Senior Strategic Communications Coordinator

We are looking for a Senior Strategic Communications Coordinator to be a member of our Strategic Communications program, a global team of communicators who are passionate about putting people first in planning and infrastructure. As a full-service community engagement and creative practice, we develop and implement ideas to bring people together in projects of every size and sector. We help people get to know each other, foster understanding, and build more connected, equitable, and sustainable communities.

In the role of Senior Strategic Communications Coordinator you’ll be responsible for managing projects and building strong relationships with some of HDR’s biggest clients. As a natural connector of people, you’ll understand these clients and their priorities and challenges with the objective of employing the right communication and engagement strategies. This requires deep knowledge of public involvement, public relations, and community engagement strategies along with the ability to listen, develop unique strategies, and identify team synergies concentrated on solving the challenges facing our clients.

As Strategic Communications professionals, we work with our client’s brand – not HDR – to strengthen our client’s messaging and engagement strategies for a program, initiative or project.

Primary Role & Responsibilities:

HDR is looking to add a talented Senior Strategic Communications Coordinator to our growing program to lead construction communications in the transportation, energy, and water markets in the Midwest. As a communications professional working within an engineering company, this role will continue to build and foster internal relationships with HDR project managers and staff. You will also have the desire to engage with technical staff and quick technical comprehension in order to translate technical knowledge into accessible and understandable content.

This role will lead or support the development and implementation of construction communications plans (target audience strategy, media relations and tracking, collateral material development, overall activity schedule, information lines, contact databases, and reporting) to inform communities in a positive and meaningful way. They will also handle the coordination and leadership of production/planning teams, lead concept development, writing, editing, and assisting in graphic coordination of outreach materials such as email and alert communications, surveys, newsletters, websites, handouts, videos, advertisements, and press releases. You will be expected to lead the facilitation of virtual or in-person public meetings, hearings, open houses, focus groups, workshops, advisory committees, and other stakeholder meetings, as well as coordinate project-related data gathering and political analysis and monitoring. You will assist with the development and management of political outreach strategies and manage social media campaigns. This will involve media coordination/management, including public notices and press releases, media monitoring/tracking for project documentation, and the management of external service providers including sub-consultants.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required 
• 3 years related experience in strategic communications, public relationships, public involvement and/or community engagement 
• Experience leading social media campaigns 
• Technical writing experience 
• Service- and client-oriented personality with the ability to handle multiple assignments at a time and set and meet deadlines 
• Self-starter; can work well independently or in a team environment 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Willingness to travel 
• Working knowledge of local, state and federal requirements for public involvement 
• Strong organizational skills 
• Must be able to effectively work in minimally supervised and/or unsupervised environments 
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8 years related experience preferred 
• Media relations experience desired 
• Experience in the energy, transportation, and/or water markets is preferred 
• Previous consulting or account management experience preferred

Physical Expectations/Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds without assistance 
• Must be able to effectively communicate in person, by telephone, and via email 
• Must be able to independently get yourself to meetings and events

Why HDR

At HDR, we know work isn't only about who you work for it's also about what you do and how you do it. Led by the strength of our values and a culture shaped by employee ownership, we network with each other, build on each other's contributions, and collaborate together to make great things possible. When you join HDR, we give you license to do the same. We help you take charge of your career, giving you multiple growth opportunities along the way.