Communications Manager

Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid)

$93K/yr – $140K/yrSenior Level5+ years expFull time

Posted 4 weeks ago

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Job Summary

Own media relations and crisis communications for a regional transit agency, shaping public narrative and ensuring consistent messaging across internal teams and member cities.

  • Spokesperson role and proactive storytelling across digital, video, and print channels.
  • Crisis communications management and real-time service updates to protect reputation and customer experience.
  • Cross-department collaboration to align messaging with regional priorities and innovative communications planning.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the primary spokesperson on behalf of the Agency and liaison to various internal and external customers and stakeholders; responsible for cultivating media contacts and stories; coordinate and prepare agency messaging and talking points; support CEO and Board initiatives and their activation in community and PR activities.
  • Oversee and manage Agency representation on various media platforms as well as a regular cadence of positive public relations activities, including developing storytelling content, media pitches and stories, and marketing materials for digital, video and print publication for both internal and external audiences.
  • Manage Agency reputation and market position, including responding to and managing crisis communications, passenger communication and notification systems that provide real-time service information, and focusing on customer experience initiatives.
  • Collaborates with member cities and is of service to internal departments to ensure agency messaging is consistent, serves regional needs and priorities, and stays ahead of the curve through proactive planning and innovation.
  • Supervise and oversee the daily operations of the assigned area by setting goals and objectives, managing schedules and work priorities, monitoring and evaluating performance, facilitating access to resources and training, providing guidance and addressing issues, conducting interviews and making hiring decisions.
  • Manage operations for a department to develop, enhance or sustain quality services by providing budget and program oversight; resolve complex issues; and develop and communicate department and individual expectations, policies, procedures and short-term operational plans.
  • Oversee and manage the department budget and contract manage key service contracts.
  • Complete special projects as assigned.
  • Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field and five (5) years of experience, and two (2) years of lead or supervisory experience in:
  • - Public information and crisis communication management
  • - Media relations and spokesperson responsibilities
  • - Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job, such as those listed above
  • - Additional education cannot be substituted for experience
  • Licensing/Certification Requirements:
  • A valid Arizona Driver's License with an acceptable driving record upon hire.

Preferred

    Benefits

      Valley Metro RPTA logo

      Valley Metro RPTA

      At Valley Metro RPTA we develop and deliver an integrated regional transit system with excellence, in collaboration with member agencies and through public and private partnerships. In doing so, we improve the quality of life and the environment, and support economic development.

      Founded in 1985
      Phoenix, Arizona, USA
      416 employees (31 in marketing)

      Traffic Signals

      Monthly Visitors
      320.8K
      Traffic Source Mix
      Search
      50.4%
      Direct
      40.7%
      Referral
      7.2%
      Social
      1.2%
      Paid
      0.3%

      Headcount Trend

      Current headcount: ~416

      Marketing Team

      Marketing Team Size
      20 (5% of company)
      Median Career Experience
      13 years
      Median Tenure
      5.9 years
      Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
      1

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