Manager of External Communications - Denver International Airport

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization between $101,050 -$130,000. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date Location & Schedule The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the field at least three days a week and telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado the remaining days, and this is subject to change. In this position you can expect to work in-person at Denver International Airport 3 days a week, with the option to work 2 days a week from home. Office hours are 8:30–5:00. This individual will also participate in an on-call rotation (typically two-week cycles every four weeks) that may require availability during emergencies; occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays. Who We Are & What You’ll Do About DEN Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do. Denver International Airport’s Global Communications and Marketing team is seeking a Manager of External Communications to lead strategic, high‑visibility communications that protect and enhance the airport’s reputation and public trust. This role oversees media relations, crisis communications, and proactive storytelling efforts; supervises the external communications team; and serves as a spokesperson for DEN. The Manager works closely with executive leadership, internal stakeholders, and partner agencies to ensure accurate, timely, and consistent messaging across all external channels. The Manager of External Communications provides senior-level media relations support, including pitching stories, researching complex issues, conducting interviews, and preparing subject matter experts. This position advises and supports the Director of Communications and division leadership on communications strategy for airport initiatives and emerging issues. The role is part of a rotating on-call schedule requiring 24/7 availability. The position reports to the Director of Communications and supervises two Public Information Officers and a Digital Communications Specialist. Additional responsibilities include: Work closely with the Director of Communications to develop, execute, and evaluate strategic external communications. Supervise the external communications team, which includes Public information Officers and a Digital Communications Specialist. Establish management practices and processes to meet performance goals. Develop strategic communication plans and strategies for enhanced PR with target audiences and distribute that information to internal and external audiences through a variety of communication channels. Draft messaging and statements for various issues and prepare talking points for leadership media interviews. Provide crisis communications and management during emergency situations, acting as a primary information source to the public and media, and work with stakeholders such as police, federal agencies, and airlines to coordinate responses and messaging. Handle day-to-day media relations, and serve as a spokesperson for various media inquiries. Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, national, and trade media outlets Participate in an on-call rotation (typically two-week cycles every four weeks) and be available during emergencies; occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required. Use data to develop strategic and compelling content for DEN’s blog and stakeholder newsletter. Lead and support special events, media briefings, press conferences, and major announcements. Create, edit, and proofread communications for public consumption including but not limited to reports, presentations, newsletters, blogs, etc. Work closely with the social media team to support the development of compelling and relevant social media content. Support commercial filming requests from start to finish.

Requirements

• A true communications wiz with strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to boil down technical information to understandable and concise messages
• At least four years of experience in the communications field with proven experience with media relations, strategic communications planning, and crisis communications
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including at least one year of supervisory responsibilities
• Strong media relations experience, including pitching stories and managing time-sensitive inquiries
• Excellent judgment and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Have a keen eye for editing and AP Style writing
• Experience with crisis situations and creating statements, talking points and interview briefings
• Familiarity with social media and content monitoring platforms such as Sprinklr, Constant Contact and Meltwater
• Experience in a PR/communications role within a large corporate or municipal organization that is as complex and dynamic as Denver International Airport
• Strategic thinker able to develop the best plans and strategies to achieve results
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included supervision of marketing and/or communications professionals.
• Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of stakeholder outreach
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus, but not required

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Director of Communications to develop, execute, and evaluate strategic external communications.
• Supervise the external communications team, which includes Public information Officers and a Digital Communications Specialist.
• Establish management practices and processes to meet performance goals.
• Develop strategic communication plans and strategies for enhanced PR with target audiences and distribute that information to internal and external audiences through a variety of communication channels.
• Draft messaging and statements for various issues and prepare talking points for leadership media interviews.
• Provide crisis communications and management during emergency situations, acting as a primary information source to the public and media, and work with stakeholders such as police, federal agencies, and airlines to coordinate responses and messaging.
• Handle day-to-day media relations, and serve as a spokesperson for various media inquiries.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, national, and trade media outlets
• Participate in an on-call rotation (typically two-week cycles every four weeks) and be available during emergencies; occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays may be required.
• Use data to develop strategic and compelling content for DEN’s blog and stakeholder newsletter.
• Lead and support special events, media briefings, press conferences, and major announcements.
• Create, edit, and proofread communications for public consumption including but not limited to reports, presentations, newsletters, blogs, etc.
• Work closely with the social media team to support the development of compelling and relevant social media content.
• Support commercial filming requests from start to finish.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees