Sr Communications Strategist Jobs

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This role primarily focuses on development of external-audience presentations and strategic outreach to targeted communities throughout North Texas, leading NTTA’s speakers bureau program. The role requires working with executives and various NTTA departments to develop creative and impactful PowerPoint presentations, messaging for Board of Directors meetings, preparing speakers for speaking engagements that strengthen NTTA’s brand. The incumbent collaborates with Public Affairs staff and project leaders to raise awareness of NTTA initiatives and programs among key audiences by managing projects, events and writing for NTTA publications, including annual reports, newsletters and other materials. Oversees development and execution of the biennial customer survey, preparing a presentation with relevant highlights for NTTA leadership and Board, gathering and disseminating the survey’s outcomes and making recommendations. Collaborates with the Director of Public Affairs on Board of Directors retreat presentations twice a year. The role serves as a storyteller, conveying key concepts through graphics, images and animation in PowerPoint and other communications vehicles. Reports to Assistant Director of Public Affairs.

Job Responsibilities:

Speakers Bureau:

• Manages all aspects of the NTTA Speakers Bureau, from identifying speaking opportunities, proactively pitching NTTA as an expert resource and responding to requests from the community. Coordinates with other Public Affairs staff to promote NTTA appearances
• Develops and reports metrics that gauge impact of speaking engagements as part of NTTA programs/initiatives. Recommends adjustments based on audience, speaker feedback and other metrics
• Provides speakers with constructive feedback on their engagements
• Schedules and arranges NTTA speaking engagements and maintains a comprehensive calendar of events. Serves as an NTTA speaker and accompanies other speakers to events to provide support as needed
• Creates presentations and writes speeches for NTTA representatives and board members at speaking engagements, monthly meetings and special events. Provides recommendations on messaging and visual storytelling that incorporates branding strategies
• Investigates panel opportunities for NTTA experts
• Consults with internal customers on presentations, including providing training and practice as needed. Also includes support and guidance as requested for presentations to the Board
• Maintains a directory of internal staff who are qualified to represent NTTA based on topic and have strong public speaking abilities. Creates speaker bios, including adding photos and ensuring they are up to date

Writing/Publications/Projects:

• Drafts and updates collateral material and handouts for speakers
• Manages production of NTTA’s Annual Summary Report(s). Includes: developing outlines and schedules, gathering data, drafting content, work with graphic designer to create the look and feel of the reports and circulate drafts for review
• Must have strong and inventive storytelling skills, particularly using visual content. Video production and editing skills are preferred. Creates short videos to be used in presentations and on NTTA’s social media and digital platforms
• Provides writing and editing assistance to Public Affairs staff and other departments as needed
• Coordinates development of NTTA Strategic Plan, working with various departments and stakeholders to research and gather strategic input
• Must demonstrate a keen eye for visual storytelling to balance content and creativity in Power Point presentations. Some graphic design experience preferred
• Collaborates with other departments for award submissions
• Develops original content based on research in a variety of subjects to be used in speeches, newsletters, internal communications, customer-facing and other materials.

Research:

• Works with Marketing team to obtain data and trends relevant to speaking engagements. Also works with Marketing to help determine locations where speaking engagements are most needed
• Researches topics to include in NTTA speeches to position its representatives as transportation experts
• Identifies key messages for inclusion across all channels
• Researches and maintains fact sheets, historical records and a milestone calendar for the organization’s major achievements

Organization:

• Act as liaison/counsel to other departments to provide proactive communication support and to identify/create opportunities to promote a favorable perception of the Authority. Serve as a guide to other departments on effective communications efforts; help liaison departments become stronger and more consistent in telling NTTA’s story
• Serves as the content expert and strategic guide for NTTA board meeting presentations and executive briefings. Defines positioning and crafts high-quality, dynamic PowerPoint presentations to accompany remarks
• Ability to adhere to tight deadlines while working on multiple, diverse projects.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to complete tasks with accuracy and limited oversight
• Effective time management and organizational skills to accommodate last-minute or rush projects while balancing normal workload
• Performs status checks and monitors performance throughout the year. Reports on results each quarter
• Resourceful, self-starter who continually seeks ways to strengthen their creative skill set

Planning and Measurement:

• Maintains calendar of organization-wide speakers bureau engagements and other business events, including chambers of commerce, Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis International, etc.
• Ability to cope with job related stress including but not limited to deadlines, customer, supervisory and staff interactions, multi-tasking and high work volumes is required.
• Evaluates programs and provides “after action” analysis
• Measures message placement by speakers, attendance of Speakers Bureau engagements and tracks questions asked of the speaker
• Maintains database of speaking engagement questions and answers to help prep future speakers to be consistent in our responses
• Assist in the planning and execution of NTTA’s community events
• Required to respond to emails and phone calls received outside of normal business hours as necessary.

Job Requirements:

• Formal Education: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field strongly preferred

• Experience:

Over three years and up to, and including five-years’ experience in corporate communications, public relations or similar field involving extensive writing, creative storytelling, creation of Power Point presentations, editing and developing organizational message

Demonstrated expertise engaging and activating community and influencer targets through a speakers bureau program or arranging speaking engagements for organizational leadership. Must have advanced Power Point skills with the ability to visually tell compelling stories about NTTA and its work. Video editing and production experience is preferred (Adobe Premiere Pro)

• Technical Skills: Skilled: Work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization
• Math: Intermediate - Ability to deal with system of real numbers; practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in high school up to college. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study
• Budget Responsibility: Prepares budget documents and research to justify language used in documents for a unit or division of a department. May recommend budget allocations
• Freedom to Act: Receives Limited Direction: The employee normally performs the duty assignment according to his or her own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance only when necessary. The assignment may be reviewed upon completion. Performance is reviewed periodically. Limited impact of actions on financial, public or employee relations due to established procedures
• Supervision: Work requires functioning as a lead worker, performing essentially the same work as those directed, and includes overseeing work quality, training, instructing and scheduling work
• Human Collaboration Skills: Work may require providing advice to others outside direct reporting relationships on specific problems or general policies. Contacts may require the consideration of different points of view to reach agreement. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas
• Writing: Advanced - Ability to write editorials, journals, speeches, manuals or critiques. Ordinarily, such education is obtained in at the college level or above. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study
• Reading: Advanced - Ability to apply fundamental concepts of theories, work with advanced mathematical operations methods and functions of real and complex variables. Ordinarily, such education is obtained at the college level or above. However, it may be obtained from experience and self-study
• Certification & Other Requirements:

Valid driver's license

Professional certifications in communications fields a plus

• Advanced Power Point skills or certification