Director of Communications and Outreach

Job Overview

Responsible for leading the development and execution of innovative marketing, communications, and public relations initiatives for the agency and its clients. The Director of Communications and Outreach initiates and drives the planning, strategy development, recommendations, and execution of communications, earned media, and outreach activities for clients.

Who You Are

You are an inspiring and seasoned integrated marketing communications and public relations leader, a savvy strategist, a beautiful writer, and a brilliant thinker. You know how to build rapport with a broad array of key stakeholders and you are adept at crafting strong, strategic messages that are the bedrock of successful campaigns. You have a demonstrated track record of developing effective and innovative approaches to shaping public opinion and changing behavior. You know how to effectively lead a team, including developing talent, mentoring, providing backup support, and managing staffing and workloads.

Who We Are: Marketers For Good

Civilian is a different kind of marketing communications agency. We are a Certified B Corporation, which means we are part of a global network of companies using business as a force for good. We take on clients and projects that align with our mission to improve lives, strengthen communities, and better the world. Our work includes supporting mental health and wellness, preventing youth suicide, and reducing the impact of adverse childhood experiences. It also includes advancing environmental sustainability, promoting the value of education, and driving economic development. We call it “marketing for good” and we are dedicated to tackling challenging issues and creating positive change in the world.

We are a dedicated group of innovators and problem solvers who come to work every day grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. We support our employees’ professional and personal development with a rich set of benefits, humane working hours, and a culture that rewards embracing challenges and having a great time doing it. The success of our approach shows in our average employee tenure of nearly five years (vs. the industry average of 2.5) and in the number of Civilians that return. We offer a truly unique balance of professionalism and heart.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND 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 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.

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.

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.

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. 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; Support the CEO and agency with internal communications as needed; 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.

Department Development, Management, and Support (15%)

1. Recruit, manage, develop, and retain an effective communications and outreach team. Lead by example. Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.

2. Conduct performance appraisals and administer salary adjustments. Effectively assign, delegate, and monitor Communications and Outreach work; outline expectations of and communicate effectively with Communications and Outreach staff.

3. Ensure that all dept 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

4. 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.

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 EAP
• Professional Development
• On-site company-paid parking or stipend for San Diego office
• On-site Fitness Center
• Dog-friendly San Diego office space
• 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 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.

Civilian