Strategic Communication Manager in Des Moines, Iowa at Metro Waste Authority

Position Summary

The Strategic Communication Manager is responsible for leading Metro Waste Authority's brand strategy, strategic communications, public relations, marketing, paid media, digital communications, and media relations. This position serves as the agency's communications expert, providing strategic guidance to internal campaign leads to ensure consistent messaging, effective communication strategies, and alignment with organizational priorities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Creates and maintains a consistent visual brand identity and messaging framework across all agency communications and customer touchpoints.
• Guides strategic communication and public relations approaches for advertising, marketing, paid media, website content, social media, digital communications, and emerging communication platforms.
• Develops and oversees the agency's paid media strategy, including campaign planning, audience targeting, budget recommendations, vendor management, and performance evaluation to maximize communication effectiveness and return on investment.
• Provides strategic communications and creative direction for agency campaigns by advising internal campaign leads, evaluating communication materials, identifying opportunities to elevate agency priorities, and ensuring consistent messaging, creative excellence, and brand standards across all communication channels.
• Recommends and implements communication standards, planning tools, and best practices that improve collaboration, consistency, and the effectiveness of communications across the organization.
• Plans, writes, edits, and oversees the development of content for internal communications, website content, social media, newsletters, annual reports, speeches, presentations, media materials, executive correspondence, and other agency communications.
• Serves as the agency's primary media contact by responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, preparing spokespersons, developing story opportunities, and representing the agency during media engagements.
• Develops and maintains relationships with journalists, editors, media producers, community partners, and other influencers to increase positive media coverage and strengthen Metro Waste Authority's reputation.
• Pursues strategic publicity opportunities through award submissions, conference presentations, speaking engagements, publications, and other opportunities that elevate the agency's visibility.
• Evaluates communication and marketing initiatives using data, analytics, and audience insights to recommend continuous improvements and measure organizational impact.
• Manages the agency website, social media platforms, digital communication tools, and associated vendor relationships to ensure an engaging, accessible, and customer-focused experience.
• Identifies, evaluates, and implements innovative communication strategies, emerging technologies, tools, and best practices that strengthen creative development, improve team efficiency, enhance audience engagement, and increase communication effectiveness.
• Identifies grant opportunities that support agency initiatives and coordinates grant applications, publicity, reporting requirements, and stakeholder communications in collaboration with internal departments.
• Coordinates, promotes, and provides strategic communications support for agency events, public meetings, community outreach initiatives, and other organizational engagements.
• Champions safe, smart, and sustainable materials management through strategic communications, public education, marketing, and public relations that strengthen Metro Waste Authority's reputation as a trusted community resource.

Environmental Stewardship – Demonstrates an understanding of Metro Waste Authority’s Environmental Management System (EMS). Guided by the EMS processes and procedures, we focus on six main areas aimed at increasing diversion and/or protecting the environment. These include:

• Recycling
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection
• Organics Management
• Water Quality Improvement
• Greenhouse Gas Reduction
• Environmental Education

MWA Values - Demonstrates an understanding of Metro Waste Authority’s values and applies them to the position, and assigned responsibilities, as well as to all interactions with customers and co-workers.

• Leadership – Set the example because everyone is a leader!
• Integrity – Always do what is right!
• Positivity – Bring our best to every task, every day and bring out the best in your colleagues!
• Teamwork – Collaborate because we know that together we will address opportunities and challenges!
• Innovation – Forge a new path and evolve!

Competencies

• Acting as a Champion for Change - Challenges the status quo; encourages people to question existing methods, practices, and assumptions; supports people in their efforts to try new things
• Demonstrating Initiative – Acts on his/her own without being prompted; handles problems independently; able to resolve issues without relying on extensive help from others; does more than is expected or asked.
• Communicating Effectively - Expresses ideas and information in a clear and concise manner; tailors message to fit the interests and needs of the audience; delivers information in a manner that is interesting and compelling to the listener
• Composing and Writing Text - Clearly defines and communicates roles and responsibilities; holds people accountable for accomplishing objectives; recognizes and rewards people who achieve results and deliver on performance expectations; provides effective feedback on performance.
• Delivering High-Quality Work - Critically reviews work processes to ensure quality; addresses problems that could impact quality; makes sure project deliverables and services meet all requirements and expectations; does not make the same mistakes twice.
• Displaying Creativity - Produces a wide range of ideas and suggestions when presented with a problem or challenge; comes up with creative, new ways of doing things.
• Supporting Organizational Goals - Actively supports organizational goals and values; demonstrates enthusiasm toward the company's goals and mission; aligns actions around organizational goals

Travel

This position requires frequent travel in and around the Des Moines metro area to support all Metro Waste Authority facilities.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• Six (6) years of related experience.
• Advanced experience with computers, including in Microsoft Office and Adobe Suite.
• Experience designing and creating content for communications, media relations, and marketing.
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Education & Experience

• Experience developing and implementing integrated strategic communication, public relations, or marketing plans.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers; handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.