Company Description:

Raftelis helps local governments and utilities across the country thrive by providing management consulting expertise to help them transform. We've helped more than 600 organizations in the last year alone. We work in all areas of management consulting including finance, assessment, communications, technology, executive recruitment, and strategic planning.

We're proud to share that Raftelis has been certified as a Great Place to Work®! 93% of our employees say it is a great place to work, compared to 57% of employees at a typical US-based company. As one of our employees said, “at Raftelis, we maintain a great balance between hard work and allowing staff to focus on their lives outside of work. We also have a strong culture where people genuinely care about each other, and leadership is committed to doing what's best for both our employees and the firm”.

Strategic Communications Practice Description:

The practice specializes in crafting strategic communications designed to build trust, reputation, and influence for our local government and utility clients. Services range from communications planning, including conducting research to determine baseline attitudes, awareness, behaviors, and preferences, to writing comprehensive plans to guide outreach and communications, to public involvement and community outreach.

Strategic Communications Practice Leader - Job Summary:

We are seeking a visionary and results-driven Strategic Communications Practice Leader to spearhead communication efforts for our clients. This role is pivotal in shaping brand narrative, driving stakeholder engagement, and ensuring alignment among messaging, values, and business objectives. This position will develop and execute innovative communication strategies that amplify our client's voice, inspire trust, and foster a strong connection with diverse audiences. As a member of the Organizational Excellence Leadership Team, the Strategic Communications Practice Leader will be responsible for executing indirect marketing (developing thought leadership articles and presentations and presenting at conferences) and direct marketing (seeking out and responding to competitive and sole source RFPs). They will play a critical role in business development by collaborating with internal stakeholders to integrate strategic communications expertise across other practice areas and leveraging their network to diversify the firm's client base and cultivate relationships with industry leaders.

The ideal candidate will possess outstanding interpersonal and leadership abilities, with a track record of influencing and engaging diverse stakeholders. We are looking for a strategic advisor with proven success in developing and executing integrated communication strategies while coaching and motivating a team of communications professionals. The Strategic Communications Practice Leader should have exceptional writing, storytelling, and presentation skills, as well as strong media relations and crisis management expertise. We are seeking someone experienced in leveraging digital platforms and analytics to drive communication outcomes.

Strategic Communications Team:

The team is comprised of professionals who are accredited in public relations (APR) and project management (PMP), and who have spent decades in local government and utility communications both as consultants and as leaders of public affairs programs for large and small organizations across the country. The geographically dispersed team includes two consultants, two managers, and one principal consultant and is part of Raftelis' Organizational Excellence group.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the growth of the Strategic Communications practice within Raftelis by leading business development activities such as networking and research to expand the portfolio of our business and maintain a current knowledge base of opportunities.
• Lead and manage the Strategic Communication team in the development and execution of communication and outreach strategies and tactics that solve our client's most pressing needs. This includes directing market research, program assessments, communication planning, community engagement, traditional and social media relations, public participation techniques, risk and crisis communications, presentations, fact sheets, and more.
• Manage content for client deliverables and for internal and external marketing efforts.
• Oversee the preparation of proposals and presentations.
• Approve the production of communications materials.
• Direct community outreach efforts and public meeting facilitation.
• Contribute to the firm's continued success by actively engaging in both the utility and public sector to build your personal reputation and Raftelis' reputation as a trusted expert in your field.
• Maintain effective, professional attributes while working with clients and colleagues.
• Develop and maintain a keen understanding of market trends affecting clients and advise your team to make appropriate recommendations based on them.
• Provide guidance to your direct reports with crisis and risk communications advice, issue management services, and brand/reputation counsel.
• Oversee corporate communications as needed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (public relations, communications, political science, journalism, marketing, business, environmental science, or other related fields)
• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, with 5+ years of experience leading a team
• Accreditation in public relations/communications
• Experience in public sector and/or local government
• Experience in business development
• Extensive network that would diversify our client base
• Exceptional communication skills including writing, public speaking, and meeting facilitation
• Comfortable working remotely and connecting with clients and direct reports using a variety of virtual tools and software
• Proven experience using various public participation and engagement techniques
• Experience managing the execution of traditional and social media and digital marketing
• Diligent, enthusiastic, team-player
• Positive attitude, entrepreneurial, customer service oriented
• Willingness to travel overnight (this role requires approximately 25% travel) **
  **

Preferences:

• Experience in consulting
• Formal training and/or certification in public participation (IAP2)

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. We will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Rewards:
Working for a values-based organization focused on growth with an exceptional reputation in its industry, employees receive competitive compensation, generous bonus structure and excellent benefits that include:

• 100% Company paid medical (50% paid dependent medical) and dental benefits
• Health Savings Account with company contributions
• Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Vision Insurance
• Company paid Life and Disability Insurance and Employee Assistance Program
• Discretionary paid time off program and education reimbursement program
• 401(k) with company contributions
• Long term care benefits
• Pet insurance

Additional Information:

To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status. Raftelis uses E-VERIFY. Raftelis is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and our sincere belief in the dignity of each employee, it is our policy to prohibit harassment based on race, national origin, color, age, sex, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual preference, medical condition, disability, religion, or veteran status.

Raftelis is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment. To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Lisa Wilson, Director of Human Resources at 704-910-8961.

To learn more about Raftelis and apply, please visit www.raftelis.com.

Application requires:

A resume, cover letter, and a sample strategic communications plan, which demonstrates your expertise in your core responsibility as a strategic counselor.