Manager, Communications

Overall Responsibilities:
The manger works closely with the Director, Communications to develop and execute integrated communications programs to effectively deliver the key messages important to the industry and association to the appropriate, targeted audiences. Specific activities include proactive publicity, reactive media relations, crisis communications, and executive communications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Proactive Publicity – Develop proactive publicity campaigns to promote the industry, IAAPA members, the association, IAAPA events, and association services to relevant audiences. This includes campaigns about what’s new in the industry and relevant consumer trends, as well as campaigns designed to generate positive publicity for IAAPA Attractions Expo, Asian Attractions Expo, and IAAPA’s other, global signature events.

Research, write, edit, and distribute press materials to generate coverage, capitalizing on relevant industry and consumer trends whenever possible.
Build effective working relationships with journalists and pitch stories to them.
Support the campaigns with additional tactics including events, relevant content, video, and social media initiatives. Manage the logistics associated with those additional tactics.
Conduct on-camera interviews as the secondary IAAPA spokesperson.
Manage on-site press operations and host the media to facilitate coverage.
Track and evaluate coverage to refine future campaigns.

Reactive Media Relations and Crisis Communications – Monitor industry news, events, and issues to stay abreast on what’s happening and use that knowledge to anticipate and proactively prepare the association and its members to address critical issues. The manager helps manage the association’s response to crisis events and may assist members in times of crisis.

Monitor industry news.
Manage the daily production and delivery of IAAPA News Flash, an e-newsletter that consolidates and shares industry news stories from around the world with IAAPA members.
Respond to press inquiries on a wide variety of topics.
Research, write, edit, and distribute press releases, advisories, and statements as needed to effectively and proactively manage industry issues.
Support the Director, Communications and other IAAPA leaders (staff and volunteer) for press interviews.
Support the messaging strategies with additional tactics including events, relevant content, video, and social media initiatives. Assist with the logistics for these additional tactics.
Serve in an on-call rotation to provide coverage for the IAAPA press line which is used by journalists and IAAPA members who may need assistance outside the traditional business day.
Keep IAAPA leadership informed of key press activities and inquiries.
Assist members with issues and during crisis events.
Build solid working relationships with communications, public relations, and press counterparts within the industry.
Track and evaluate press coverage to ensure our messages are getting through to refine our approach for the future.

Executive Communications – Assist IAAPA leadership (staff and volunteer) with speech and presentation development and delivery to insure messages delivered support the long-range goals of the association and the industry overall.

Research, write, and develop the necessary visuals for executive speeches and presentations.
Assist IAAPA leadership and human resources with employee/internal communications as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

Assist the Director, Communications in his/her role as staff liaison to IAAPA’s regional Media and PR Subcommittees, insuring the subcommittees’ activities are in synch with those of the other relevant committees within the association.
Develop and manage expense budgets for all activities in areas of responsibility.
Review and edit materials (including all press releases) as needed for quality assurance.
Identify, negotiate with, contract, manage, and evaluate outside vendors as needed.
Although there are no direct reports, the manager oversees the work of several external vendors.
Additional duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills Required:

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field required.
Minimum of five years of communications, media relations, or PR experience required. Must include demonstrated experience working directly with the press (developing strategies, responding to inquiries, providing information, pitching stories, and conducting on-camera interviews).
Strong news writing and editing skills required. Knowledge of AP Style preferred.
Strong verbal communications skills.
Proven experience presenting complex information in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.
Experience planning, executing, and managing multi-faceted communications campaigns, events, and projects.
Proven ability to meet deadlines, manage multiple projects at once, and be detail-oriented all at the same time.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment where priorities change frequently.
Must be proficient in using Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).
On-camera experience preferred.
Experience managing external communication vendors (designers, writers, printers, PR agencies, etc.) preferred.
Experience using social media preferred
Experience with databases, customer relationship management systems, and email distribution programs preferred.
Experience with website content management software preferred.
Experience in speech and presentation development preferred.
Attractions industry experience preferred.

ADA Specifications:
This position is located in the Orlando, Florida headquarters office with approximately five percent domestic and international travel to attend and participate in select IAAPA events. The position requires extensive physical mobility and the ability to hear, speak and communicate audibly.

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