Description
Name:
Program:
Metropolitan Policy Program
Exempt:
Yes
Supervisor
(Title):
Co-Directors
Supervisor (Name):
Bruce Katz and Amy Liu
Basic Functions:
The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program (Metro) provides decision makers with timely trend analysis, cutting-edge research and policy ideas for improving the health and prosperity of cities and metropolitan areas. As a member of the senior management team, the Director of Communications and Engagement will lead efforts to use communications and engagement as a way to build relationships and increase Metro’s influence in sectors important to this work. He/she will also participate in overarching strategic planning and decision-making for the Metro program.
The role has three major functions, described below, that will help Metro use communications strategically to build and sustain relationships that increase the impact of the program’s independent research and policy analysis, and ultimately help achieve the program’s goals.
1) Create a strategic engagement plan to establish and sustain productive relationships with public, private, and non-profit sector partners; alliances; and influencers that lead to impact. In addition, develop systems to track progress in achieving the goals of the plan.
2) Embed the strategy throughout the Metro program including defining staff roles in engagement and building staff capacity to ensure high quality communications efforts. This will include working closely with Metro’s leadership to integrate engagement strategies into program initiatives and with the Brookings Institution vice president of communications to expand the credibility and increase the visibility of the institution through Metro’s engagement efforts.
3) Build and lead a team of communications and engagement professionals who understand how to create and maintain relationships, are skilled in various traditional and new communications tactics and tools (e.g., media, publications, multimedia and online communications, etc.), and who are always strategic about how and when to use a specific approach to connect to and create relationships with key audiences. Oversee the team to implement the engagement strategy, managing all aspects of communications and engagement throughout the organization.
2
% of Time Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
30% Create a strategic engagement plan and use it to guide program decision-making
Serve as a member of the program’s management team, participating with colleagues in Metro’s overarching strategic planning and decision-making.
Serve as chief communications advisor to Metro’s Vice President.
Help Metro build on its significant communications successes and shift planning and execution from a focus on tactics toward using commmunications strategically to engage core audiences and advance Metro’s goals.
Create an engagement plan organized around Metro’s programmatic priorities, focusing on the overaching Metro point of view, specific policy and research themes and issues, essential aspects of the program such as development and the program’s overall brand and position in the field. The plan should include measurable goals and objectives and benchmarks for tracking progress.
Develop systems for tracking relationships with key audiences and progress against the benchmarks outlined in the plan and use these data to inform program decisions and mid-course corrections.
30% Embed the engagement strategy throughout the Metro program
Partner with Metro’s leadership to integrate engagement strategies into program planning, ensuring that all reports and other deliverables support the program’s goals and reach priority audiences.
From a communications and engagement perspective, proactively identify opportunities and challenges that impact the program’s engagement efforts.
Define roles for all program staff in engagement, including the senior team serving as the core outreach and relationship builders for Metro.
Provide coaching and training to enable staff to fulfill these roles.
Coordinate Metro communications with overall Brookings communications strategy.
40% Build and oversee a team to implement all aspects of Metro’s engagement plan
Build an integrated and multi-faceted communications and engagement team that thinks strategically, is experienced in building external relationships, and understands how and when to use specific communications tactics and tools.
Set priorities for the team, directly manage team members and oversee their professional development to deliver high quality communications and enagement services for Metro.
Coordinate work of Metro employees who are part of communications and engagement initiatives but are not within the department as a direct report.
Utilize the full range of communications tools and tactics as appropriate to support the objectives and reach the audiences identified in the plan (e.g., media, events, partnerships, networks, institutional outreach, and specific tools such as the Web, social media, publications, presentations, and all other ways Metro interacts with key audiences), and oversee/coordinate team members’ activities to achieve those objectives
Further develop an approach to media outreach and cultivation at the local, regional, and national levels; and enhance elite media relationships based on providing valuable content and insightful commentary.
3
Responsibility for Work of Others:
Current communications team, as represented by titles listed below.
Title:
Number of Positions
:
Nature of Supervision:
Senior media relations officer
1
Direct
Senior communications adviser
1
Direct
Marketing/communications assistant
1
Direct
Senior web site coordinator
1
Direct
Total number supervised directly and indirectly:
4
Committee or Major External Contacts:
Principal Committee/Contacts:
Role or Responsibilities:
Decision makers/policymakers, thought leaders in metropolitan issues, constituency and public interest groups, elite media and public thought leaders, Brookings leadership, funders, communications consultants
Building and sustaining relationships
Special Education/Experience Requirements:
Bachelors degree required. Also required: 10 to 12 years senior leadership experience contributing to vision and strategic direction of the organization and creating and leading communications and engagement strategies; and working in a fast-paced, policy-oriented environment. Strong experience in politics, public policy advocacy, issue campaigns (or issue-driven communications and engagement) and communications that enhances fund raising highly preferred.