MN/WI Strategic Communications Team Lead

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Strategic Communications Team Lead to manage a Minnesota-based team of project managers, guiding projects from inception through delivery while coordinating with cross-functional teams across the organization.

The role emphasizes staff development, client engagement, and leadership in a fast-paced environment, with opportunities to support business development and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Engagement, or related field with 7+ years’ experience.
• Associate degree with 10+ years of related experience may be considered.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills; service-oriented and client-focused.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a team of Strategic Communications Project Managers, including performance reviews and utilization planning.
• Provide day-to-day staff management, quality review, and project support for Minnesota team.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to identify and support project work.
• Lead staff development and coordinate training plans for team members.
• Support business development through proposals, scope and budget development, and client discussions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time management

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Engagement, or related discipline

Associate degree with 10+ years of related experience

Job description

MN/WI Strategic Communications Team Lead - ( 196616 )

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 Team Lead with the skills, interest and dedication to manage a dynamic team of Strategic Communications Project Managers in Minnesota. 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 Team Lead, you will manage a 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 managing projects, supporting business development efforts.

• Supervise a team of Strategic Communications Project Managers working in person and remotely within Minnesota, including reviewing weekly timecards, approving expense reports, setting/managing utilization goals, recommending salary adjustments, and conducting mid-year and annual performance conversations
• Provide day-to-day staff management for the Minnesota Strategic Communications project manager team, including quality review, troubleshooting, and as‑needed project support
• Coordinate with team leadership, Project Managers, Coordinator Team, Creative Team, Digital Engagement Team and regional and national Strategic Communications leadership as needed to identify, maintain, and support project work
• Provide staff development, advocacy, and guidance for Minnesota Coordinator Team
• Share information about training and professional development opportunities for Minnesota Coordinator Team and coordinate training/development plans for individual team members
• Resolve Minnesota project management team issues or elevate issues as needed
• Function as a Strategic Communications Project Manager or equivalent
• Support business development efforts including proposal writing, scope and budget development, interview prep and delivery and attend/facilitate conversations with clients.

About you:

• You are passionate about managing people and developing future leaders.
• You are comfortable working in multi-disciplinary teams, collaborating effectively with colleagues in both content and technical development.
• You can understand and work with different personality types to help each team member achieve their goals.
• You can handle difficult situations and work towards a resolution.
• You have the ability to handle multiple assignments at a time and set and meet deadlines.
• You have solid presentation skills and can clearly articulate concepts and design decisions to our creative teams and our internal and external clients.
• You have a service- and client-oriented personality.
• You have an internal drive to try new things and explore new industry trends and technology while pushing your comfort zone every day.
• You are a self-starter; must be able to effectively work in unsupervised environments.
• You have an obsessive attention to detail.
• You have strong organization skills.
• You can adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

You have an attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee‑owned culture.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading the development of scopes, schedules and budgets, and managing projects.
• Experience leading staff on projects or teams.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Engagement, or related discipline with 7+ years of related experience OR an Associate degree with 10+ years of related experience.
• 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 7 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

Other Locations

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 Aff…