Public Relations and Communications Manager

Description

NCCER is seeking an accomplished Communications Manager to lead the organization’s public relations, earned media, institutional storytelling and editorial communications.

This position will serve as NCCER’s primary communications expert and will be highly accountable for strengthening the organization’s visibility, reputation and voice across the construction, education and workforce-development industries.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and editor who also understands how to create news. This person should be able to recognize compelling stories within NCCER’s programs, research, partnerships and organizational initiatives; develop strong angles; identify the right journalists and outlets; and proactively pitch stories that generate meaningful earned-media coverage.

The Communications Manager will also provide editorial leadership for NCCER’s highest-profile institutional content, including the Annual Report and other major publications, ensuring that content representing the organization is accurate, compelling, well written and publication-ready.

In addition, this position will serve as Marketing’s primary communications partner to NCCER’s Philanthropy team and will lead NCCER’s developing influencer and creator marketing strategy, including management of external agencies as the program scales.

This is a hands-on manager role. Success requires both strategic communications judgment and the willingness and ability to personally write, edit, pitch, counsel and execute.

Primary Responsibilities:

Public Relations and Earned Media

• Develop and execute NCCER’s public relations and earned-media strategy to increase awareness of the organization, its mission, programs, expertise and impact.
• Proactively identify newsworthy stories, trends, research, initiatives, partnerships and organizational developments that can generate earned-media opportunities.
• Develop compelling story angles and personally pitch relevant journalists, editors, publications, podcasts and other media outlets.
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with construction, education, workforce-development, business and trade media.
• Serve as NCCER’s primary point of contact for incoming media inquiries and external interview requests.
• Coordinate interviews with NCCER executives and subject-matter experts and provide appropriate media preparation, messaging and supporting materials.
• Draft, edit and coordinate the distribution of press releases and major organizational announcements.
• Identify opportunities to position NCCER executives and subject-matter experts as authoritative industry voices.
• Develop contributed articles, bylines, op-eds, talking points and other thought-leadership materials as needed.
• Monitor earned-media coverage, evaluate the quality and impact of placements and regularly report results and opportunities.

Corporate Reputation and Crisis Communications

• Monitor issues and developments that could affect NCCER’s reputation or public positioning.
• Develop crisis and issues communications plans in partnership with the Director of Marketing, executive leadership and other appropriate internal stakeholders.
• Draft statements, talking points, FAQs and other responsive communications as situations require.
• Provide communications counsel to leadership during sensitive or high-visibility situations.
• Help ensure NCCER communicates clearly, consistently and credibly with external audiences.

Editorial Leadership and Major Institutional Content

• Serve as the primary editorial authority for high-visibility content representing NCCER as an organization.
• Write, edit and substantially improve content to ensure clarity, accuracy, consistency, appropriate tone and adherence to AP style.
• Lead the editorial development and production of NCCER’s Annual Report, including narrative development, interviews, writing and editing, fact-checking, internal reviews and coordination with creative resources.
• Lead or provide editorial oversight for other major organizational reports, research publications, thought-leadership pieces and flagship content.
• Develop and manage NCCER’s communications and editorial calendar in coordination with other Marketing team members.
• Conduct interviews with executives, subject-matter experts, customers, partners and other stakeholders to develop articles, features, impact stories and other content.
• Ensure major communications are appropriately reviewed and ready for publication without becoming an unnecessary approval step for routine marketing content.

Philanthropy and Research Communications Partnership

• Serve as Marketing’s primary communications partner and point of contact for NCCER’s Philanthropy and Research departments.
• Develop a strong understanding of Philanthropy’s priorities, initiatives, audiences and annual goals.
• Work collaboratively with the Research team to identify stories and communications opportunities around case studies, fact sheets and the underlying research that can expand awareness and reach.
• Identify earned-media, thought-leadership, content and influencer opportunities that elevate NCCER’s philanthropic impact.
• Provide strategic communications and editorial counsel for major philanthropy-related messages and materials as needed.
• Help integrate important philanthropy stories and initiatives into NCCER’s broader communications and editorial calendar.
• Lead the creation of Research social media tool kits meant to make it easy for partners to effectively share research content
• Partner with Social, Growth Marketing, Creative and Website resources to amplify priority research and philanthropy stories and initiatives when appropriate.
• Respect and preserve Philanthropy’s ownership of donor relationships and subject-matter expertise while adding communications strategy, reach and editorial support.

Organizational Storytelling and Thought Leadership

• Develop a strong understanding of NCCER’s programs, research, audiences, industry relationships and organizational priorities.
• Build relationships across NCCER to uncover stories that may not naturally surface through traditional marketing requests.
• Partner with Marketing managers responsible for Business and Industry, Education and Social Programs, Growth Marketing and other functions to identify communications opportunities.
• Translate complex industry, education and workforce-development topics into clear and engaging stories for external audiences.
• Identify opportunities to connect NCCER expertise and data to timely industry conversations.
• Develop case studies, success stories and other institutional storytelling as appropriate.

Agency, Vendor and Resource Management

• Manage communications, public relations and influencer agencies or consultants as assigned.
• Develop effective agency briefs establish expectations and ensure deliverables meet NCCER’s strategic and quality standards.
• Manage applicable communications projects and vendor budgets efficiently.
• Evaluate agency performance and recommend changes or additional resources when necessary.
• As the communications function grows, provide direction and supervision to a Communications Coordinator or other communications resources.
• Delegate production and coordination work appropriately while retaining accountability for communications quality and results.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with the Social Media specialist to coordinate earned-media stories, major announcements and institutional content across NCCER’s organic social channels.
• Collaborate with the Lifecycle and Account-Based Marketing Manager when major institutional messaging intersects with lifecycle or account-specific campaigns while preserving that role’s ownership of routine nurture and customer-journey communications.
• Partner with the Website Experience Manager to publish and optimize news, institutional content, major reports and other communications on NCCER.org.
• Partner with Marketing Operations and Branding and NCCER’s Creative Leads to ensure major communications are visually and verbally consistent with NCCER’s brand.
• Work with Marketing’s Business and Industry and Education and Social Programs leaders to identify newsworthy initiatives and subject-matter expertise within their assigned portfolios.
• Maintain productive relationships with executives, department leaders and subject-matter experts throughout NCCER.
• Support other departments within NCCER through appropriate meetings, communications planning and collaboration.
• Maintain an informed understanding of construction, education, workforce-development and related industry trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, corporate communications, journalism, media relations or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success generating earned-media coverage through proactive story development and media pitching.
• Strong existing understanding of how journalists, editors and media organizations evaluate stories and sources.
• Exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Advanced knowledge of AP style and strong editorial judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to take complex or technical information and turn it into clear, compelling communications.
• Experience writing and editing executive communications, press releases, articles, reports, thought-leadership content and other high-visibility materials.
• Strong project-management skills and demonstrated ability to manage complex publications or communications projects involving multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
• Ability to confidently counsel executives, senior leaders and subject-matter experts on communications matters.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with media, internal stakeholders, external partners and agencies.
• Sound judgment and the ability to operate effectively during sensitive or fast-moving communications situations.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to independently manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated initiative, curiosity and the ability to proactively uncover communications opportunities rather than relying exclusively on incoming requests.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Dependable in attendance and performance.
• Some travel may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in construction, skilled trades, workforce development, education, credentialing, training or a related industry.
• Experience working within or communicating on behalf of a nonprofit, association, foundation or mission-driven organization.
• Experience supporting philanthropy, fundraising, donor-impact or mission-oriented communications.
• Experience managing an external public relations, communications or influencer marketing agency.
• Experience developing or managing influencer and creator partnerships.
• Experience producing annual reports, research reports or other substantial institutional publications.
• Existing relationships with construction, education, workforce-development, business or trade media are strongly preferred.
• Experience working closely with executives and preparing leaders for media interviews.
• Experience with WordPress or another website content-management system.
• Familiarity with HubSpot, Salesforce or other CRM and marketing technology platforms.

Measures of Success

Performance would be evaluated using measures such as:

• Quality, quantity and strategic relevance of earned-media coverage.
• Growth in proactive media placements generated through NCCER story pitching.
• Strength and breadth of relationships with priority journalists, publications and industry media.
• Increased visibility of NCCER executives and subject-matter experts as authoritative industry voices.
• Editorial quality, accuracy and on-time delivery of the Annual Report and other major institutional publications.
• Effectiveness and preparedness of NCCER’s crisis and issues communications.
• Increased external visibility of NCCER’s philanthropy initiatives and impact.
• Growth and effectiveness of NCCER’s influencer and creator partnerships.
• Quality and consistency of NCCER’s institutional voice and major communications.
• Ability to proactively identify high-value stories and communications opportunities across the organization.
• Effectiveness of communications agencies and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority communications projects while maintaining exceptional quality standards.

What Success Looks Like During the First Year

Within the first year, this person will have:

• Developed a clear earned-media and external communications strategy for NCCER.
• Established strong working relationships with NCCER leaders and subject-matter experts and developed a reliable process for uncovering newsworthy stories across the organization.
• Expanded NCCER’s relationships with priority journalists, publications and industry media.
• Demonstrated the ability to consistently generate proactive media opportunities rather than relying primarily on inbound requests.
• Established a clear editorial calendar for institutional communications, major publications and thought-leadership opportunities.
• Successfully led the editorial development and production of NCCER’s Annual Report and other priority institutional content.
• Established clear editorial standards and an appropriate review process for NCCER’s highest-profile communications.
• Developed a productive strategic communications partnership with NCCER’s Philanthropy team and measurably expanded awareness of priority philanthropy initiatives.
• Established or expanded NCCER’s influencer and creator marketing program, including an effective agency-management model if external support is used.
• Improved visibility into earned-media, thought-leadership and influencer performance.
• Demonstrated strong judgment and established credibility as NCCER’s internal communications expert.

Software Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, SharePoint and Outlook.
• Experience using media monitoring, media database or public relations technology platforms.
• Working knowledge of major social media platforms and how earned communications integrate with social channels.
• Experience with website content-management systems preferred.
• Familiarity with CRM and marketing technology platforms such as HubSpot or Salesforce preferred.
• Ability to use communications analytics and reporting tools to evaluate performance.

NCCER is an equal opportunity employer. No one shall be denied employment or opportunity based on race or color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, veteran’s status, marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation. NCCER also provides reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and bona fide religious beliefs, provided that such accommodation does not constitute an undue hardship on the Company.