Assistant Director, Strategic Communications

This leadership role reports to the Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications and plays an integral role in shaping and executing the Metropolitan Airport Commissions (MAC) enterprise-wide communications strategy.

The Strategic Marketing and Communications Department stewards a consistent brand voice activates the brand to engage key constituents and supports non-aeronautical revenue growth and passenger engagement through strategic campaigns grounded in research and analytics

The Strategic Marketing and Communications Department is part of the Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement Division. The divisions charter is to function as an in-house team serving as stewards of strategy developing communications and creating stakeholder champions to ensure the organization delivers on its purpose values and strategic goals.

The Assistant Director leads MACs communications function overseeing media relations crisis communications internal and external messaging and digital strategy. This role fosters a client-centered project-oriented culture that delivers responsive high-quality service to internal departments and external partners. A trusted advisor to MAC leadership the Assistant Director contributes to executive communications through message development strategic counsel and presentation support. The role is also expected to champion innovation and continuous improvement in communications tools storytelling techniques and engagement strategies to elevate MACs brand and reputation.

RELATIONSHIPS

Reporting Relationship Reports to the Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

Supervision Supervises the Manager of Strategic Communications Assistant Manager of Strategic Communications Strategic Communications Coordinator Digital Media Manager and contractors or consultants as needed

Organizational Frequent contact with MAC senior leaders commissioners and directors

External Business Frequent contact with media communications/public relations consultants airline representatives government agencies social/digital agencies and platform representatives

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

Internal Communications

• Oversee the development and execution of MACs internal communications strategy including employee newsletters intranet content and organizational updates.
• Ensure all internal messaging is consistent timely and aligned with MACs brand values and priorities across all levels of the organization.
• Provide strategic guidance to enhance employee engagement support change management initiatives and foster a well-informed workplace culture.
• Mentor and support the Assistant Manager of Communications as the organizations primary internal communications contact.
• Identify and take ownership of metrics that evaluate the impact of new internal communication channels and tactics.
• Work collaboratively across teams within the organization to develop communication plans that raise awareness and boost engagement.
• Actively gather both qualitative and quantitative internal feedback and analyze the data to identify trends and recommend adjustments based on research findings.

Media Relations

• Oversee the development and execution of MACs media relations strategy to advance the organizations reputation and foster positive public perception.
• Mentor and support the Manager of Strategic Communications who serves as the primary media contact and spokesperson ensuring alignment with MACs messaging priorities and brand voice.
• Provide strategic oversight and quality control for media responses message frameworks and media engagement strategies to ensure accuracy timeliness and alignment with organizational values.
• Serve as a secondary spokesperson and backup media contact during high-profile or sensitive issues offering strategic counsel to senior leaders and ensuring message discipline.
• Support proactive media outreach including story development press release creation editorial pitching media briefings and event coordination.
• Cultivate strong relationships with key media outlets and journalists across local regional and national platforms to position MAC as a credible and trusted source.
• Monitor media coverage oversee analysis of trends and sentiment and guide data-informed strategy adjustments to enhance media engagement and visibility.
• Foster collaboration with internal departments to anticipate potential media interest and prepare proactive or responsive messaging as needed.
• Ensure media relations efforts support broader communications goals reinforce public trust and elevate MACs brand and leadership position within the aviation and transportation industries.

Digital and Social Media

• Oversee the strategic direction and implementation of MACs digital content and engagement strategy including social media website messaging and email communications.
• Guide the Digital Media Manager and digital content contributors in maintaining a cohesive engaging and responsive presence across all platforms.
• Utilize digital media to enhance marketing and communications campaigns.
• Ensure MACs digital messaging aligns with organizational priorities fosters engagement and supports brand awareness and client-driven revenue initiatives.
• Oversee key performance indicators (KPIs) reporting and insights to improve content performance and audience engagement continually.
• Oversee the creation of channel strategies platform improvements content calendars and community engagement best practices.

Crisis Communications

• Serve as the senior leader accountable for the Metropolitan Airports Commissions crisis communications function ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide emergency preparedness and business continuity strategies.
• Oversee the development execution and continuous improvement of crisis communication plans protocols and messaging strategies.
• Delegate day-to-day leadership of crisis communications operations to the Manager of Strategic Communications while providing strategic guidance decision-making support and escalation oversight.
• Actively participate in the departments emergency preparedness efforts including planning sessions cross-departmental coordination emergency exercises and post-incident reviews.
• Provide executive-level leadership during critical incidents as part of the 24/7 Crisis Communications rotation including coordination with MAC leadership public safety and external partners.
• Ensure MACs crisis communication responses are timely accurate and reflect the organizations values and priorities thereby safeguarding public trust and maintaining MACs reputation.
• Lead post-incident debriefings and drive process improvements based on lessons learned.

Executive Communications

• Conduct research and prepare briefings talking points and presentations for the MACs senior leadership.
• Tailor executive messaging to fit individual leadership styles and create impactful communications for each senior leader.
• Develop communications for Commissioners and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure messaging aligns with and advances organizational policies while also being sensitive to public perception and external context.
• Work closely with the Assistant Directors of Brand Creative and Strategic Marketing as well as the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Digital Media Managers to ensure consistency in content and messaging across channels.
• Stay updated on new styles methods and channels for Executive Communications.
• Explore connections for content and find innovative ways to deliver messages from executives.

Organizational Subject Matter Expert

• Collaborate with other teams within the department and across the organization to facilitate the sharing of content and knowledge across various channels.
• Serve as a thought leader and mentor to cultivate an organizational culture that values and produces best-in-class communications.
• Serve as corporate executive and crisis communications expert speaker and/or committee member to influence the community outside of MAC.
• Champion MACs Strategic Plan and ensure all communication efforts align with the organizations strategic goals.

Team Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day oversight for the communications team fostering collaboration accountability and alignment with MACs broader goals and brand.
• Partner with the Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications to ensure cohesive planning prioritization and resource allocation across communications functions.
• Collaborate on annual departmental goal-setting and planning sessions that support strategic initiatives and cross-functional integration.
• Establish clear team roles and responsibilities to promote operational clarity reduce duplication and drive effective execution.
• Lead regular team meetings to share updates reinforce priorities and facilitate alignment across projects and stakeholders.
• Create a culture of mentorship continuous learning and performance excellence by offering coaching feedback and professional development opportunities.
• Lead all aspects of team performance and staffing including hiring coaching recognizing transferring evaluating and disciplining/discharging talent in alignment with MAC values to build and sustain a high-performing engaged team.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that promotes innovation collaboration and strategic impact across all communications efforts.

Project & Process Leadership

• Establish implement and oversee a quality assurance processincluding proofreadingfor all communications outputs to ensure they are accurate clear and aligned with MAC standards.
• Create implement and establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and a project management process for communications that address client needs for high-quality and timely delivery.
• Ensure all communication materials and projects are completed on time and within budget proactively working with clients to address any issues that arise.
• Oversee payment of expenses and invoices and track them against the budget.

Manager of Managers (MOM) Competencies

• Customer Focus-Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Strategic Mindset-Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Plans and Aligns-Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Ensures Accountability-Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
• Drives Results-Consistently achieving results even under tough circumstances.
• Collaborates-Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Values Differences-Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Builds Effective Teams-Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Communicates Effectively-Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Drives Engagement-Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Organizational Savvy- Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy process and people-related organizational dynamics.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors degree in communications public relations journalism marketing or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in communications including at least 5 years in media relations corporate communications or a closely related area
• Minimum of 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience including direct oversight of professional staff
• Proven experience developing and leading internal communications strategies that support employee engagement and organizational change
• Demonstrated leadership in crisis communications including media response planning and incident management
• Extensive experience in media relations including acting as a spokesperson or overseeing spokesperson activity
• Proven hands-on experience with executive communications including speechwriting message development and presentation coaching
• Strong strategic skills in digital and social media content planning and oversight
• Exceptional communication skills verbal written and interpersonal - with demonstrated political acumen situational awareness and executive presence.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to influence collaborate and build trust across all levels of the organization
• Experience leading integrated communications strategies using multimedia digital and traditional platforms
• Proficiency in using data metrics and KPIs to evaluate communications effectiveness and optimize content strategies

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

• Masters degree in communications public administration business or a related field
• Communications experience within the public sector
• Previous aviation and/or transportation industry communications experience
• Experience navigating politically sensitive environments or supporting government relations efforts
• Experience working in or supporting Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functions
• FEMA Emergency Management Institute certifications (e.g. IS-100 IS-200 IS-700 IS-800)
• Experience managing digital communications teams agencies or contractors
• Proficiency with social media publishing tools analytics platforms and community engagement best practices

This position provides an opportunity for on-site and remote work. MACs remote work policy requires employees to be on-site three days of the week. Among the three on-site days one of them must be either a Monday or a Friday and on Tuesdays all employees are required to be onsite. Please note during the first two months of probation after hire the requirement is for employees to be onsite for four days a week and one day remote. After the review of the first two-month probation employees will then follow the MACs remote work policy of three days onsite two days remote.