Communications Manager (REMOTE)

Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) is all about owning what we do. We're a 100% employee-owned, civil construction firm who is passionate about building best-in-class infrastructure.

While we build amazing roads and bridges, we also take our marketing work just as seriously. And to keep doing that, we need a communications manager to add to our team. Marketers at ESS are self-motivated individuals with a positive attitude who actively contribute to a wide range of marketing-related activities. That’s just job-description speak for saying, we need someone who not only has the chops to do the job but the passion to do it right.

Focus

• Strategic communication and brand positioning
• Brand voice, copywriting, and copyediting
• External communication, advertising, PR, and social media
• Media relations, executive media coaching, and thought leadership
• Internal communications and intra-departmental collaboration
• Awards, strategic partnerships, and corporate sponsorships
• Crisis communication and business continuity plan development
• Communication technology management
  
  

What you'll be doing...

• Grow and help lead a dynamic B2B marketing and communications team
• Amplify the ESS story and position the firm as a force in the industry
• Actively participate in creative briefings and strategic planning sessions
• Create dynamic strategies and key messaging for corporate initiatives, external campaigns, and internal communication
• Work collaboratively with the marketing team to ensure messaging is effective, cohesive, and on-brand
• Write, edit, and provide creative direction for a wide variety of digital and print communication activities including press releases, pitches, articles, ads, social media, email, texts, scripts, award submittals, and more
• Manage all aspects of media and public relations efforts including groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting event coverage, press releases, features in industry publications, and more
• Foster relationships with key reporters, editors and producers at print, digital and broadcast media outlets within key markets
• Schedule and coordinate media interviews for firm executives, department heads, technical professionals, and other spokespersons
• Effectively communicate complex issues in a manner stakeholders can easily understand
• Collaborate with corporate resources directors and operations leaders to build effective communication plans for internal initiatives and campaigns
• Oversee coordination of internal communication activities. Ensure the tone, voice, and delivery methods of messaging are well suited for internal audiences
• Conduct research, set KPIs, develop analytics, and utilize communication tech tools to track and monitor and enhance campaign performance
• Keep the pulse on company, partner, and industry-wide activities
• Identify projects and people to submit and work with teams to develop innovative submittals for national award opportunities
• Identify corporate advertising, membership, presentation, and event sponsorship opportunities
• Lead and support projects with creative agencies and vendors as needed
• Represent ESS to clients, peer organizations, industry conferences and company events as required
• Work hand-in-hand with marketing leadership and key stakeholders to manage time allocation and budgets
• Lead communication coordinators and oversee the day-to-day deadlines and responsibilities of all internal and external communications projects
• Shepherd all written work through appropriate workflow processes to ensure timely approvals and distribution
• Serve as trusted advisor to the leadership team. Work closely with executives to create and deploy effective crisis communication and business continuity plans
  
  

You're a good fit if ...

• You hold a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, strategic communications, marketing or a related discipline
• You have 5+ years of communication experience
• You have experience inspiring and managing a team of people
• Your written communication and presentation skills will knock our socks off
• You have solid experience with social and digital communication tactics
• You're a little obsessed with processes, proofing and error-checking
• You’re a proven collaborator, multi-tasker, analytical thinker, and self-starter who exercises discretion and independent judgment
• You love running analytics that translate marketing KPIs
• You proactively evaluate tools, channels and platforms for effectiveness
• You don't sweat it if you need to juggle concurrent projects, with tight-deadlines, across various teams, with minimal supervision (basically, you get bored if you're not running around with your hair on fire)
• You are a self-proclaimed "word nerd"
• You do not shy away from strategic discussions and enjoy productive banter
• You respond to inquiries with urgency and can think quickly on your feet
• You’re cool, calm, and collected while resolving media issues and crisis situations
• You feel confident serving as a company ambassador at all times
• You’re a pro at conducting media training for executives and operational leaders
• You are extremely organized and can continue to drive large projects while simultaneously managing small tasks
• You excel at gathering, processing, and effectively communicating complex information in meaningful and relevant ways
• You have a knack for effectively managing relationships, workflow and budgets
• You're an active member of the media, PR, and communications community
• You play well with others and generally have a positive attitude
• You’re a natural project manager and monitor tasks delegated to others with ease
• You don't hesitate to take initiative when needed
• You have a sense of humor (big plus)
  
  

Day-to-day and week-to-week your focus will shift. But generally, here is how you can expect your time to be spent:

• 5% - Strategic planning, budget development and adherence
• 5% - Conduct research, develop analytics, and produce reports
• 10% - Engage media community and foster key relationships
• 10% - Build and manage marketing and communication strategies
• 20% - Create campaigns; write copy and serve as copy editor
• 25% - Support a wide-range of marketing, communications, advertising, and media activities
• 25% - Manage, educate and mentor team members
  
  

Bonus Skills/experience

• Know a little about the A/E/C industry already? Bonus!
• Know about civil construction, too? Double bonus!
• We use Monday (project management), Wordpress (website), and Sprout (social media), so it would be fantastic if you already know those tech tools.
• ¿Hablas español? We routinely translate our copy into Spanish. If you can write or QC Spanish content, that would be outstanding!
  
  

Location:

It is preferred that this team member work out of our Kansas City, Missouri office. However, other office locations may be considered.

Travel

Some travel is required, including overnight stays.

Hybrid Work Schedule

• Monday/Friday - Remote
• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - Office
  
  

But wait, there’s more.

ESS offers its employee-owners a variety of additional perks and bonus opportunities:

• Industry-leading Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) and financial health education
• Comprehensive health benefits and insurance
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Casual and professional work environment
• Paid training and continuing education
• Paid overtime
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Wellness program
• Referral bonus program
• Apprenticeship programs
• Leadership and training programs
  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)