Senior Strategic Communications Manager

HDR, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking a Senior Strategic Communications Manager in Houston, TX to lead communication and engagement for infrastructure projects. You will develop strategy, manage budgets, and serve as a strategic consultant to clients and project teams with HDR’s global engagement practice.

The role requires 10+ years in the field, strong leadership, and the ability to work with senior leaders across cross-functional teams. HDR emphasizes inclusion and employee ownership in its culture.

Qualifications

• 10+ years relevant industry experience, including management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with multiple teams
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with positive attitude
• Comfortable with senior leaders and cross-functional teams
• Ability to operate strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment
• Commitment to HDR values and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of communication and engagement strategies for infrastructure projects
• Manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and proposals
• Provide strategic counsel to project teams and clients
• Define messaging for talking points, media releases, and materials
• Drive technology-forward engagement solutions to improve outcomes
• Lead interdisciplinary teams to deliver communications products
• Plan and manage public meetings, hearings, and stakeholder events
• Maintain productive relationships with team, subconsultants, and clients
• Represent HDR in professional associations and industry events
• Service- and client-oriented attitude

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

Self-motivated

Independent work with multiple teams

Leadership & organization

Interpersonal communication

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Office

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Strategic Communications Manager - ( 197265 )

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?

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.

Our team is seeking a Senior Strategic Communications Manager to be a member of our Strategic Communications program, a global team of communicators who are passionate about putting people first in planning and infrastructure. As a full-service communications, 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 Senior Strategic Communications Manager, you will be responsible for the development, management, and execution of communication and engagement activities on a variety of infrastructure projects. You will work collaboratively as part of a broader Strategic Communications team and take direction from Project Managers and clients. In this role, you will be expected to serve as a strategic communications consultant to clients and project teams, driving communications and engagement strategy for projects, collaborate with project teams, and manage task scopes, schedules and budgets for projects that may be small or large, simple or complex.

Core Technical Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of project communication and engagement strategy and plans for large and complex projects, including independently representing HDR in client meetings.
• Develop and manage communications task proposals, scopes, schedules, and budgets
• Provide strategic counsel to project teams, proactively aligning project recommendations with community priorities and objectives.
• Improve project success by becoming a trusted advisor and strategic consultant to client leadership, boards, and governing bodies on communications, stakeholder engagement, and public-facing issues.
• Define messaging strategy for communication pieces including talking points, media releases, social media, project materials, and video script.
• Drive technology-forward engagement solutions that improve project outcomes, public participation, stakeholder understanding, and project team decision-making.
• Lead interdisciplinary project teams to deliver physical, digital and experiential communications products.
• Plan and manage the delivery of formal and informal public meetings, hearings, open houses, workshops, advisory committees, or other stakeholder meetings.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with your team, subconsultants, and clients.
• Manage subconsultants and ensure quality of work.
• Represent HDR in professional associations and industry events.
• Service- and client-oriented attitude.

Preferred Qualifications

• Willingness to travel (up to 20% of time).
• Experience with flood risk, drinking water, wastewater, power, data center, gas, or terminal communications.
• Working knowledge of public administration, funding and appropriations, federal programs, policy development, and/or program management to guide project planning.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years relevant industry experience, including management experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated and ability to work independent with multiple teams as well as team oriented
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills
• Great interpersonal and communication skills - positive outlook and attitude
• High aptitude for managing and solving tactical issues
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Comfortable and competent while working with senior leaders and managing cross-functional efforts
• Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a high-energy, fast-paced environment
• Committed to quality, continuous improvement, and HDR values
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite - InDesign
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

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-Texas-Houston

Industry

Strategic Communications

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Strategic Communications

Job Posting

Oct 22, 2026

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

We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employe r.

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