Communication Director

Dataone•New York, NY

23h

About The Position

The Communication Director will define and deploy DataOne's communications strategy in the United States, aligning with the Group's brand platform and governance. The role focuses on three key objectives: increasing industry awareness and credibility to establish DataOne as a recognized sustainable AI infrastructure player, building local acceptance and trusted relationships with stakeholders in Vineland and Cumberland County to ensure a stable project environment, and enhancing employer attractiveness to support recruitment in a competitive talent market.

Requirements

Higher education in communications, journalism, political science, public affairs, or equivalent.
Seven to ten years of experience in corporate communications, media relations, or public affairs.
At least three years of experience in a heavy infrastructure sector (data centers, energy, industry, logistics real estate, construction, or utilities).
Demonstrated experience communicating projects to US local communities and elected officials, ideally in a permitting or opposition context.
Experience in crisis communications in an industrial or construction-site environment.
Excellent written English, native or equivalent level.
Ability to write quickly, clearly, and without jargon.
Strong public-speaking skills and ability to command a room in a public meeting.
Ability to quickly understand technical subjects and explain them to non-technical audiences.
Proficiency with content-production and media-monitoring tools.
Proficiency in agency management and budget management.
Autonomy: ability to build a function before managing it.
Factual rigor: ensuring public statements are substantiated.
Composure and availability in sensitive situations.
Team spirit and respect for Group approval processes.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with a non-US headquarters and teams across multiple time zones.
French language skills (not a disqualifying criterion).

Responsibilities

Build and manage the US media database, including specialist media, national business press, energy and construction press, and regional press in southern New Jersey.
Produce corporate content such as press releases, press kits, talking points, project fact sheets, client messaging, and web and LinkedIn content.
Prepare and support spokespersons for public appearances, including providing briefs, anticipating difficult questions, and defining red lines.
Lead DataOne's presence at industry trade shows and conferences, and secure speaking opportunities on panels.
Map and maintain an up-to-date list of local stakeholders, including city officials, planning departments, utilities, county government, Chamber of Commerce, residents' associations, environmental organizations, and educational institutions.
Design and implement local engagement programs, such as public meetings, open-house days, and construction-site information points, with a mechanism for responding to residents' questions.
Prepare DataOne's interventions at public meetings and council sessions, including developing materials, talking points, and anticipating objections.
Translate technical topics (electrical connection, cooling, noise, water, construction traffic) into understandable, verifiable, and non-promotional messages.
Monitor the local environment through press reviews, social media, and community groups, and alert management to early warning signals.
Support relationships with state and county institutional stakeholders, in coordination with US General Management and Legal.
Prepare institutional materials, including project presentation materials, economic impact briefs, and contributions to public consultations.
Ensure consistency between public messaging, commitments made during permitting procedures, and the project's actual data.
Develop and maintain the US crisis communications framework, including scenarios, decision trees, crisis teams, designated spokespersons, and pre-approved talking points.
Cover specific crisis scenarios such as construction-site incidents, workplace accidents, operational incidents, service outages, organized local opposition, environmental controversies, social issues, cybersecurity incidents, and unfavorable press articles.
Provide communications on-call coverage in the event of an incident, coordinating with headquarters and Legal.
Conduct post-incident reviews and update the crisis communications framework.
Adapt the Group employer brand for the US market and provide content for recruitment channels.
Design local awareness campaigns to support the recruitment of technical and operations profiles.
Collaborate with the recruitment team and US HR on employment events, partnerships with local educational institutions, and employee content.
Relay and adapt Group internal communications for US teams, considering construction-site and operations populations.
Ensure compliance with Group visual identity guidelines and logobook across all US-produced materials, including those from providers and partners.
Select and manage local agencies and providers for media relations, creative work, audiovisual production, and site signage.
Track the US communications budget and report results according to KPIs defined with headquarters.