About Us

At American Engineering Testing (AET), we believe that people are the heart of innovation. We create an environment that values teamwork, curiosity, and continuous improvement while delivering innovative engineering and consulting solutions. As a 100% employee-owned firm, we deliver comprehensive testing, analysis, and design to reduce uncertainty in construction projects and offer rewarding work, exceptional training, and career development opportunities.

Job Summary

The Director of Marketing and Communications is a senior enterprise leader responsible for shaping and executing AET’s integrated internal and external communication strategy to strengthen the brand, support growth, and ensure clear, effective communication across the organization and with key external audiences.

This role owns enterprise‑wide communication and marketing strategy, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with business priorities. As a trusted advisor to executive leadership, the Director partners closely with Business Development and Operations and builds scalable internal capability—positioning communication and marketing as strategic enablers of growth, alignment, and competitive advantage.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations or workable solutions may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Internal Communication Strategy (Enterprise Ownership)

Develop and lead AET’s enterprise internal communication strategy, ensuring employees understand company direction, priorities, and expectations.
Translate business strategy, organizational change, and leadership decisions into clear, timely, and actionable internal communications.
Own internal communication channels, cadence, and standards to ensure consistency and effectiveness across the organization.
Partner with HR and Operations leaders to support:
- Change initiatives
- Organizational updates
- Leadership communications
- Employee engagement and culture reinforcement
Ensure internal communications reinforce AET’s values, brand, and “One AET” operating model.

External Communication Strategy (Enterprise Ownership)

Develop and lead AET’s external communication strategy, aligned to brand positioning, market differentiation, and growth priorities.
Own messaging for external audiences including clients, partners, media, community stakeholders, and industry organizations.
Oversee media relations, public relations, and external visibility efforts to protect and enhance AET’s reputation.
Ensure consistent, compelling messaging across:
- Website and digital platforms
- Marketing campaigns
- Thought leadership and industry presence
- Client‑facing communications and materials
Serve as a senior spokesperson when appropriate and manage reputational risk and issue response.

Integrated Marketing & Communication Strategy

Integrate marketing, internal communications, and external communications into a single, cohesive enterprise strategy.
Define AET’s narrative, value proposition, and positioning across internal, external, and client-facing touchpoints.
Ensure alignment between marketing campaigns, proposals, client development efforts, and leadership messaging.
Elevate marketing from execution to strategic growth enablement.

Market Positioning & Brand Leadership

Lead market positioning and brand strategy to differentiate the firm in competitive and technical markets.
Translate complex professional services capabilities into clear, compelling marketing and client value stories.
Oversee thought leadership, content strategy, and visibility initiatives that strengthen reputation and demand generation.
Ensure marketing efforts reinforce long-term brand equity and trusted-advisor positioning.

Executive & Leadership Communications

Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on messaging, brand, reputation, and market perception.
Lead executive communications including CEO messaging, presentations, speeches, and strategic announcements.
Support executive visibility through speaking engagements, thought leadership, and external positioning.

Internal Capability Development & Training

Design and lead training programs that build employee capability in:
- Client communication and presentation skills
- Proposal writing and storytelling
- Brand and marketing fundamentals
Consistent representation of the firm’s value proposition
Create scalable tools, playbooks, and frameworks that strengthen marketing and communication capability across the organization.
Develop leaders and employees to effectively support growth and client success.

Media Relations & Reputation Management

Lead media relations and public relations strategy in alignment with brand and marketing goals.
Manage crisis communications and reputational risk in coordination with executive leadership.
Monitor external perception and proactively adjust strategy to protect and enhance the firm’s reputation.

Measurement & Performance Accountability

Establish KPIs across communications, marketing, proposals, and client development.
Connect marketing and communication efforts to business outcomes (growth, pursuits, engagement, reputation).
Use insights and data to refine strategy and improve effectiveness.

Supervisory Responsibility

Marketing, Communications Teams

Required Qualifications and Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field (Master’s preferred).
10+ years progressive experience across communications, marketing, or related growth functions.
5+ years in a senior leadership role with enterprise or multi functional scope.
Demonstrated experience linking marketing and communications to business development and revenue outcomes.
Strong executive presence with experience advising senior leadership.
Proven ability to develop scalable tools, training, and internal capability.
Instinctive ability to decipher large amounts of data and requests and then distill into clear strategies and communications.
Exceptional coordination and follow-thru skills; demonstrated ability to consistently meet deadlines and performance objectives.
Strong sense of urgency, blended with high-quality standards; experience working in high-performance cultures..
Demonstrated competency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with research software a plus.
Able to maintain multiple projects simultaneously; working both as part of a team and individually as appropriate.
Ability to demonstrate creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving complex problems, determining program objectives and requirements, organizing programs and projects, and developing strategies for guidance for the development of market sector projects

Pay Transparency

Base compensation is expected to be in the range of $120,000 to $150,000 per year based on skill set and experience. AET offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health benefits, insurance, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), long-term savings, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. The selected candidate must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones photocopiers, filing cabinets.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands or finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 5 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Third Party Disclosure

Notice to Third Party Agencies: AET does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting firms. Absent a signed Service Agreement by AET’s Chief People Officer (CPO), AET reserves the right to pursue and hire these candidates without financial obligation to recruiters or agencies.

Sr. Marketing Communications Specialist

That's a $30K range, and it's not just about skills.

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