Director of Communications

Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is seeking a strategic, creative Director of Communications to lead communications, media relations, marketing, and thought leadership efforts for Virginia’s business community.

Reporting to the President & CEO, you will shape messages, advise senior leaders, manage press outreach, and develop content across multiple platforms. The role emphasizes strong writing, crisis communications, and collaborative leadership with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, marketing, or a related field.
• 4–8 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public affairs, media relations, government, public policy, journalism, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills and the ability to make complex policy, economic, and business issues understandable and compelling.
• Strong knowledge of Virginia’s political, governmental, business, and media landscape.
• Demonstrated experience with media relations and executive communications.
• Excellent judgment and the ability to move quickly when circumstances change.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills.
• Experience with digital communications, social media, email marketing, website content management, and other communications tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the Virginia Chamber’s communications and marketing strategy.
• Advise the President & CEO and senior leadership on messaging, emerging issues, breaking news, and reputational matters.
• Lead media relations, including press outreach, releases, interviews, and crisis communications.
• Serve as a key media contact for the Virginia Chamber and help build strong relationships with reporters and editors.
• Develop compelling content across the Virginia Chamber’s website, social media, newsletters, publications, and other platforms.
• Write and edit executive communications, speeches, talking points, op-eds, presentations, briefing materials, and other high-impact content.
• Prepare the President & CEO for media interviews, speaking engagements, and public appearances.
• Identify opportunities to elevate the Virginia Chamber’s thought leadership through conferences, events, media, and other platforms.
• Work closely with Government Relations, Public Policy, the Virginia Chamber Foundation, Investor Relations & Engagement, and other teams to ensure a consistent and compelling organizational voice.
• Support communications and engagement around Blueprint Virginia and other initiatives focused on strengthening Virginia’s economy.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Execution

Media relations

Executive communications

Writing & editing

Relationship-building

Digital communications

Content management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/journalism/public relations

Tools

Social media platforms

Email marketing tools

Website CMS

Job description

Richmond, Virginia | Full-time | $90,000–$130,000, commensurate with experience

Help shape the voice of Virginia’s business community.

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is looking for a strategic, creative, and highly skilled Director of Communications to lead our communications, media relations, marketing, and thought leadership efforts.

This is more than a communications role. It’s an opportunity to help shape the conversation around Virginia’s economic future, advise senior leadership on issues that matter to businesses across the Commonwealth, and elevate the voice of Virginia’s business community with policymakers, the media, and the public.

The Role

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Director of Communications will serve as a trusted strategic advisor and lead the development and execution of the Virginia Chamber’s communications strategy.

You’ll help determine what we say, how we say it, and how effectively it reaches the audiences that matter most.

You will:

• Develop and lead the Virginia Chamber’s communications and marketing strategy.
• Advise the President & CEO and senior leadership on messaging, emerging issues, breaking news, and reputational matters.
• Lead media relations, including press outreach, releases, interviews, and crisis communications.
• Serve as a key media contact for the Virginia Chamber and help build strong relationships with reporters and editors.
• Develop compelling content across the Virginia Chamber’s website, social media, newsletters, publications, and other platforms.
• Write and edit executive communications, speeches, talking points, op-eds, presentations, briefing materials, and other high-impact content.
• Prepare the President & CEO for media interviews, speaking engagements, and public appearances.
• Identify opportunities to elevate the Virginia Chamber’s thought leadership through conferences, events, media, and other platforms.
• Work closely with Government Relations, Public Policy, the Virginia Chamber Foundation, Investor Relations & Engagement, and other teams to ensure a consistent and compelling organizational voice.
• Support communications and engagement around Blueprint Virginia and other initiatives focused on strengthening Virginia’s economy.

The Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with exceptional execution — someone who can step back and see the big picture but is equally comfortable writing the press release, preparing the CEO for an interview, or responding to an issue that develops at 8:00 a.m.

You should bring:

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, marketing, or a related field.
• 4–8 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public affairs, media relations, government, public policy, journalism, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills and the ability to make complex policy, economic, and business issues understandable and compelling.
• Strong knowledge of Virginia’s political, governmental, business, and media landscape.
• Demonstrated experience with media relations and executive communications.
• Excellent judgment and the ability to move quickly when circumstances change.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills.
• Experience with digital communications, social media, email marketing, website content management, and other communications tools.

Why the Virginia Chamber of Commerce?

The Virginia Chamber is the Commonwealth’s leading non-partisan business advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance long-term economic growth across Virginia through leadership and advocacy in the legislative, regulatory, civic, and judicial arenas at both the state and federal levels.

In this role, your work will help shape how important issues are understood and discussed across the Commonwealth.

If you’re a communications leader who wants your work to have an impact, and you understand the intersection of business, policy, politics, and media, we’d love to hear from you.