Communications Manager

Equity Residential; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and company holidays

Exclusive team member housing discount

Job summary

Vivmark Residential in Arlington, VA is seeking a Communications Manager to shape the company's external narrative, manage day-to-day media relations, and support executive positioning as we scale after our merger.

You will own the corporate social media presence (with a focus on LinkedIn), pitch opportunities for visibility, and collaborate with Legal, Investor Relations, and HR to tell a compelling, consistent story across channels.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in external communications, media relations, public relations, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated experience writing in an executive voice across a variety of formats
• Established relationships with business, real estate, or trade media strongly preferred
• Proven track record of supporting senior executives directly, with the ability to build trust quickly and navigate complex organizational dynamics with confidence
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify and develop compelling story angles
• Experience managing corporate social media channels, particularly LinkedIn
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under deadline pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working alongside Legal, Investor Relations, or HR
• Real estate, REIT, or financial services experience a plus
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field required

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day media relations, including responding to press inquiries, developing and maintaining reporter relationships, and pitching proactive stories to business, trade, and local media
• Draft and edit press releases, media statements, and other external communications materials
• Monitor media coverage and industry news, providing regular updates and analysis to the communications team and senior leadership
• Maintain and update the company's external communications calendar, tracking key announcements, industry events, and media opportunities
• Support the VP in crisis communications preparation and response
• Partner with Investor Relations in external communications that require cross-functional coordination
• Research, identify, and pitch speaking, award, and other visibility opportunities that advance the company's profile
• Support the VP with executive thought leadership initiatives, including developing op-eds and bylined articles
• Draft executive scripts, talking points, and video content for the CEO and other senior leaders
• Own the company's corporate social media channels, including content creation, engagement strategy, and day-to-day execution, with a primary focus on LinkedIn
• Develop and execute a social media plan that builds brand awareness, showcases company culture and leadership, and engages key audiences including investors, prospective and current talent, and industry partners

Skills

External communications

Executive writing

Media relations

Crisis communications

LinkedIn management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Job description

Overview

Vivmark Residential exists to set the mark for what home can be. Formed through the merger of AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential, Vivmark brings together two industry leaders with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering exceptional living experiences. Our vision is to be the most trusted and best-performing rental housing company in America - one that continues to get better as it grows. And we're looking for people who want to help us do it.

Job Description

Communications Manager

Position Type

Full time

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

State

Virginia

City

Arlington

Zip Code

22203

Total Base Pay Range

$85,300.00 - $142,100.00

Overview

Vivmark Residential exists to set the mark for what home can be. Formed through the merger of AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential, Vivmark brings together two industry leaders with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering exceptional living experiences. Our vision is to be the most trusted and best-performing rental housing company in America - one that continues to get better as it grows. And we're looking for people who want to help us do it.

As an owner, developer, and manager of more than 180,000 apartment homes in major markets across the US, we have the scale to offer something most companies can't. At Vivmark, team members move up and across functions, markets, and disciplines, building lasting careers. We invest in team members growth, development, and capabilities that make them and us better, and we hold ourselves to the highest standard as an employer.

The best people want to work here. We hope you're one of them.

The Role

The Communications Manager will play a key role in how Vivmark Residential shows up in the world. Created through the merger of equals between multifamily leaders AvalonBay Communities and Equity Residential in August 2026, Vivmark Residential is one of the country's leading and largest real estate companies with more than 184,000 apartment homes across premier U.S. markets and over $4.4 billion in active development. This is a rare opportunity to help build a brand and define a narrative from the ground up, at a company with the scale, ambition, and momentum to redefine leadership in the industry.

This person will help shape the company's external narrative, build and manage relationships with top-tier media, and support executive positioning at a pivotal moment in the company's history. This role is ideal for a communications professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, operates with sound judgment and a bias for action, and knows how to turn complex ideas into compelling stories. You will manage day-to-day media relations, support executive thought leadership, and be responsible for the company's corporate social media presence, reporting to the VP of Corporate Communications.

Key Responsibilities

Media Relations

• Manage day-to-day media relations, including responding to press inquiries, developing and maintaining reporter relationships, and pitching proactive stories to business, trade, and local media
• Draft and edit press releases, media statements, and other external communications materials
• Monitor media coverage and industry news, providing regular updates and analysis to the communications team and senior leadership
• Maintain and update the company's external communications calendar, tracking key announcements, industry events, and media opportunities
• Support the VP in crisis communications preparation and response
• Partner with Investor Relations in external communications that require cross-functional coordination

Executive Communications and Thought Leadership

• Research, identify, and pitch speaking, award, and other visibility opportunities that advance the company's profile
• Support the VP with executive thought leadership initiatives, including developing op-eds and bylined articles
• Draft executive scripts, talking points, and video content for the CEO and other senior leaders

Social Media

• Own the company's corporate social media channels, including content creation, engagement strategy, and day-to-day execution, with a primary focus on LinkedIn
• Develop and execute a social media plan that builds brand awareness, showcases company culture and leadership, and engages key audiences including investors, prospective and current talent, and industry partners

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in external communications, media relations, public relations, or a related field
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated experience writing in an executive voice across a variety of formats
• Established relationships with business, real estate, or trade media strongly preferred
• Proven track record of supporting senior executives directly, with the ability to build trust quickly and navigate complex organizational dynamics with confidence
• Strong news judgment and the ability to identify and develop compelling story angles
• Experience managing corporate social media channels, particularly LinkedIn
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under deadline pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience working alongside Legal, Investor Relations, or HR
• Real estate, REIT, or financial services experience a plus
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field required

How Vivmark Supports You

We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we re committed to showing our appreciation.

We Offer

• A competitive benefits package that supports your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and company holidays, and exclusive team member housing discounts.

Additional Info

Vivmark Residential is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.

Vivmark Residential makes employment decisions without regard to a person s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.

Vivmark Residential will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with requirements under the law.

Vivmark Residential does not require or request that you provide any information that identifies your age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. Please redact this information prior to the submission of your application and/or leave these fields incomplete on your application.

For California residents, if you elect to apply to Vivmark Residential you accept the Vivmark Residential California Personnel Privacy Notice (https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/)