Communications Manager, Peppercomm

Peppercomm, a Ruder Finn company, is seeking a Communications Manager to join its broader Communications team in a client-facing, onsite role supporting government affairs, community relations and corporate communications initiatives for a major automotive manufacturing client.

This individual will independently manage day-to-day program activities, develop communications materials, maintain government and community relationships and coordinate events and executive engagements. The Communications Manager will be responsible for moving projects forward, anticipating needs and delivering high-quality work with minimal oversight. The role will also help ensure that government and community relations messaging aligns with the organization’s broader communications strategy.

This is an onsite role in Spartanburg, SC.

About Peppercomm

Peppercomm, a Ruder Finn company, is an award-winning strategic, integrated communications and marketing agency headquartered in New York City. With 30 years of expertise serving blue-chip and breakout clients, the firm has made a science of communication, combining wit and wisdom with proven public relations discipline and innovative offerings to break through, build deeper connections and ensure its clients' success.

Peppercomm has received numerous accolades throughout its history, including being named one of the top 10 Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC, the PRNews Agency Elite 100 and PR Daily's Top Agencies. The agency has also received recent campaign recognition from the PR Daily Awards for thought leadership communications, the PRovoke SABRE Awards for an integrated campaign, the PRNews Platinum PR Awards for media relations and the Bulldog PR Awards for media relations, among others.

For more information, visit www.peppercomm.com.

Key Responsibilities

Client and Account Management

• Independently manage the day-to-day execution of assigned client programs and workstreams.
• Serve as a regular client contact regarding assignments, priorities, timelines and deliverables.
• Develop a strong understanding of the client’s business, operations, industry, competitors and key stakeholders.
• Ensure communications activities align with the client’s objectives and strategic direction.
• Manage multiple projects from conception through completion, ensuring deliverables meet quality, timing and budget expectations.
• Anticipate challenges, recommend solutions and take responsibility for appropriate follow-through.
• Develop materials and recommendations for client meetings and presentations.
• Facilitate meetings as appropriate, capture action items and ensure timely follow-up.
• Maintain a high level of responsiveness when communicating with client contacts, agency colleagues and external partners.
• Balance onsite client responsibilities with agency initiatives, marketing support and other assigned account work.

Government and Community Relations

• Contribute to the development and execution of annual government affairs and community relations programming.
• Align government and community initiatives with corporate citizenship priorities, communications objectives and broader business needs.
• Map and maintain relationships with elected officials, government staff, agencies and other stakeholders at the municipal, county, regional and state levels.
• Coordinate ongoing outreach and engagement with government and community stakeholders.
• Monitor legislative, regulatory and policy developments that may affect business operations, including workforce, infrastructure, permitting, environmental matters, incentives and trade.
• Draft issue summaries, newsletters, executive briefings and other materials explaining relevant developments and their potential business impact.
• Coordinate legislative meetings, facility tours, stakeholder briefings and advocacy days.
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, talking points, remarks and follow-up communications for government and community engagements.
• Maintain relationships with community organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions and event partners.
• Coordinate the administration of a significant annual community investment portfolio serving more than 175 organizations.
• Review funding and partnership requests and develop donation recommendations, presentations and impact reports.
• Manage sponsorships and donations, including intake, vetting, agreements, deliverables, invoicing, acknowledgements and partner recognition.
• Build and maintain partnerships focused on education and STEM, workforce readiness, arts and culture, environmental initiatives and youth development.
• Incorporate employee volunteer opportunities into sponsorships and partnerships in coordination with Human Resources and employee engagement teams.

Executive and Strategic Communications

• Draft executive briefings, speeches, talking points, correspondence and presentation materials.
• Develop communications plans, key messages, fact sheets, stakeholder materials, briefing books, newsletters and executive updates.
• Create content for government and community initiatives, including presentation decks, event materials and LinkedIn posts.
• Adapt content and messaging for different audiences, stakeholders and communications channels.
• Produce clear, accurate and polished written materials that follow applicable business and AP style standards.
• Coordinate with internal communications, external communications, media relations, government affairs, community relations, Human Resources and Legal partners.
• Manage stakeholder communications and media-related materials connected to government and community initiatives.
• Contribute to issues and crisis preparedness by drafting holding statements, Q&A documents, decision trees and other response materials.

Events and Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate onsite communications, logistics and stakeholder needs for signature events, executive visits, community programs and other high-profile engagements.
• Develop run-of-show documents, briefing books, talking points, guest materials and post-event summaries.
• Manage event details across internal departments, external partners and community stakeholders.
• Track event deliverables and follow-up activities through completion.
• Represent the client and agency with professionalism, discretion and sound judgment.

Project and Financial Management

• Establish and maintain project timelines, status reports and action-item trackers.
• Coordinate with agency colleagues, client contacts and external partners to keep assignments moving forward.
• Review materials for accuracy, consistency and alignment with client expectations.
• Track project hours, scopes, budgets and deliverables.
• Identify potential timing, resource or budget issues and recommend solutions.
• Adapt project plans in response to changing client needs and business circumstances.
• Follow all client and agency policies, procedures and ethical standards.
• Travel as needed for meetings, events and other business-related activities.

Qualifications

• At least four years of relevant experience in public relations, corporate communications, public affairs, government relations, community relations or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, political science, public policy or a related discipline preferred.
• Ability to independently manage day-to-day client relationships, projects and workstreams.
• Strong writing, editing, presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing executive communications, stakeholder materials and communications plans.
• Familiarity with government, legislative or regulatory processes at the state or local level.
• Experience managing community partnerships, corporate citizenship programs, sponsorships or charitable investments preferred.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and stakeholders.
• Experience tracking project scopes, hours and budgets.
• Ability to anticipate needs, solve problems and move work forward with minimal oversight.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when working with executives, public officials and community leaders.
• Collaborative, proactive and solutions-oriented approach with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, onsite client environment.

Benefits and More

• Health, Dental, Vision, company paid Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, transit benefits, as well as 401k (match) plan.
• Monthly allowance for cell phone, office equipment, etc.
• Annual Wellbeing Stipend
• Generous time off policy
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Workplace flexibility

The anticipated salary range for this position, at the time of posting, is $75,000 - $100,000. The salary of the applicant selected for this role will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, education, internal equity, geography, relevant years of experience, certifications, skills, abilities of the selected applicant, and other job-related qualifications. In addition, a range of medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available by the company.

Ruder Finn provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Ruder Finn will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Ruder Finn believes that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.