Communications Manager

Thenovaauthority; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Disability insurance

Virginia State Retirement System membership

Flexible spending accounts

Free fitness center

Commuter benefits program

Job summary

Thenovaauthority in Virginia is looking for a Communications Manager to enhance its visibility and manage communications initiatives. This role involves strategic content development, consultant liaison, and public engagement. The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications or similar, with 3-5 years’ experience in public affairs. Benefits include health insurance and flexible working conditions.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in public affairs, media relations or communications.
• Strong ability to develop messaging, talking points, and briefing documents.
• Ability to plan and execute public engagement events.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for consultants on communication deliverables.
• Assist in planning and coordinating public engagement events.
• Develop messaging for NVTA events and external presentations.

Skills

Writing skills

Project coordination

Public engagement

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Political Science, or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Canva

Content management systems

Social media platforms

Job description

Reports to: Director of Communications & Public Affairs

Description

The Communications Manager will support NVTA’s communications by managing operational aspects of daily and ongoing initiatives, ensuring quality control and identifying opportunities to enhance NVTA’s visibility. A significant portion of this role will be focused on managing large-scale consultant contracts and ensuring consistent messaging. This position is instrumental in expanding NVTA’s in-house communications capacity and enhancing regional outreach efforts.

The ideal candidate is a communications professional with strong writing skills, project coordination and public engagement. This role requires an individual who can balance proactive outreach with responsive communication, leveraging both to support NVTA’s priorities of enhancing regional transportation.

Responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities

Consultant and Stakeholder Liaison:

• Serve as the primary contact for external consultants on communication deliverables, ensuring alignment with NVTA’s messaging, style and branding.
• Provide guidance and review consultant-developed materials, including reports, public outreach content, and press materials, to ensure consistency with NVTA’s standards.
• Collaborate with jurisdiction and agency partners to identify cross-promotional opportunities and align messaging on regional transportation initiatives.

Public Engagement and Outreach:

• Assist in planning, coordinating, and promoting public engagement events, including groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings and public information sessions.
• Work with the Director of Communications & Public Affairs to develop outreach strategies that increase public understanding of NVTA’s projects and priorities.
• Collaborate on public comment periods and outreach initiatives to facilitate stakeholder feedback and engagement.

Strategic Content Development:

• Develop messaging, talking points, and briefing documents for NVTA events and external presentations, ensuring a consistent narrative.

Event Coordination:

• Assist with the planning and execution of NVTA-hosted events, including logistics, messaging preparation and on-site coordination.
• Develop event run-of-show materials and manage vendor coordination.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Characteristics

• Professional demeanor that builds trust, credibility and reliability.
• Ability to respond flexibly with significant demands on time.
• Astute to, or recognizing the need for; political decorum and tradition.
• Ability to express oneself orally in a coherent, clear and understandable manner.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and without requiring step by step explanation or instructions.
• Ability to recognize and advantage key message opportunities through a knowledge of Authority plans, policy and regional trends and preferences.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Political Science, or related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in public affairs, media relations, communications, or a related role, preferably within the public sector or a similar regional organization.

Additional Considerations

• Proficiency in public relations and relationship-building techniques.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience crafting compelling public messages and talking points.
• Familiarity with content management systems and social media platforms.
• Ability to use Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar software for creating simple graphics.
• Experience with project coordination and understanding of regional transportation issues is a plus.
• Strong work ethic including timely adherence to all appointments and deadlines.
• Must be detail-oriented, organized and have the ability to work independently, to be creative and innovative, and to manage time effectively in a deadline-driven environment.
• Must be able to manage multiple projects throughout various stages.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective and positive interpersonal skills with fellow employees, Authority members, jurisdiction staff and citizens.

Working for NVTA

Background

NVTA is a regional entity dedicated to reducing congestion and improving the quality of life for those who live, work and travel in Northern Virginia. Through a dedicated revenue stream, NVTA invests in multimodal transportation solutions, ranging from roadway and rail improvements to technology, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and bus transit expansion.

Since securing its revenue stream in 2013, NVTA has invested nearly $5billion in projects across Northern Virginia. Collectively, these investments are projected to:

• Save 500million hours of travel time by 2034, and
• Generate $8billion in savings for Northern Virginia taxpayers.

NVTA’s work is guided by TransAction, Northern Virginia’s long-range transportation plan, and the Six Year Program, the regional funding program adopted by NVTA every two years that is valued at approximately $700million.

NVTA operates with a highly collaborative team of 21 professionals across three areas:Transportation Planning & Programming, Finance/Administration and Communications/Public Engagement. The Authority’s small, dynamic staff requires individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment, have judgment, and work independently while building strong relationships with regional partners.

NVTA staff currently work in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with the remaining portion of the week working remote. Each employee has an individual hard walled office.

Work will typically be performed in a quiet, office environment. Support to Authority (and potentially committee) meetings will be in a public meeting environment. Authority and committee meetings are often conducted during evening hours. Attendance at other regional evening meetings may be required. During periods of public engagement, evening and weekend work may be required.

NVTA has been designated as a Best Workplace for Commuters with offices located near major highways (I-66 and I-495), the Dunn Loring Metro Station (Orange Line), and a commuter bus lot served by Fairfax Connector and Metrobus. Employees can also access the nearby I-66 active transportation trail.

• Health Insurance
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Membership in the Virginia State Retirement System (VRS) Plans
• Life insurance
• Annual & Sick leave as well as 14 holidays
• Flexible spending accounts (health/dependent care)
• Free in-building fitness center
• Commuter benefits program (Metro & Capital Bikeshare)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation or disability.