Vice President, Communications and Marketing

The Vice President, Communications and Marketing is the executive lead for the dynamic marketing and communications team, integral to shaping the public image, regional narrative, and overarching brand strategy of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. In this role, you will lead and manage strategic multi-channel communications, direct marketing initiatives, and oversee the strategic allocation of departmental resources, vendor partnerships, and staff.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in public policy messaging, economic development marketing, executive thought leadership, and brand stewardship. You will serve as a senior strategic advisor to organizational leaders and the Board of Directors, working cross-functionally with internal teams while remaining an agile, hands-on communicator who can conceptualize major campaigns, author high-stakes materials, and solve complex messaging challenges.

• Leads the development and execution of multi-channel communications and marketing strategies that advance the Alliance’s economic development agenda, business attraction initiatives, and policy priorities at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Leads and develops the marketing and communications team, providing direction, coaching, performance management, and professional development to ensure strong individual and departmental performance.
• Oversees departmental resources and team workflows, including supporting budget planning and management, and manages external agency partners, consultants, and specialty vendors to maximize operational capacity and delivery.
• Serves as the primary speechwriter and thought-leadership architect for executive leadership, drafting high-impact op-eds, legislative testimony, key speeches, and major regional statements.
• Directs organizational and regional brand positioning across all platforms, ensuring compliance with writing, graphic, and brand standards across publications, campaigns, and events.
• Provides strategic counsel and preparation for leadership during high-profile media opportunities, public speaking engagements, and crisis/issues management scenarios.
• Establishes high-level performance metrics, utilizing analytics across digital, earned, and owned media channels to evaluate effectiveness and report progress to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Facilitates the efficiency of the organization by performing other duties and participating in special projects, as assigned.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Public Policy, or a related field required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.

Knowledge:

Deep understanding of regional economic development, public policy, and local, state, and federal advocacy landscapes. Strong knowledge of business, civic, and regional leadership audiences.

Experience:

• 8 to 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in marketing, corporate communications, media relations, or public affairs.
• Proven track record leading and developing teams, directing integrated marketing campaigns, managing cross-functional initiatives, and overseeing external agency partners.
• Demonstrated experience authoring high-level executive communications, backgrounders, and policy messaging frameworks.
• Experience supporting departmental budget planning and resource management, including oversight of vendors and external partners.
• Strong level of comfort working with executive-level leadership and boards.
• National media experience a plus.

Skills:

• Superior strategic writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex regional and legislative issues into compelling narratives.
• Executive presence with a high level of comfort advising C-suite leaders, elected officials, and board members.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to set expectations, provide feedback and coaching, develop staff, and drive accountability and results.
• Strong creative intuition and the tactical capability to guide visual, digital, and written content creation.
• Ability to balance and prioritize demands from a variety of sources, both internal and external, and deal effectively with politically sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of internal colleagues, exercising good judgment, maturity, and diplomacy.
• Self-starter with proven ability to lead and work effectively in a collaborative team environment.