

About the Position

Communications Director - Media Relations & Strategic Events
New York, NY; Boston, MA; Watertown, MA; Wethersfield, CT; Bedford, NH

Are you a strategic storyteller? Do you enjoy engaging with internal and external stakeholders to drive revenue and elevate brand? Do you love creating engaging event opportunities? Connecting with our clients, communities, and colleagues is critical, particularly as we continue to navigate COVID-19, and VHB has an exciting communications position opportunity available in our New York, NY office or several of our New England-based offices (Boston, MA; Watertown, MA; Wethersfield, CT; Bedford, NH).

As Communications Director leading our media relations and external strategic events, you'll play an important role in supporting how VHB shares information with our clients and colleagues-across multiple communication mediums and forums. As part of our Corporate Development+Strategy Team, reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, you'll work closely with Marketing Leadership and our Market and Client Focus Teams to identify key external visibility and thought leadership events and media opportunities.

About the Position

Develop and execute a multi-prong, year-round strategic event and media outreach plan, to include elevated participation and sponsorship of industry hosted events, targeting development of an annual VHB-hosted thought leadership event(s), helping to manage a series of regularly occurring client-employee roundtables and livestreams, and other thought leadership communications. In this position, you will be responsible for:

• Driving implementation of proactive strategic communication, event, and media plans in support of the VHB's strategic plan and key growth initiatives related to clients, pursuits, and projects.


• Successfully aligning and driving implementation of thought leadership programs to elevate VHB's Brand. Continually generate ideas to advance initiatives and support growth.


• Actively work to build and continually improve and enhance communication programs. Create and execute new communication paths forward.


• Ensure VHB's brand and voice standards are consistently applied across all communications.

External Event & Conference Strategy

• Identify key industry-hosted events and make recommendations on VHB's participation, including identification of panelist, moderator, and strategic sponsorship opportunities. Additionally, identify and lead development of annual VHB-hosted thought leadership event(s).


• Develop and maintain event marketing calendar and lead content campaigns for events, including drafting messaging, digital content, and articles. Oversee the timeline for all marketing deliverables related to events.
  
  
  • Create a strategy for each event, including content, email, media, social, and sponsor amplification.
  
  
  • Develop content that inspires, educates, informs, and helps to further develop VHB's prominence and thought leadership.
  
  
  • Create event outreach toolkit for VHBers to share with their key team members, clients, and partners to promote the event through their own communication channels.
  
  
  • Write and edit newsletters, emails, invitations, social media, press releases, presentations, and other communications to support event and media relations.
  
  
  • Identify newsworthy stories and draft story pitches to attract local and industry media.
  
  
  • Communicate target client audience and event marketing plans to appropriate teams.
  
  
  • Create post-event activity and performance reports, including social media and web analytics, as applicable.
  
  
  
  


• Coordinate and partner with Regional Marketing Teams, including the Regional Communications Specialist in the identification and participation of local industry events and media relations.

Roundtable & Podcast Program Strategy

• Work with Development+Strategy leadership and Market Leaders to identify roundtable and podcast topics and client and partner participants.


• Develop a strategy for each event, including content, outreach, and collateral.


• Create email meeting invitations, topic overview and agendas, participant list, strategic questions, and presentations.


• Partner with VHB designers and our technology team, as needed, and participate in rehearsals/practice sessions.


• Attend roundtables and podcast tapings, as needed, and develop follow-up communications, including thank you emails, key takeaways, and summaries; identify avenues to repurpose discussion results.

Media Engagement

• Direct the research and monitoring activities of web-based media and other outlets as it relates to industry trends and happenings. Maintain working knowledge of what is occurring in the public and anticipate the potential needs of targeted clients, our markets, and/or our employee engagement needs.


• Regularly liaise with industry press to publicize programs, events, op-eds, and advocacy efforts.


• Coordinate inquiries and visits by press and media, as well as provide guidance and training to VHB thought leaders responding to requests.


• Work with VHB's communications team to build media relationships and pitch key stories.


• Manage VHB's Social Media Lead to develop content and messaging for digital platforms.


• Represent VHB's media interests alongside senior management, as needed. Attend highly visible organizational and publicity events.


• Determine and/or approve strategic placement of highly visible internal and external communications. Work with external communications and public relations firms, as needed, in the appropriate placement of outreach efforts.

Internal Event & Program Partnership

Partner with VHB's People+Culture (P+C) Communications Team to share information and support internal initiatives, including:

• Continually inform our P+C Team of industry trends and information that can be shared as part of internal employee learning experiences.


• Support the P+C Team on internal employee experience events, such as annual Stockholder and Town Hall meetings, Service Awards events, Strategic Planning sessions, etc.


• Collaborate on internal communication strategies related to events (both internal and external) to increase employee awareness and education

Other

• May support industry national award submissions, including communication visibility, as required.


• Manage related areas of content on vhb.com, marketing campaign pages, and event websites.


• May support quarterly Message from the Markets and/or other market livestream events.


• May manage and be ultimately responsible for the work of direct reports, as applicable. Carry out supervisory responsibilities either direct or indirectly through subordinate supervisors, including interviewing; selecting; orienting and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; coaching and motivating; reviewing personnel actions of subordinates and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires 8 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading and directing marketing communications activities, preferably in the AEC industry, and at least 5 year of supervisory or leadership experience with a bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or related discipline.


• Demonstrated ability to persuasively write and message for various platforms (i.e.., print, web, social media). Ability to translate complex concepts into lay terms. Exceptional public relations and strategic storytelling skills. Persuasive communication skills. Ability to align creative and compelling messaging with media and audience.


• Ensure VHB's brand and voice standards are consistently applied across all communications.


• Connections with AEC trade publications and media.


• Ability to independently manage external and internal relationships with staff and key stakeholders.


• Virtual and in-person event planning, including pre- and post-event marketing and publicity, logistic and executive experience for events of up to 250+ attendees.


• In-depth knowledge of trending digital marketing and communication platforms, and ability to leverage analytics to enhance audience engagement. Strong understanding of the AEC industry market and services.


• Ability to take initiative and be hands-on with a strong collaborative and team building focus to drive programs.


• Proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and desktop publishing software (e.g., InDesign).


• Detail-oriented. Demonstrated commitment to quality. Excellent editing skills. Ability to identify and seek needed information/research skills. Team-oriented with strong capability to work independently.

New employees will be onboarded virtually and begin their employment from home. We are in the process of planning for a safe return to the workplace in alignment with government and CDC guidelines.

VHB is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

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