Director, Strategic Communications

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, Effective communication skills, Leadership Skill, Management, Marketing Strategy

Job Description

As the Director of Strategic Communications, you will be responsible for envisioning and executing transformative strategies that amplify MITRE's impact. This involves crafting compelling narratives and campaigns to uncover and share untold stories of how MITRE's innovations, partnerships, and expertise are reshaping the future. This role entails capturing and disseminating stories that go beyond the conventional and spotlight MITRE as a driving force in addressing complex challenges for a safer world, aligning to our sponsors’ and partners’ needs, and positioning The MITRE Corporation as a visionary leader in its field.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create a vision for a transformational approach to strategic communications – within MITRE and externally – to amplify MITRE’s impact.
• Develop and execute comprehensive strategic communication and marketing plans to support MITRE's mission, goals, and objectives, including close collaboration with senior leadership and internal partners.
• Cultivate and nurture partnerships with media outlets, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations to amplify our message and influence.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, such as industry influencers, thought leaders, and policymakers, to enhance MITRE's visibility and credibility.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the impact and effectiveness of communication efforts with regular reports on progress and for data-driven adjustments.
• Create plans to inspire increased brand awareness, both nationally and internationally, by developing and executing comprehensive brand strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints.
• Construct brand partnership opportunities with external collaborators to include private sector, think tanks, FFRDCs, and more.
• Develop and implement internal communication strategies to foster a strong organizational culture, employee engagement, and alignment with corporate values and goals.
• Support the organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by promoting inclusive communication practices and content.
• Collaborate with the Human Resources team to develop and implement employer branding initiatives that attract and retain top talent.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing strategic counsel on communication issues and opportunities.
• Proactively identify opportunities to generate positive media coverage and manage crisis communications when necessary.
• Protect and enhance our organization’s reputation, managing issues proactively and transparently.
• Develop and manage the organization's crisis communication plan and response strategies, ensuring that all team members are well-prepared.
• Stay current with industry trends, market developments, and emerging technologies to inform communication and marketing strategies – including AI tools to analyze data, track trends, and personalize communication for maximum impact.
• Oversee and manage MITRE's online presence, including website management, social media strategy, and online advertising.
• Effectively communicate changes, transitions, and updates to all stakeholders, ensuring clarity and transparency.
• Manage the development, production, and distribution of high-quality communication materials, including press releases, speeches, presentations, videos, and other collateral.
• Ensure that all communications are accurate, consistent, and compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Measure and report on the ROI of communication activities to inform future strategies and budget allocations.
• Continuously evaluate and refine communication processes, tools, and channels to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Inspire and manage a diverse team of communication professionals, fostering a culture of unity, creativity, collaboration, and excellence.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Ensure the team remains aligned with organizational goals and priorities.

Qualifications:

• Requires a minimum of 15 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field; or 12 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 10 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience in strategic communications, with a proven track record in leadership roles.
• Exceptional leadership and team management abilities, with a history of cultivating and unifying high-performing teams.
• Proven experience in a senior communications role, ideally within a complex organization undergoing change.
• A visionary mindset, driven to stay at the forefront of industry trends and technology advancements in communication.
• Skilled in fostering cross-functional collaboration both internally and externally between government relations, technology, strategy, and communication teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, concise messaging to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• In-depth understanding of artificial intelligence and its practical applications in communication strategy.
• Demonstrated success in expanding brand awareness and engagement through innovative tactics.
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to convey complex ideas clearly to various audiences of different levels.
• Strong analytical acumen, capable of making data-driven decisions and interpreting AI-driven insights effectively for an enterprise.
• Proven expertise in crisis communication and reputation management, with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive plans.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in utilizing communication tools and platforms.
• A proactive and adaptable mindset to respond to evolving sponsor and organizational priorities.
• A commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all communication interactions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Track record of establishing communication efforts with technical engineering audiences.
• An understanding of emerging technologies, trends, and their potential impact on government operations.
• Strong strategic planning and execution skills to align communication efforts with organizational goals and sponsor objectives.
• Understanding of the unique role and mission of FFRDCs in advancing government research and development efforts.
• Knowledge of government procurement processes, regulations, and policies.
• Experience navigating the complexities of working with federal, state, or local government entities.

Our culture is a tangible asset that endures through our people and leaders. At MITRE, our leaders must also demonstrate and continually develop a consistent set of shared Leadership Competencies:

• Lead with a Strategic Mindset: Drives alignment across MITRE to achieve our mission by engaging across and beyond the enterprise, making and executing decisions, and activating the Good Growth Strategy.
• Create Value: Takes a broad approach to solving complex problems using a national and global lens. Unleashes the full capabilities of our people in a relentless pursuit of innovative solutions that are scalable, equitable, transferable, and sustainable.
• Cultivate Inclusion: Creates an environment and opportunities, built on trust, where people can be their whole authentic self, feeling welcomed, supported, engaged, and respected for who they are and what they contribute to the organization. Embraces and engages all dimensions of diversity to exponentially expand MITRE’s impact in solving problems for a safer world.
• Communicate for Impact: Conveys powerful messages tailored to the unique needs of stakeholders—and desired outcomes—in a style that engages and inspires action. Exemplifies active listening to foster collaboration, understanding, and alignment.
• Commit to Action and Outcomes: Holds self and others accountable for acting on and achieving established objectives. Exemplifies cultural attributes while executing and delivering impactful outcomes.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

Work Location Type:

Onsite

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