Vice President, Strategic Communications - Industrial Real Estate Development

Vice President, Strategic Communications - Industrial Real Estate Development St. Louis or Kansas City - with regular travel across our markets as needed Benefits A selection of comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans 401k with 100% match up to 6%, immediately vested upon enrollment Scholarships and paid professional development Wellness Spending Account Cellphone Reimbursement Mental Health Reimbursement $2,000 annual HRA and HSA contribution Free catered lunches + fully stocked kitchen Flexible Spending Account Living Generously program with 100% charitable contribution match What You’ll Do Market Execution & Crisis Response Translate complex legislative and regulatory issues into compelling narratives that advance strategic objectives. Tailor communication strategies based on local political, regulatory, and community dynamics, ensuring messaging is properly localized while staying aligned to overall strategy Guide retained agencies, consultants and internal resources to coordinate messaging across owned, earned, and digital channels in key markets Mobilize and direct external consultants and internal resources to execute rapid-response communication plans when navigating political developments, regulatory hurdles, or localized community pushback Serve as the internal coordinator between Strategic Initiatives, Development, and Government Affairs with outside consultants executing external communications for high-profile real estate development projects Strategic Direction & Implementation Set the strategic vision and messaging strategy that supports market-specific objectives by guiding internal team members and work of external consultants, ensuring their output advances company priorities Establish clear KPIs, review deliverables, and hold outside firms accountable for quality, consistency, and impact Manage scopes of work, contracts, and budgets across multiple consultant relationships Direct development of speeches, op-eds, policy memos, grass‑roots communication and presentations that position the company as a responsible industry leader and partner Consultant Identification & Selection Source, evaluate, and onboard outside strategic communications, public affairs, and PR consultants and agencies suited to the regulatory and political dynamics of each market Represent the company in relationships with retained firms, setting expectations from day one on quality, responsiveness, and fit with our culture Who You Are Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Communications, Public Affairs, Political Science, or a related field 10–15+ years of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, or corporate communications, ideally with substantial experience directing outside agencies or consultants Demonstrated experience identifying, vetting, and managing a portfolio of external communications consultants or agencies across multiple markets or regions Experience in real estate development, energy/utility sectors, or highly regulated industries is strongly preferred Skilled in developing scopes of work, negotiating contracts, and managing consultant budgets and performance metrics Demonstrated ability to bring clarity to ambiguous political or regulatory situations and translate them into clear direction for outside partners High level of political savvy, maturity, and experience directing communications in crisis scenarios Exceptional judgment and editorial eye, with a track record of developing and reviewing a wide variety of public affairs, executive communication and grass‑roots communications materials Ability to influence and manage relationships with a wide network of external partners, as well as internal stakeholders in a matrixed organization Ability to travel as required to support consultant oversight and business needs across our markets We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr Beyondthecontract