Director, External Relations Communications & Marketing

Port of Seattle•Seattle, WA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Port of Seattle is seeking a Director, External Relations Communications & Marketing to establish comprehensive communication strategy direction on all issues facing the Port. This role involves communicating the Port's strategic vision, decisions, and economic and community development opportunities in a transparent, relevant, and compelling manner to build trust and interest. The Director will set direction and strategy for communication activities, including determining approach, preparing key messages, identifying priority targets and third-party validators, establishing creative deliverables, and working with the Executive Director and Commission President. This position will also advise Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) staff on North Harbor communications issues, opportunities, and relationships. Key responsibilities include preparing annual communications and marketing plans, updating plans quarterly, preparing monthly analysis of digital communications metrics against goals, and determining annual investment in advertising and approving public-facing creative. The Director will create and direct communications highlighting Commission and executive leadership and Port priorities, play a leadership role in incident response, and advise Executive, HR, and Legal on sensitive Port matters. This role leads and directs the work of media relations, creative services, writers, and marketing leads, ensuring transparent communication with the public, promoting engagement opportunities, supporting customer experience, and building public support for Port policies and operations. The Director will utilize diverse and effective communications tools, recommend and invest in new tools as necessary, and conduct bi-annual public opinion research to adjust work plans. The Port of Seattle is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and this role is expected to exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work. The Port is a leader in moving people and cargo, managing diverse facilities and property with a focus on best uses and environmental sustainability. The Port's vision is to create a Port that mirrors the diversity of its communities, instills principles of equity into its culture, and ensures a fair distribution of opportunities for economic development and quality of life.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of experience in external relations, government relations, communications, marketing, community engagement, and/or operations.
Four (4) years of experience supervising staff and managing a function in communication and/or marketing.
Commitment to equity and exemplifying shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work.
Ability to lead through change, improve adversarial situations, and provide coaching, teaching, and mentorship to others.
Ability to develop and implement strategies that align with overall Port goals and objectives while influencing and leading change throughout the department.
Ability to independently and rapidly assess and solve problems in stressful situations, applying policies, rules and regulations to take appropriate action.
Keen sense of political realities and ability to look at the bigger picture of a situation, weigh it carefully, and provide sound recommendations that are in the best interests of the organization.
Excellent verbal, written, and listening skills.
Ability to clearly communicate complex information to diverse audiences.
Ability to build effective professional relationships.
Ability to use tact and diplomacy in sensitive situations.
Must pass a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check.
Must pass a criminal history background check with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Must obtain a Port of Seattle ID badge upon clearance.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, Public relations, Public affairs, or Political Science.
Master's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Management, and/or Executive Development programs.
Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).

Responsibilities

Establish the comprehensive communications strategy direction on all issues facing the Port of Seattle.
Communicate the Port's strategic vision, decisions, and economic and community development opportunities in a transparent, relevant, and compelling manner to build trust and interest.
Set direction and strategy for communication activities by determining approach, preparing key messages, identifying priority targets and third-party validators, establishing creative deliverables, and working with the Executive Director and Commission President.
Advise Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) staff on North Harbor communications issues, opportunities, and relationships.
Prepare annual communications and marketing plans and update plans quarterly.
Prepare monthly analysis of digital communications metrics against goals.
Determine annual investment in advertising and approve public facing creative.
Create and direct communications that highlight our Commission and executive leadership and Port priorities (state of the Port and similar events, budget open houses, media events, speaking opportunities, videos).
Play a leadership role in incident response and advise Executive, HR and Legal on sensitive Port matters.
Lead and direct the work of media relations, creative services, writers, and marketing leads.
Ensure the Port transparently communicates its actions to the public, promotes opportunities for engaging with the Port, supports the customer experience at Port facilities and builds public support for Port policies and operations.
Utilize diverse and effective communications tools to reach key audiences, recommend and invest in communications tools as necessary to address ongoing changes in technology user expectations and effectiveness.
Conduct bi-annual public opinion research and adjust work plans accordingly.