MN/WI Strategic Communications Manager

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-owned culture

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to lead a dynamic team across Minnesota and Wisconsin, directing community engagement and communications for infrastructure projects. The role combines strategic planning, client service, and staff development within HDR’s global practice.

You will manage multiple projects, drive growth, and maintain high standards of quality and compliance while collaborating with cross-functional teams and senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments.
• Good leadership and organizational skills.
• Active participant in an employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations of the production section including staff development, profitability, morale, quality control and marketing support.
• Serve as a communications strategist, project manager, or technical lead on key projects while maintaining strong technical expertise and client service.
• Take administrative responsibility for section staff and technical service functions, and coordinate services with other sections.
• Support the growth of Strategic Communications services across Minnesota and Wisconsin by identifying opportunities, supporting pursuits, and building client relationships.
• Be directly involved with industrial and public clients in marketing, project production and related issues.
• Ensure all work is planned, organized, controlled and evaluated through proactive project management systems.
• Implement, monitor and support company policy.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Public engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Marketing/Public Engagement

Job description

MN/WI Strategic Communications Manager - ( 196606 )

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story: ' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager with the skills, strategic thinking and dedication to manage a dynamic team of Strategic Communications professionals in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In this role, you will join HDR’s Strategic Communications practice—a global team of communicators who are passionate about putting people first in planning and infrastructure. As a full-service community engagement and creative practice, we develop and implement ideas to bring people together in projects of every size and sector. We help people get to know each other, foster understanding, and build more connected, equitable, and sustainable communities.

As a Strategic Communications Manager, you will manage a dynamic team to develop and implement community engagement and communications activities on a variety of infrastructure projects. In this role, you will also be responsible for executing a strategy to grow a mature program across multiple geographic and business markets, develop staff and support business development efforts.

• Take responsibility for operations of production section including staff development, profitability, morale, quality control and marketing support
• Serve as a communications strategist, project manager, or technical lead on key projects while maintaining strong technical expertise and client service.
• Take administrative responsibility for section staff and technical service functions, and lead and coordinate services with other sections
• Support the growth of Strategic Communications services across Minnesota and Wisconsin by identifying opportunities, supporting pursuits, and building client relationships.
• Be directly involved with industrial and public clients in marketing, project production and related issues
• See that all work is planned, organized, controlled and evaluated through proactive project management system
• Implement, monitor and support company policy

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading large teams.
• Experience leading the development of scopes, schedules and budgets, and managing projects.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Engagement, or related discipline
• Ability to drive or independently get oneself around town
• General interest in infrastructure projects such as water, wastewater, transportation, transit, energy, solid waste, and architecture
• Working knowledge of local, state and federal requirements for public involvement
• Familiarity with the architecture and engineering consulting industry

Preference given to local candidates

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 10 years experience
• Professional registration, license or certification may be required based on role
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Ability to handle multiple assignments
• Good leadership and organizational skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location

United States-Minnesota-Saint Louis Park

Industry

Strategic Communications

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Strategic Communications

Job Posting

Oct 1, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an Affir... employee.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.