Senior Manager- Corporate Communications

SSA Marine; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid time off

401k plan

Employee assistance program

Parental leave

Bereavement leave

Jury duty pay

Bonus eligibility

Job summary

SSA Marine seeks an experienced Senior Manager, Corporate Communications to help shape and execute integrated communications that protect and enhance the company’s reputation while advancing business priorities.

You will collaborate with the Director of Communications to craft executive messaging, manage external outreach, and guide change communications across operations, HR, sustainability, and leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, PR, journalism, marketing, political science, English, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive corporate communications experience.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to develop communications strategies for complex business issues and organizational initiatives.
• Track record of supporting senior executives and business leaders.
• Strong background in media relations and external stakeholder communications.
• Prior project management experience and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and influence without direct authority.
• Background in crisis communications or issues management.
• Experience leading employee communications and organizational change initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to leaders across SSA Marine and affiliated businesses.
• Develop communication strategies and messaging plans to support key business initiatives, growth opportunities, organizational changes, and company priorities.
• Provide communications counsel on reputational, stakeholder, and employee engagement considerations.
• Lead the development of key messages, talking points, FAQs, executive presentations, and strategic communication materials.
• Support crisis preparedness, issues management, and response planning efforts.
• Develop and manage proactive external communications programs for SSA Marine's capabilities, achievements, and priorities.
• Lead media relations activities and manage relationships with ports, industry press, and global supply chain outlets.
• Write and manage press releases, talking points, web content, and external messaging materials.
• Build and maintain relationships with ports, community stakeholders, and other external audiences.
• Manage media inquiries and support spokesperson preparation and interview coordination.
• Help maintain SSA Marine's corporate brand identity and reputation.
• Support content strategy across LinkedIn, company websites, and other digital platforms.
• Ensure consistent application of brand standards and messaging frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to highlight milestones, innovation, sustainability, and leadership.
• Develop and execute internal communications campaigns promoting understanding of priorities and performance.
• Support executive communications, leadership announcements, all-hands meetings, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Lead change communications for organizational initiatives and major projects.
• Ensure message alignment across business units, functions, and regions.
• Partner with HR, Sustainability, Legal, Government Relations, Operations, Busiess Development, and other teams.
• Manage external agencies, consultants, and vendors.
• Support event communications and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Track communications performance and provide improvement recommendations.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Crisis communications

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Executive communications

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field

Job description

Essential Job Responsibilities

SSA Marine is seeking an experienced strategic communications professional to join the company's corporate communications team. The Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, will work closely with the Director of Communications to develop and execute integrated communications initiatives that strengthen the company's reputation, advance business priorities, support employee engagement, and promote alignment across internal and external stakeholders.

SSA Marine is seeking an experienced strategic communications professional to join the company's corporate communications team. The Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, will work closely with the Director of Communications to develop and execute integrated communications initiatives that strengthen the company's reputation, advance business priorities, support employee engagement, and promote alignment across internal and external stakeholders. This position serves as a trusted communications advisor to leaders across the organization and partners closely with teams including Operations, Human Resources, Sustainability, Legal, Government Relations, Business Development, and executive leadership. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing external communications strategies, pitching media, writing executive messaging, and leading change management communications initiatives.

Strategic Communications & Leadership Support

• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to leaders across SSA Marine and affiliated businesses.
• Develop communication strategies and messaging plans to support key business initiatives, growth opportunities, organizational changes, and company priorities.
• Provide communications counsel on reputational, stakeholder, and employee engagement considerations.
• Lead the development of key messages, talking points, FAQs, executive presentations, and strategic communication materials.
• Support crisis preparedness, issues management, and response planning efforts.

External Communications & Media Relations

• Develop and manage proactive external communications programs that elevate awareness of SSA Marine's capabilities, achievements, and strategic priorities.
• Lead our media relations activities, including managing relationships with business and industry press covering ports, logistics, and the global supply chain.
• Write and manage press releases, talking points, web content, and external messaging materials.
• Build and maintain relationships with ports, community stakeholders, and other external audiences.
• Manage media inquiries and support spokesperson preparation and interview coordination.

Brand & Digital Communications

• Help maintain and strengthen SSA Marine's corporate brand identity and reputation.
• Support content strategy and execution across LinkedIn, company websites, and other digital platforms.
• Ensure consistent application of company brand standards, messaging frameworks, and visual identity guidelines.
• Identify opportunities to showcase company milestones, innovation, sustainability achievements, and industry leadership.

Internal Communications & Employee Engagement

• Develop and execute internal communications campaigns that promote employee understanding of company priorities, values, and business performance.
• Support executive communications, leadership announcements, all-hands meetings, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Lead change communications strategies for organizational initiatives, business transformations, and major company projects.
• Ensure message alignment and consistency across business units, functions, and regions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Human Resources, Sustainability, Legal, Government Relations, Operations, Business Development, and commercial teams to support communications objectives.
• Manage external agencies, consultants, freelancers, and vendors as needed.
• Support communications planning for company events, conferences, trade shows, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Track communications performance and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Political Science, English, or a related field
• 8+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, media relations, public affairs, or related disciplines
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to develop communications strategies for complex business issues and organizational initiatives
• Track record of supporting senior executives and business leaders
• Strong background in media relations and external stakeholder communications
• Prior project management experience and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and influence without direct authority
• Background in crisis communications or issues management
• Experience leading employee communications and organizational change initiatives

Preferred

• Background in transportation, logistics, maritime, infrastructure, industrial, or business-to-business industries
• Experience managing agencies or communications vendors
• Familiarity with digital communications, social media strategy, and corporate branding initiatives

Work environment

• Required job duties are normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment.
• Exposure to computer screens.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

Pay Range: $160,000 - 185,000 per year. The posted compensation range is based on the applicable geographic market for the position and may vary depending on factors such as related experience and skill set. Final compensation will be determined based on these items and other relevant factors.

SSA Marine is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Benefits

• Eligible employees (and their families) may qualify for medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as having basic life and accidental death insurance, paid disability insurance, including paid parental leave if eligible, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Employees will receive paid sick and vacation time, and company holidays if eligible.
• The company also offers paid bereavement leave, and paid jury duty.
• Eligible employees can enroll in our company's 401k plan, as well as a retirement plan.
• Employees will be eligible for discretionary and/or metric-based bonuses dependent on their position.