Regional Comms Director
Develops communication and public relations strategies to support business goals, publicize the Red Cross mission, drive revenue, and educate the public
Establishes strong media relationships, serves as a spokesperson, provides strategic communication counsel, and leads regional disaster public affairs
Collaborates to provide communication and marketing support, manages internal communications, and guides a regional team of volunteers
About the Company
Joining The American Red Cross is like nothing else—it’s as much something you feel as something you do. You become a vital part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Joining a team of welcoming individuals who are exceptional, yet unassuming. Diverse, yet uncompromising in unity. You grow your career within a movement that matters, where success is measured in people helped, communities made whole, and individuals equipped to never stop changing lives and situations for the better.
When you choose to be a force for good, you’ll have mentors who empower your growth along a purposeful career path. You align your life’s work with an ongoing mission that’s bigger than all of us. As you care for others, you’re cared for with competitive compensation and benefits. You join a community that respects who you are away from work as much as what you do while at work.
About the Job
The Regional Communications Director will guide and oversee communication, media, and public relations activities to drive business objectives and results, publicize the mission of the Red Cross, support revenue generation, and educate the public about how to access Red Cross services. Establish and maintain strong media relationships to drive positive media and brand exposure. Provide strategic leadership to counsel, influence, and manage communications processes and technologies. Collaborate cross-functionally to provide communication and marketing support as needed. Provide support, development and/or leadership guidance to all volunteers.
This person will serve as an important component of the American Red Cross regional leadership team. The Director will work in close collaboration with the Regional Executive, Division Communications Director, Field Marketing, Development, Disaster Cycle Services, Service to the Armed Forces, Biomedical Services, Health and Safety, Executive Directors and Volunteer Services teams to provide communication and marketing support.
Responsibilities
Leadership: Develop and execute a strategic communication and public relations plan that is aligned with the organizational communications and marketing strategies to support service delivery and revenue generation efforts across all lines of business. Identify and leverage communication opportunities and provide input to develop marketing and communication strategies
Strategy: Develop and execute an effective communications strategy to respond to support requests. Support development and implement strategic and change management communications to align with internal and external communication initiatives
Media Relations: Lead regional communications team and collaborate with regional executive, executive directors and others to execute determined media relations strategy, including maintaining excellent media contact relationships, news release writing and distributions, pitching, etc. Respond to local media inquiries by coordinating interviews and providing Red Cross approved information, as appropriate. Required to serve as a Red Cross spokesperson, train and prepare staff and volunteer spokespersons throughout the region, review support requests, and develop and execute an effective communications strategy. Experience writing for media/public relations, websites and social media is required. Knowledge of Associated Press Style Guide requirements is required. Experience with media monitoring is preferred
Public Affairs and Crisis Communications: Lead regional (and potentially national) disaster public affairs activities. Provide training to regional disaster public affairs volunteers. May be required to deploy to support disaster response operations outside of home region or may be tasked to conduct public affairs volunteer training and development across the division. Experience conducting training in media relations and crisis communications is preferred. Experience deploying to disaster response events is preferred
Social Engagement: Lead and implement a social media engagement strategy for the region that reflects the regional priorities in alignment with the enterprise-wide social media strategy. Produce relevant local content for regional web and social platforms. Experience in developing content, to include written messages, photos, videos/video editing is preferred. Experience with Sprout Social is preferred
Marketing Support: Lead region integrated campaign/program development in collaboration with Field Marketing and Regional Financial Development. Encourage staff to be trained on and use Brand Central, our internal brand-approved marketing asset platform. Experience with content management systems such as Constant Contact and websites is preferred. Experience working with templated marketing materials is preferred
Internal Communications: Support development of strategic and change management communications. Experience in creating, reviewing, and distributing internal communications is preferred
Volunteer Engagement: Lead the regional communications director in building, engaging and supervising a regional communications and disaster public affairs volunteer team. Experience with selecting volunteers, coaching/training volunteers, managing volunteers, and ensuring volunteers remain engaged is preferred
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, journalism, Public Relations, or related field required
Experience: Minimum 5 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and related experience required
Management Experience: 3 years of management experience
Skills & Abilities: Outstanding oral and written communication skills required, with proven knowledge of AP Style. Ability to manage experienced professionals and fully proficient in work and industry. Strong organizational, multi-tasking skills with ability to meet deadlines. Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite. Familiarity with Cision/TrendKite or other media monitoring software. Experience managing professional social media accounts. Strong teamwork and collaboration required. Willingness to serve as a media spokesperson required, experience as a spokesperson preferred. Ability to work on a team
Travel: Travel may be required 10-25%. A valid driver’s license is required
