Vice President of Communications

REPORTS TO:

 President and CEO

Responsible for the strategic direction, management, and coordination of all activities of the Communications Department. The successful applicant will possess outstanding communication skills for both internal and external communications. He or she will also have skills and experience with written and verbal communications, and using tools across traditional and electronic media, with photography, social media, live and recorded presentations, video, etc. This person will be responsible for all methods of communicating VMDAEC’s message across electric and broadband topic areas. This position will manage external communications strategies that include branding, graphic design, and supporting events. In addition to broader communications responsibilities, this position will oversee the production of Cooperative Living magazine. Cooperative Living magazine is a print and digital magazine that reaches more than 600,000 homes across Virginia and Maryland ten times a year, the largest print publication in the Mid-Atlantic region.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

- Manage the Communications Department, including managing employees, departmental goal setting, budgeting and review, and other administrative duties.

- Oversee updates and maintenance of all websites and social media accounts associated with VMDAEC and affiliates.

- Speak on behalf of and provide talking points for use at functions, events, and programs about electric cooperatives or on behalf of VMDAEC and affiliates.

- Manage the cooperative emergency/crisis communications plan, supported by other team members, and serve as the cooperative’s external communications leader and media liaison in a crisis, working with the Cooperative Communicators at our member utilities.

- Lead the Cooperative Communicators working group that meets monthly and be the point of contact with all VMDAEC Cooperative Communicators.

- Be responsible for coordinating the Board of Directors’ Communications Committee meeting, materials, and content.

- Work with the VMDAEC leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.

- Oversee the marketing and branding of VMDAEC’s programs and services.

- Make public presentations on behalf of the Association or at the request of Member Cooperatives.

- Develop and direct the Association’s strategy for a strong media relations program that supports the strategic plans of the Association and its Members and affiliates and ensures effective delivery of electric cooperative news.

- Serve as primary media representative and be responsible for the creation and distribution of press releases and other external communications. Support the legislative and regulatory teams in their messaging to the members, legislators, regulators, and general public.

- Direct, support, and supervise the Editor of Cooperative Living, helping to guide the strategic direction of the magazine.

- Be responsible for developing support materials for legislative and regulatory materials for VMDAEC and its members, including providing and directing graphics design support and drafting talking points with support from the Association’s political and legal teams.

- Perform other duties as assigned.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

- This position is in-office with some flexibility for remote work.

- This position requires flexibility to attend frequent meetings and events during non-traditional hours, along with completing tasks to meet deadlines. Overnight travel will be required for multiple nights at least 5-6 times per year.

- This employee must maintain a valid driver’s license.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, journalism, public relations, communications, or a related field.

- Five years’ experience in this or a related field.

- Three or more years of management experience directing a comprehensive marketing, communications, or public department/area strongly preferred.

- Graphic design, branding, and social media campaign experience required.

- Must have working knowledge of mass communications practices.

- Must have strong writing and speaking skills, both in one-on-one, in small groups, and in large audience settings, speaking to diverse groups with audiences ranging from media to boards of directors, to staff members, and beyond.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

- Executive Editor of Cooperative Living (Executive Editor supervises a team of 4)

- Digital Producer

If interested, please send resume to Mary Soulios at

Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives is an Equal Opportunity Employer.