Strategic Communications Manager

HDR, Inc.; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR, Inc. in Rapid City, SD seeks a Strategic Communications Manager to lead communications and engagement for infrastructure projects. You will shape messaging, manage public meetings, and guide a cross-functional team within HDR’s employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities include developing strategy, overseeing budgets and schedules, and serving as the primary client contact for Strategic Communications work, collaborating with stakeholders and partners to deliver clear, impactful outcomes.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 7 years relevant industry experience, including management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of communications and engagement strategy for projects.
• Define messaging for talking points, media releases, social media, and project materials.
• 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 and communications.
• Collaborate with specialists to produce outreach tools and materials.
• Direct the development and maintenance of project-specific comment management databases.
• Oversee documentation of outreach activities and reporting.
• Develop and manage task scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Represent HDR in client meetings and serve as primary client contact for Strategic Communications work.
• Build relationships with team, partners, and clients.
• Lead development of Strategic Communications content for pursuits and proposals.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

Leadership experience

Self-motivated independent work

Team collaboration

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite - InDesign

Microsoft Office Suite

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

*LI-BC1

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