Vice President Marketing & Communications

Ladders; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 290,000 - 361,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Startup culture

Leadership access

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Vice President of Marketing & Communications to guide narrative for a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space, reporting to executive leadership in Washington, DC. The role builds a structured marketing practice with measurable outcomes and bridges brand, media, and government relations to support strategic objectives.

You will lead a focused team, shape external messaging, and drive communications across executive levels while coordinating with stakeholders and events in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field.
• 10+ years of marketing, communications, and/or public relations experience.
• Ability to shape strategic messaging with executive leadership.
• Experience in media relations and external narrative development.
• Proven relationships with government and defense media personnel preferred.
• Ability to implement structured marketing frameworks and reporting.
• Strong written and oral communication, with ability to simplify complex topics.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the organization’s strategic messaging with executive leadership.
• Oversee external narrative, media relations, and public communications.
• Cultivate relationships with government and defense media personnel.
• Establish a structured marketing approach with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Direct an internal team for brand and creative execution.
• Lead industry events, trade shows, and thought leadership opportunities for senior leaders.
• Support investor relations through narrative development and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Strategic messaging

Executive communication

Media relations

Public relations

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or related field

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Vice President Marketing & Communications to join the team of a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space. This leader will guide strategic messaging and external communications at the executive level, ensuring a clear and compelling voice across the organization. The role will shape the company’s narrative with media, stakeholders, and industry audiences while supporting broader brand and business objectives. It also involves leading a focused team and building structured marketing practices that create measurable impact in a fast-moving defense environment.

Location: Washington, DC - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $290,300 – $361,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Partner with executive leadership to define and communicate the organization’s strategic messaging
• Oversee the company’s external narrative, including media relations and public communications
• Cultivate relationships with government and defense media personnel
• Establish a structured marketing approach with clear objectives and measurable outcomes
• Direct an internal team for brand and creative execution, bridging communication with design
• Lead industry events, trade shows, and thought leadership opportunities for senior leaders
• Support investor relations through narrative development and stakeholder engagement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field
• 10+ years of relevant marketing, communications, and/or public relations experience
• Proven ability to shape strategic messaging with executive leadership
• Experience in media relations and developing an external narrative
• Expertise in building relationships with government and defense media personnel preferred
• Ability to implement structured marketing frameworks and reporting
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex topics

Benefits

• Collaborative environment with high visibility across executive leadership
• Opportunity to shape and influence strategic communication in the defense sector
• Manage a small, focused team driving key marketing initiatives
• Engagement in a fast-paced startup culture with a commitment to defense innovation
• Access to networking opportunities with military and defense stakeholders

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.