Director of Public Affairs and Communications

Boston-Region-Metropolitan-Planning-Organization; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The Boston Region MPO is seeking a Director of Public Affairs and Communications to lead its public voice, branding, and engagement work. This executive role manages Editorial, Graphics, Communications, and Engagement teams within a hybrid schedule in the Boston region.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in public-sector communications, strong leadership, and proven ability to coordinate complex, multi-stakeholder projects with diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Expertise in public sector communications, branding, marketing, public relations, editorial processes, and visual design principles.
• Experience managing teams.
• Project, campaign, and meeting management for multi-stakeholder projects.
• Experience with community and employee engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across diverse audiences.
• Experience developing budgets and managing resources.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree as described with progressively responsible managerial experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and promote innovation in communications, engagement practices, editorial standards, and visual presentation.
• Oversee managers of Editorial, Graphics, and Communications and Engagement teams.
• Develop processes and monitoring tools for external communications, brand and engagement strategies.
• Analyze workflows for publications and content; collaborate to identify improvements.
• Develop and execute communications plans to highlight agency studies and accomplishments.
• Provide strategic communications counsel for executive and internal initiatives.
• Strengthen relationships with external stakeholders, including community organizations and media.
• Ensure integration of communications and design strategies across agency initiatives.
• Collaborate with directors to shape the agency’s public voice.

Skills

Public sector communications

Branding

Marketing

Public relations

Editorial processes

Visual design principles

Team management

Budgeting

Stakeholder engagement

Spokesperson

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, public management, business, planning, or a related field

Master’s degree in one of these fields

Tools

Office 365

Google Workspace

Asana

Job description

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) seeks a Director of Public Affairs and Communications. The director serves as a member of the leadership team at the Boston Region MPO. This division-leading position is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies that enhance the visibility, transparency, and impact of the transportation, research, and engagement work carried out by the agency. The Director of Public Affairs and Communications oversees multiple functions, including communications, public engagement, branding, web and digital content, and is one of several staff members responsible for building and maintaining stakeholder relationships. The director will help strengthen the agency’s public voice, improve the coordination of engagement practices across projects and programs, and guide major agency-wide initiatives related to visibility, identity, and stakeholder understanding. This role collaborates with other members of the leadership team on short- and long-term strategic planning; the establishment of agency-wide goals, policies, and procedures; and the overall management and operations of the agency. Key relationships of the Director of Public Affairs and Communications include the four other directors on the leadership team, the Executive Director, and the Deputy Executive Director, to whom the role reports.

• Lead and promote innovation in communications, engagement practices, editorial standards, and visual presentation.
• Oversee the managers of the Editorial, Graphics, and Communications and Engagement teams, developing their leadership capacity while fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing public affairs and communications division.
• Develop processes and monitoring tools that maintain and enhance external communications, brand strategy, engagement strategy, and visual identity for the agency.
• Analyze and improve workflows for products, publications, and other public-facing content; collaborate with directors, managers, and authors to identify enhancements and efficiencies.
• Develop and execute communications plans to introduce and promote agency studies and accomplishments to staff, stakeholders, partners, industry peers, and the public.
• Provide strategic communications counsel in support of selected executive and internal communications initiatives and help prioritize activities based on agency needs and available resources.
• Strengthen and support relationships with external stakeholders, including community organizations, government agencies, and media outlets.
• Work closely with other directors and managers to ensure the integration of communications, editorial, and design strategies across all agency initiatives.
• Collaborate with other directors to shape the agency's public voice and ensure consistency in messaging across all departments.

While the following sections describe required and desirable qualifications, candidates who believe that their particular experience and skills fulfill the requirements are encouraged to apply.

• Expertise in public sector communications, branding, marketing, public relations, editorial processes, and visual design principles
• Experience managing teams
• Project, campaign, and meeting management skills, especially for complex, multi-stakeholder projects
• Experience with community and employee engagement
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and engage diverse audiences
• Experience developing budgets and managing resources
• A bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, public management, business, planning, or a related field with at least 10 years of relevant experience, including progressively more responsible managerial experience for at least five of those years; or a master’s degree in one of these fields with at least 8 years of relevant experience, including progressively more responsible managerial experience for at least five of those years.

Additional highly desirable skills and qualifications:

• Experience leading large-scale initiatives and projects
• Experience working with public sector agencies
• Experience serving as a spokesperson
• Experience managing a brand or monitoring brand compliance
• Familiarity with the Boston region and its transportation systems and stakeholders
• Ability to effectively manage and collaborate with external consultants, partners, and vendors
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices
• Familiarity with Office 365, Google Workspace, and Asana or related software
• A sense of humor and a sense of adventure

This is a full-time position. The starting salary range is $125,000 – $135,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience. The agency offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits; a flexible, supportive work environment; and a commitment to ongoing professional development. Learn more about the agency’s offerings to employees via bostonmpo.org/careers.

Additional Information

The Boston Region MPO is a public agency made up of a passionate group of transportation planners, analysts, modelers, programmers, and engineers working to address the Boston region’s transportation challenges. The agency’s deep transportation knowledge is an essential asset to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), regional transit authorities, cities and towns within the region, as well as other agencies and stakeholders.

The agency has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from the Boston Region MPO office, which is located in downtown Boston, in a transit-oriented and bicycle-friendly area.

Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States and a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check must be completed if the position is offered. However, a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is the fiduciary agent and legal employer of the Boston Region MPO staff. Both organizations are Equal Employment Opportunity employers that take pride in the diversity of their workforces and encourage all qualified persons to apply. MAPC participates in the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility. MAPC and the Boston Region MPO may consider sponsorship on a case-by-case basis.