Strategic Communications Manager

HDR; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to join its Strategic Communications program. You will develop, manage, and execute communication and engagement activities on infrastructure projects, working with a broader team and reporting to Project Managers and clients.

The role drives communications strategy, delegates work to staff, and manages task scopes, schedules, and budgets. You will lead messaging, oversee meetings, and coordinate outreach materials while collaborating with

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience, including leadership/management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, capable of working independently with multiple teams.
• Proven leadership and strong organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a positive attitude.
• Strong problem-solving and task-management aptitude.
• Commitment to HDR employee-owned culture.
• Experience working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to operate strategically and tactically in fast-paced environments.
• Commitment to quality and HDR values.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of project communication and engagement strategy and plans.
• Define messaging strategy for communications materials including talking points, media releases, social media, project materials, and video scripts.
• Manage formal and informal public meetings, hearings, open houses, workshops, advisory committees, or other stakeholder meetings.
• Oversee meeting logistics and vendor management.
• Direct task workback schedules and meeting plans.
• Oversee production and distribution of outreach materials such as newsletters, websites, handouts, presentations, advertisements, door hangers, press releases, and mailings.
• Collaborate with specialists in social media, web, graphics, and video to produce outreach tools and materials.
• Direct identification of stakeholders and development of distribution lists.
• Direct development and maintenance of project-specific comment management databases and responses to comment protocols.
• Oversee documentation of outreach activities, including activity tracking and reporting.
• Develop and manage task scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Direct the work of others and ensure quality of work.
• Independently represent HDR in client meetings to discuss project tasks.
• Serve as the primary client contact for Strategic Communications work.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with team, partners, and clients.
• Support and mentor staff.
• Lead development of Strategic Communications content for pursuits and proposals.
• Participate in industry events and professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strategic Communications

Public Engagement

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Written Communication

Verbal Communication

Project Management

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Office

Public Speaking

Education

Master’s degree

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

We are looking for a 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 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 drive communications and engagement strategy for projects, delegate work to staff, and manage task scopes, schedules and budgets.

Core Technical Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of project communication and engagement strategy and plans
• Define messaging strategy for communication pieces including talking points, media releases, social media, project materials, and video scripts
• Manage formal and informal public meetings, hearings, open houses, workshops, advisory committees, or other stakeholder meetings
• Oversee meeting logistics and vendor management
• Direct task workback schedules and meeting plans
• Oversee the production and distribution of outreach materials such as newsletters, websites, handouts, presentations, advertisements, door hangers, press releases, and mailings
• Collaborate with specialists in social media, web, graphics, and video to produce outreach tools and materials
• Direct the identification of stakeholders and manage the development of distribution lists
• Direct the development and maintenance of project-specific comment management databases and responses to comment protocols
• Oversee documentation of outreach activities, including activity tracking and reporting

Other Job Responsibilities

• Develop and manage task scopes, schedules, and budgets
• Direct the work of others and ensure quality of work
• Independently represent HDR in client meetings to discuss project tasks
• Serve as the primary client contact for Strategic Communications work
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with your team, partners, and clients
• Support and mentor staff
• Lead the development of Strategic Communications content for pursuits and proposals
• Participate in industry events and personal professional development opportunities
• Perform other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 7 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-South Dakota-Rapid City Industry:Highway + Road Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Strategic Communications Job Posting:Jul 30, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affiant Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.