JOB TITLE:	Director, Media and Public Relations
REPORTS TO:	Senior Vice President, Operations and Communications
NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS:	None
DEPARTMENT:	Communications
FUNCTION:	Multi-channel media, public and government engagement
LOCATION:	Washington, D.C.
DATE OF UPDATE:	2/8/2022

ABOUT PCA:

The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America's cement manufacturers. PCA supports sustainability, innovation, and safety while fostering continuous improvement in cement manufacturing, distribution, infrastructure, and economic growth.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to Senior Vice President, Operations and Communications. Works on a consistent collaborative basis, with the Director, Marketing and Communications and the Director, Membership and Administrative Services.

SUMMARY: Under direction of the Senior Vice President, Operations and Communications, the Director, Media and Public Relations actively collaborates with PCA departmental teams and communication representatives from member companies in the development and execution of multi-channel media, public and governmental actions. The candidate is well-versed in communications across the public and the media, with an ear to the ground among activities on The Hill. The Director must also have an understanding in the areas of awareness campaigns, economic forecasting, and government affairs.

The Director supports the cement and concrete industry's reputation, building a positive and pro-active mindfulness about the industry, as well as PCA positions and priorities. In addition to managing day-to-day media and public relations, the Director independently and/or with third-party agencies, writes/edits letters from the CEO, newsletter content related to this position's role, and press releases; handles media calls; creates and maintains press lists, maximizes the use of digital and social media where appropriate; and performs other related functions to advance the ambitions of PCA members, including active participation in the publicizing of its 'Shaped by Concrete' campaign and the 'Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality'.

The Director has the wherewithal to develop other third-party networks that will assist in the support, endorsement and/or implementation of the PCA Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality. The Director helps produce education for consumers, business-to-business, trade, and national 'The Hill' media outreach via various media vehicles, including social, digital, blogs, video, print, etc.

The candidate will integrate the necessary disciplines to determine, distribute, and then satisfy each target audience, while effectively producing the goals of the association.

This position requires excellent writing, editing and content development and curation skills, with the ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders to complete tasks on time and within budget.

In addition to the Director coordinating efforts with the Marketing and Communications Team, the Director will work closely with PCA senior management when necessary, in the areas of Sustainability, Economic Forecasting, and Government Relations.

KEY RESPONSILIBILTIES:

· Manages a variety of projects to ensure that project milestones and objectives are met, with the priority focused on public/media relations.

· Proactively reaches out to journalists focused on the nature of the industry, while continuously in the development of and engagement with new contacts.

· Utilizes multi-dimensional channels, beyond media (only) opportunities.

· Keeps a keen eye on activists and government officials that attempt to discredit the industry and its products, with an immediate reactive response, as applicable.

· Serves as the initial point of contact for incoming calls, determining the nature and priority levels of incoming media calls.

· When unable to respond appropriately to reporters, directs inquiries to internal spokespeople and subject matter experts, where applicable.

· Writes and edits press releases, newsletters, letters to the editor and op-eds.

· Provides and manages press and social media monitoring.

· Maintains and updates contact lists and files.

· Helps organize and pitch press briefings and media/business events.

· Effectively manages external agencies, where applicable, to achieve communication goals.

· Develops, curates, and disseminates content for digital, social, electronic and print channels.

· Manages a variety of communication projects and schedules to ensure that project milestones and objectives are met.

· Supports the execution, monitoring and measuring of earned social media activity, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other communication channels.

· Maintains brand and style guidelines across all projects to ensure consistency and quality throughout channels.

· Solidifies third-party relationships within and outside the cement and concrete industry.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

· Energetic self-starter with work experience of 7 to 10 years in communications, public/media relations, marketing, and/or in a policy-intensive environment.

· Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or public policy desired. Advanced degree is a plus.

· Exceptional writing and grammatical skills (following AP style) with the ability to pitch news, able to research and track down information, with a talent for translating complex issues for clear and compelling deliverables.

· Attention to detail, with an eye for quality control; maintaining PCA brand and style consistency in all deliverables.

· Proficient in computer software applications: CRM (Aptify, Salesforce, or similar), social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.) Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other applications.

· Excellent interpersonal skills and multitasking. Capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.

· Superior problem solving and decision-making skills.

· Flexible, enthusiastic, and professional.

· Aptitude to understand the work preferences and motivations of volunteer committees, building positive relationships with outside vendors, and understanding the business of PCA, as well as the interrelationships between membership and staff.

· Strategic thinker, with an intuitive ability to create and implement an action plan, manage new systems, or revise old ones to reach desired goals.

· Familiarity for learning how to use digital content management and media research tools, such as Meltwater, Cision, Sprout or similar platforms.

· Ability to manage a budget efficiently and effectively.

· Commitment to and passion for PCA's history, mission, and vision.

· An innovative thinker with a track record of translating strategic thinking into successfully executed, integrated action plans.

DESIRED PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITIES:

The candidate will be a dedicated, hard-working professional, unafraid of taking calculated risks, but with the understanding that all activities must be within reasonable expectations of PCA, its members, the communications staff, and its committee members.

The Director will also be a team player having the appreciation, trust, and confidence in colleagues, building a good working relationship across department channels.

Key areas include:

· Communication

· Knowledge and Research

· Relationship-Building

· Multi-Tasker

· Multi-Media

· Attention to Detail

· Adaptable to change

· Strategic Thinker

· Social Media Savvy

· Writes and edits exceptionally well

· Creativity

· Superb Presentation Skills

WORKING CONDITIONS

Travel estimate: 10%-20%. When not traveling, work from the Washington, D.C. office location. Weekend and evening work hours will be necessary on occasion.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This Director, Media and Public Relations job description describes the general nature of the position responsibilities. The information provided herein does not necessarily cover all aspects of the position and is not intended to be a complete list of all expected tasks and accountabilities. Additional responsibilities and elements of the description may be added, changed, or deleted by management, at any time either in writing or verbally.

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