Marketing and Communications Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Aviation Metals and Your Career

Aviation Metals succeeds when our people do. We've been a family-owned aerospace metals distributor for 50 years. We believe great people do their best work when they're trusted, supported, and given opportunities to grow. Here, you'll work alongside a team that values accountability, collaboration, and strong relationships. We recognize that our team members are more than their job titles, with families, ambitions, and lives outside of work that matter. We're in a stage of growth with exciting momentum, including an upcoming move to a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Pineville, NC, and we're hiring people who want to build it with us and shape the next 50 years of Aviation Metals.

The Opportunity

The Marketing & Communications Lead shapes and elevates the Aviation Metals brand across the aerospace, defense, industrial, and manufacturing markets. This role drives brand visibility, executes strategic marketing initiatives, supports lead generation, and uncovers the stories that strengthen our presence with customers, partners, and the broader industry.

This is a hands-on, AI-fluent role for a proactive operator who blends strategic thinking with fast execution. The ideal candidate uses modern tools (including generative AI, automation platforms, and creative software) to multiply their output, sharpen their work, and move faster than a traditional marketing function. They are energized by spotting opportunities, building relationships, and shipping ideas in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment where initiative, accountability, and adaptability matter.

The Marketing & Communications Lead works closely with leadership, sales, operations, external creative partners, customers, and industry contacts to position Aviation Metals as the most trusted and recognizable supplier in the aerospace metals industry.

Key Responsibilities

1. Brand Strategy & Communications

• Help shape and maintain a consistent Aviation Metals brand voice across all marketing and communication channels.
• Identify and develop meaningful stories, milestones, and customer successes that strengthen the Aviation Metals brand.
• Plan and execute quarterly marketing initiatives aligned with company growth goals and strategic priorities.
• Create and drive initiatives that strengthen brand visibility, market positioning, and customer engagement.
• Build compelling company narratives around Aviation Metals' people, customers, capabilities, growth, and community involvement.

2. Press, Public Relations & Industry Visibility

• Proactively identify and pursue earned media opportunities, trade publication features, company recognition programs, and award submissions.
• Build relationships with industry organizations, media contacts, trade groups, and community partners.
• Draft and distribute press releases, company announcements, customer stories, and industry-focused content.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and market opportunities that support company visibility and growth.

3. Marketing Execution & Campaign Management

• Plan, coordinate, and execute marketing campaigns across digital, print, social, email, and event channels.
• Maintain and manage the marketing content calendar and campaign schedules.
• Ensure projects move efficiently from concept through execution with strong attention to timelines and follow-through.
• Track campaign performance using analytics tools and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

4. Content Development & Social Media

• Create and manage engaging content for LinkedIn, company communications, newsletters, blogs, customer spotlights, trade shows, and promotional campaigns that highlight Aviation Metals' people, capabilities, customer relationships, culture, and growth.
• Conduct interviews with employees, customers, vendors, and leadership to uncover meaningful stories and content opportunities.
• Maintain a strong and consistent social media presence aligned with Aviation Metals' brand and values.
• Use AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot) to draft, refine, and scale content while preserving brand voice and accuracy.

5. Trade Shows, Events & Community Engagement

• Coordinate and manage Aviation Metals' presence at trade shows, networking events, customer visits, and community initiatives.
• Oversee event logistics, booth coordination, promotional materials, lead capture processes, and post-event follow-up support.
• Help identify new opportunities for community engagement, industry partnerships, and brand-building events.
• Coordinate internal company events, employee engagement activities, and annual holiday programs in collaboration with leadership and administrative staff.
• Support customer relationship and sales initiatives through coordination of customer gifts, direct mail campaigns, promotional materials, and related marketing logistics.

6. Vendor & Website Coordination

• Serve as the primary internal contact for external marketing, design, photography, and website development partners.
• Coordinate website updates, content requests, campaign assets, and digital improvements with third-party vendors.
• Ensure all digital and marketing materials remain current, accurate, professional, and aligned with company standards.
• Assist in the development of presentations, customer-facing materials, and strategic communication assets.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is measured by outcomes, not activity. Twelve months in, we expect to see:

• The Aviation Metals brand voice and Core Values come through consistently in everything we publish, present, and put in front of customers:

○ Unparalleled Commitment: "We show up, every time, all in."

○ Simplify the Complex: "We solve problems, not just handle them."

○ Urgency with Purpose: "We move fast, focused, not frantic."

○ Meaningful Relationships: "Business is built on trust, not transactions."

• Projects move from concept to execution without stalling. Priorities, deadlines, and status are visible across teams without anyone having to ask.
• The brand feels sharper, more current, and more confident than it did a quarter ago, both visually and in the stories we tell.
• Aviation Metals shows up more often in trade press, on award lists, and in industry conversations. Awards and press opportunities that would have been missed get caught and acted on.
• Trade shows and industry events deliver measurably more qualified leads and meaningful follow-up conversations than they did before.
• Aviation Metals has a real network of trade press contacts, industry partners, and customer advocates the company can call on.
• Internal teams describe marketing as a partner, not a service desk and a positive presence to work alongside.
• AI tools (Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude) are part of daily workflow, accelerating content output, research, and execution without sacrificing brand voice or accuracy.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in marketing, communications, branding, public relations, or related roles preferred.
• Experience in B2B, industrial, manufacturing, aerospace, or technical industries is preferred.
• Demonstrated fluency with generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Copilot) in a real marketing workflow. Examples of past work that used AI to ship faster or better will be requested.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt messaging to different audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and execute effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with social media management, content development, event coordination, and marketing campaign execution.
• Comfortable operating independently while collaborating cross-functionally across departments.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Comfortable interviewing people, networking, building relationships, and representing the company publicly.
• Experience working with external vendors, creative partners, or website development firms preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field preferred but not required based on experience.

Tools & Platforms

Familiarity expected across most of these categories. We’re flexible on specific products; depth in a few matters more than thin exposure to all.

• AI & productivity: Copilot (open to other tools that align the best with the role, including ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini); Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace; meeting AI (Otter, Fathom, Granola)
• Design & content: Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma
• Web, social & email: LinkedIn (organic + ads), a social scheduler (Buffer, Sprout, Hootsuite, or Later), WordPress or HubSpot CMS, an email platform (HubSpot, Mailchimp, or Constant Contact)
• CRM & analytics: HubSpot, Salesforce, or similar CRM; Google Analytics 4 and Search Console
• Project management: Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, Asana, Monday, ClickUp, Trello, or Notion

Work Environment

o Office-based role with regular collaboration across departments.

• Involvement in sales, production, customer, and trade show environments for content development and marketing support.
• Occasional travel for trade shows, customer visits, networking events, and industry activities may be required.
• Fast-paced, growth-oriented environment requiring adaptability, initiative, and strong communication skills.

Growth Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to help shape and grow the Aviation Metals brand during an exciting period of company growth and expansion, including an upcoming move to a new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Pineville, NC off I-485. The Marketing & Communications Lead will work directly with company leadership and have the opportunity to build processes, influence strategy, and grow alongside the organization as the company continues to scale.

Aviation Metals is a third-generation aerospace metals distributor serving aerospace, defense, industrial, and manufacturing customers across North America. For 50 years we've built our reputation on responsiveness, relationships, and delivering solutions when our customers need them most. We are currently expanding and relocating to a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Pineville, NC.

Company Description

Aviation Metals is a third-generation aerospace metals distributor serving aerospace, defense, industrial, and manufacturing customers across North America. For 50 years we've built our reputation on responsiveness, relationships, and delivering solutions when our customers need them most. We are currently expanding and relocating to a new state-of-the-art headquarters in Pineville, NC.\r\n\r\n