Director of Communications and Outreach

Responsibilities:

Client Services (60%)

1. Working across departments, oversee the development and implementation of high-quality integrated strategic communications, earned media, and outreach plans with effective short- and long-term strategies to meet client objectives, increase the visibility of client programs, and strengthen Civilian’s reputation.
2. Working across departments and with the client, develop strategic and compelling messaging frameworks that educate, engage, and inspire the intended audiences to take the desired action. Ensure messaging is consistently applied across all communications activities. Facilitate stakeholder engagement and outreach–from Boards of Directors to community-based organizations–to align on client messaging and other campaign inputs.
3. Lead the strategy and execution of earned media for clients, including conducting media outreach and generating earned media; providing talking points and other materials as needed; and identifying opportunities for innovative partnerships and approaches to advance client goals. 
4. Lead the strategy and execution for highly-effective influencer marketing campaigns, including identification, engagement, activation, and measurement. Manage team member implementation of influencer programs for maximum efficiency and results. 
5. Direct the research, identification, and ongoing cultivation of innovative partnerships, co-marketing opportunities, and key community organization relationships to advance client and agency objectives. 
6. Be a champion for working collaboratively to deliver integrated campaigns where the combined impact adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts; ensure that all client communications and outreach activities align with, compliment, and support the services being provided by other agency departments.
7. Measure, analyze, and report on communications performance and impact, including earned media advertising value, sentiment analysis, and influencer campaigns.
8. Cultivate productive and trusting relationships with client communications leadership; serve as communications counselor to client contacts and leadership with ability to advise on crisis communications. Act as a trusted advisor for clients, effectively becoming an extension of their team, guiding them through political, regulatory, organizational, or other situations through the preparation, iteration, and interpretation of situational and strategic nuance.
9. Provide executive thought leadership and spokesperson support including creation of executive thought leadership platforms (key topics for speeches, blogs, etc.) media training, interview, and presentation coaching.
10. Stay up to date and push the agency forward with creative and innovative new earned and shared campaign strategies and tactics.
11. Supervise high-level subcontractor scopes of work, as needed.

Agency Marketing and Communications (20%)

1. Lead the agency’s external marketing initiatives to create opportunities for keeping the agency, its services, and its success stories in front of the public and relevant trades; develop ideas and opportunities for feature articles, interviews, presentations, awards opportunities, and other activities that promote awareness of the company; serve as the point of contact for agency media outreach; manage all media contacts, and respond to media inquiries quickly and efficiently.
2. Lead and/or supervise the creation of, and contribute to, agency promotional materials, including updating, refining, and evolving the narrative for the organization’s website regularly to maintain fresh content; supervising the creation of, and contribute to, agency promotional materials, including co-creating vision/direction, editing, and publication of the agency Annual Report and review of On Purpose, Civilian’s monthly newsletter.
3. Support the CEO and agency with internal communications as needed, including drafting talking points and presentations; provide input to CEO and senior leadership on agency public relations issues.

Department Development, Management, and Support (15%)

1. Recruit, manage, develop, and retain an effective communications and outreach team. 
2. Mentor and develop Comms and Outreach Managers, Senior Managers and Associate Directors using a supportive and collaborative approach based on clearly defined performance and development goals and regular systems for communication and feedback. Conduct performance appraisals and administer salary adjustments.
3. Effectively assign, delegate, and monitor Communications and Outreach work; outline expectations of and communicate effectively with Communications and Outreach staff; establish rapport and trust, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of individual staff members; respond to pressures of work volume and time requirements in a way that is consistent, appropriate, and positive for both you and the agency long-term.
4. Ensure that all department members are being utilized at approximately 85%; raise the flag (i.e., report to operations and propose solutions) when utilization is exceeding or falling short
5. Evaluate and provide regular opportunities for professional development.
6. Lead by example. Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality. Model exceptional Communication and Outreach practices that adhere to agency processes and protocols: prepared and proactive; thorough, accurate, and timely; always beginning with the end in mind; curious and eager to learn and continuously improve; welcoming of multiple, diverse, and spirited points of view to strengthen and elevate our work; and dedicated to achieving results the client and agency will be proud of.
7. Serve as the ambassador of Communications and Outreach morale. Create a positive, productive, respectful, and supportive working environment to serve staff members, clients, and the agency. Encourage and demonstrate team and agency unity. Communicate effectively and proactively with other department heads to address any performance issues and identify opportunities for improvement.

Business Development (5%)     

1. Oversee the development of Civilian’s communications and outreach approach for business development proposals, including conducting research, determining campaign strategy, designing evaluation methods and approaches, contributing content to proposals and work plans, and providing parameters and estimates for budgets.
2. Help prepare for and participate in business development pitches. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum 15 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, marketing,  branding, and social media within a marketing, advertising, and/or PR agency.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent business experience preferred.
• Experience with public sector, government or CA local, regional, and state politics preferred.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, leadership, supervisory, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to develop and implement communications plans that achieve specific, measurable results.
• Able to develop and tailor communications to effectively connect with diverse audiences; capable of adapting strategies and tactics to respond to client or audience feedback.
• Sound judgment, self-confidence, and professionalism that equate with a position reporting to the CEO.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and entrepreneurial; demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Strong working knowledge of technology, digital, and social media imperative.
• Agile problem-solver, ability to navigate complex situations and manage ambiguity; excellent attention to detail.
• Able to manage people and multiple projects with competing priorities.
• Good listener who includes and engages others and inspires colleagues to their best performance.

  Location
  This position is a hybrid role based in San Diego, California. Remote working options with in-office Wednesdays and biweekly half-day Fridays for collaboration and team building.

  
  Compensation & Benefits
  This is a full-time salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package. 

  Salary Range: $130,000 – $145,000, depending on experience.

  
          Tiered medical coverage, with 100% employer-paid after Year 5

          100% employer-paid Medical Option (coming soon)

          Company-paid Long Term Disability

          Company-paid Life Insurance

          Company-paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

          Company-paid Identify Theft Prevention and Legal Support

          Dental & Vision

          Additional Voluntary Benefit:

    Short Term Disability

    Additional Life Insurance

    Hospital

    Critical Illness

    Accidental Death & Disability

    Cancer insurance

    Pet Insurance

          Great Work-Life Balance

          Generous Paid Time Off

          Work-Anywhere-In-The-World for a month

          Flexible Working Arrangements

          Paid Parental Leave (coming soon)

          Paid Volunteer Time Off

          Annual Cost of Living Adjustment

          401(k) Retirement with Employer Match

          Company-paid Employee Assistance Program

          Professional Development

          Educational Assistance

          On-site company-paid parking or stipend for San Diego office

          On-site Fitness Center

          Dog-friendly San Diego office space

          Happy Hours and Company events

          Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursements

  
  Civilian’s Core Values

  Seek First to Understand

  Practice We Over Me

  Operate With Integrity

  Rise to the Challenge

  Make Things Better

  
  Let’s Get to Know Each Other
  Are you the one? Are we the one? If this sounds like a fit, let’s talk more. Please email careers@civilian.com to tell us why we absolutely, positively need you on our team. Don’t forget to attach your resume. And check out https://civilian.com/careers/ and our Glassdoor reviews for more information on how talented, smart, and delightful we are.