Communications Manager

Guitar Center•Frederick, MD

About The Position

The Communications Manager helps shape Music & Arts’ voice through Associate communications, strategic storytelling, culture, and brand content. The role connects with Associates, customers, educators, parents, and students, leading internal communications while supporting creative content and copy for brand channels, campaigns, digital experiences, social media, and other customer-facing touchpoints. The position maintains communication channels and editorial calendars; writes, edits, publishes, and distributes communications; develops stories and brand content; partners on customer-facing creative; and supports Town Halls (MA Live), Leadership Meetings, and other key Music & Arts events. The role also helps define and evolve the brand voice, measures communication effectiveness, and serves as a communications partner to leaders and cross-functional teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications or a related field, or 5–7 years of directly relevant experience.
At least 5 years of directly relevant work experience, in addition to the degree or years of previous experience.
Experience managing people and/or leading cross-functional work.
Strong project and program management skills, with the ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills and ability to adapt voice and tone for Associate and customer-facing audiences.
Advanced proficiency with digital communication and content platforms.
Strong understanding of audience experience across engagement, design, written communications, and rich media, and how to use each to meet communication and brand goals.
Ability to multitask, deliver under tight timelines, and adapt quickly to change.
Ability to create and foster productive, engaging employee relationships.
Strong eye for visual design, creative storytelling, and brand consistency.
Working knowledge of AP Style and strong writing, editing, proofreading, and copy-development skills.
Writing portfolio demonstrating communications, storytelling, and/or brand copy work must be available for review.
Positive attitude and ability to work as a team player in a collaborative environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with O365 or similar tools.
Experience partnering with creative, marketing, digital, social, or agency teams.
Basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

Drive communications initiatives across Music & Arts in support of strategic priorities, culture, and brand.
Identify, write, edit, publish, and deliver communications for Associates and key internal channels in collaboration with subject matter experts and cross-functional partners.
Develop creative content and copy for brand initiatives, campaigns, digital experiences, social content, landing pages, emails, presentations, and other customer-facing communications.
Help define, maintain, and evolve the Music & Arts brand voice across channels.
Partner with Brand, Digital, Marketing, Creative, School Services, Lessons, and other teams to turn business objectives into compelling stories and content.
Build and maintain editorial and content calendars aligned with Associate communications and key brand, seasonal, education, and business moments.
Edit and proofread high-visibility communications and creative copy for clarity, accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment.
Drive Associate engagement and reinforce Music & Arts priorities, culture, values, and vision.
Monitor and measure the impact of Associate communications and content campaigns, recommend improvements, and develop quantitative and qualitative effectiveness metrics.
Serve as a communications partner to the team and help leaders translate business priorities into clear, engaging messages.
Lead, coach, and mentor team members and/or cross-functional partners as appropriate.
Support Town Halls, Leadership Meetings, and other key Associate experiences and events.