Chief Communications Officer

Utah Transportation Authority•Salt Lake City, UT

43d

About The Position

As UTA's Chief Communications Officer you will create and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that promotes UTA's strategic priorities and brings them to life for all UTA stakeholders. Through your leadership, UTA will be broadly recognized as a vital partner and expert resource to address Utah's priorities around air quality, traffic congestion, mobility, travel choices, economic development, and access to education, employment, entertainment, and housing. Your professional connections, personal integrity, and influence across key audiences will underscore UTA's institutional integrity and reputation. The strategy you implement will unite UTA's messaging under a common theme to ensure and strengthen consistent brand identity across all platforms (print, broadcast, and digital channels) and positioning UTA as an employer of choice in the region. You will achieve these goals not as a Lone Ranger, but with the support and through the empowerment, initiative, and creativity of your dynamic Communications and Marketing Team. As a leader and developer of people, you will strengthen the Communications and Marketing and Team to envision, own, and achieve its highest potential. You will guide, mentor, and provide career opportunities for your talented group of communications and marketing professionals, including experts in strategy, public relations, marketing, digital and social media, media relations, and graphic arts.

Requirements

Five years' experience managing communications, public relations, marketing, and customer focus functions, including three years of senior level management experience.
Must have experience developing relationships with public and private stakeholder groups and government agencies.
Previous experience in creating strategic corporate communications, advertising, and marketing campaigns, and building effective media plans.
Experience working with and directing creative strategy and resources in the areas of content marketing, communications/PR, social media and digital marketing, direct marketing, websites, broadcast, and print collateral.
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Community Relations, or closely related field.
Strong project management, strategic analysis, and critical thinking skills required.
A master communicator with internal and external stakeholders at all levels. Political sensitivity and acumen required.
Well versed in communications platforms and collaboration tools. Must adapt easily and be able to support a variety of technology and software programs.
Communications research, processes, planning and program implementation.
Current and emerging technology in communications and marketing to produce and share content for websites, intranet, and/or social media.
Strong research and analytical skills.
Significant brand development, management, and messaging strategies.
Communicate with strong interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral.
Manage, supervise, coach, and evaluate a team of diverse communications professionals to ensure effective and efficient operations.
Develop and retell stories in support of the brand identity.
Shape and control the flow of information to key constituencies.
Sustain positive and open lines of communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Coordinate a variety of high-profile tasks and responsibilities.
Identify story ideas and shape key messages to generate positive coverage of the Agency.
Create and utilize formal and informal systems for gathering, tracking, and analyzing reliable information.
Ability to implement complex business strategies through influence, communication, and internal coordination.
Strategic Mindset - Looking toward the broadest possible view of an issue/challenge; cultivating innovation; anticipating future trends and implications accurately.
Business Acumen - Maintaining an up-to-date understanding of the broader issues affecting field of expertise and organization.
Managerial Courage - Standing strong in the face of adversity and taking necessary risk to achieve results.
Change Management - Dealing comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Dealing constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
Communicates Effectively - Creating an open environment in which thoughts are expressed freely and information flows easily.
Decision Making - Making sound decisions that consider multiple options, seeking input from others, reaching good decisions in a timely manner.
Drives Results - Fostering a strong bottom-line orientation; accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks; exceeding goals successfully; pushing self and others to achieve results.
OR -
An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Corporate/Strategic Communications or closely related field preferred but not required.
Experience with public transit management issues preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direction to senior leadership team by bringing together strategic communications and institutional marketing representatives to address Agency-wide initiatives.
In collaboration with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees the CCO, develop, implement, and communicate all communication and marketing strategies, relationship building, and identifying opportunities to expand public reach.
Develop internal communication plans that communicate UTA's vision, corporate culture and strategic plans and initiatives to employees.
Develop and implements the Agency's corporate brand identity and image, and directs the Agency's public relations, marketing, media relations, and social media.
Oversee and drives external communications designed to increase public awareness, understanding and support of the Agency's strategic objectives and priorities.
Set and focus strategic direction for communications and customer facing functions including technology, brand identity, and image.
Direct all outward facing media, and communication initiatives.

Benefits

Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts. Choice between Traditional Co-Pay or High-Deductible Health Plans for medical coverage. HSA with company match available to employees enrolled in the HDHP. Benefit plans include coverage for domestic partners (eligibility affidavit required for coverage).
Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost to employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children.
Regular Administrative employees receive 22 days of paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick days), which accrue biweekly and increases with tenure at UTA. As an Executive employee, you will also receive an additional 7 days of vacation at the start of each calendar year. (Note: If you start after July 1st, For the first partial year, you will get an additional 3.5 days of vacation added to your bank immediately).
10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per year.
Retirement options - participation in a 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company Also, choose between a Pension Plan with a 5-year vesting schedule or a 401a with a fixed 15.5% yearly contribution.
Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course of study must be approved prior to enrollment Training, development, and career advancement opportunities.
Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment).
Free transit passes for employees, their spouses, and their dependent children.
Employee assistance program - includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.
UTA Well - a comprehensive wellness program designed to support employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to VASA Fitness