JOB OF THE WEEK: American Association of Publishers, Director of Communications

The Association of American Publishers (AAP), the leading trade association for the US book publishing industry, is seeking a Director of Communications for a newly created position, to support and enhance the advocacy, representation and image of the industry.

In this role, the Director will join a recently-launched Communications department for the industry’s leading national trade association and have primary responsibility for developing and executing a 360° range of communications strategies on behalf of one or more AAP divisions including educational publishing.  Additionally, s/he will work with the Vice President on a number of internal and external communications for broader industry issues and initiatives.  The Director’s scope of responsibilities includes messaging, media relations, campaigns and the development of multimedia collateral materials.

The ideal candidate will have strong proactive strategic communications skills; a passion for publishing and education; nimble, compelling writing abilities; a track record of achieving high-impact results; and the desire to play a key role in growing a new communications operation.

Main duties:

- Initiate and produce integrated communications strategies to support regional/national advocacy efforts and to raise awareness of the value of educational and other publishing.

- Develop key positioning/messaging; produce a high volume of complementary written materials for diverse content platforms including white papers, brochures, one-sheets, member communications, web content and releases.  Work closely with other AAP staff on creating integrated multimedia materials related to policy and initiatives.

- Manage responsive and proactive media relations activities across print, broadcast, digital and social channels.  Responsible for achieving defined, measurable goals through conceiving, driving and securing targeted outreach; effectively managing incoming inquiries; and enterprising innovative opportunities.  Expand AAP’s reach into all appropriate social media channels.

- Produce, manage and expand content for assigned areas on the AAP public and member websites; serve as a core member of the AAP steering committee leading the expansion of the sites.

- Collaborate with AAP member companies to identify communications needs, generate deliverables to serve their interests and engage them in broader communications strategies and tactics.

- Provide advance and on-site PR support for various AAP industry events.

- Represent AAP senior leadership in meetings, conferences and other external settings. 

Required/Desired experience:

Required:  Minimum five years’ experience in communications full-time staff positions with progressively higher authority and growing scope of responsibility.

-Must be able to demonstrate history of leadership or primary involvement in corporate communications, reputation management, internal communications and/or public affairs.

-Must have significant, wide-reaching media relations experience as the lead media liaison for issues/projects at one or more organizations.  Portfolio must include placements that demonstrate:

1)     Track record of securing and managing coverage that provided fair exposure and voice to your organization’s position on issue(s), preferably around high-profile, sensitive and/or complex policy subjects

2)     Proactively generated feature and/or profile placements, ideally on topics/angles not commonly covered

3)     Results-based relationships with journalists in print, broadcast and digital media

4)     Experience as spokesperson

5)     Strategic use of social media to advance positions 

Trade association or advocacy organization and/or Capitol Hill experience all strongly preferred.

College degree required.

Key attributes/skills:

- Communications professional with proven experience in delivering high-impact results.  Ability to shape, sell through and execute longterm communications strategies that achieve goals across a breadth of disparate internal and external stakeholders requiring multiple tactics, elements and deadlines.  Able to see around corners.

- A powerful, competent and confident writer:  Must be able to synthesize complex information and then frame, write and edit compelling multiplatform materials on a variety of topics, in a variety of formats and a variety of “voices” on a rapid, first-take basis.  Previous experience as a beat journalist helpful.

- Strong self-starter with proactive, entrepreneurial approach to owning and growing a scope of responsibilities.  Able to identify communications opportunities within rapidly-moving broader AAP organization and effectively secure buy-in from staff and members.

- A confident problem solver who brings creative, viable solutions to complex situations.  Obsessive about detail, accuracy and follow-up.  Comfortable working under pressure, on deadline and in a SWAT capacity with breaking issues and crises.

- Brings a curiosity about best practices and new concepts in communications, displays a demonstrable learning curve about such opportunities and translates this knowledge into strategic action in the workplace.

- Must bring strong interest in publishing and, specifically, content being produced for the K-12 and higher education settings.

- Ability to appreciate and work through the unique nature of membership organizations.  The ideal person will effectively demonstrate the credibility, knowledge, skills-based self-assurance and delivered accomplishments to win the trust, endorsement and cooperation of staff, external contacts and AAP members.

- Ability to work with and help drive culture change.

- Willing to work occasional late hours and weekends.  Occasional out of town travel.

- This position is based at AAP headquarters in Washington, DC with a Monday-Friday workweek.  Telework is not possible with this opening. 

About AAP:

AAP is centrally located in a modern office facility in the Mount Vernon Square/Chinatown area, convenient to Metro and bus lines.  The building has an on-site gym (free to employees) and on-site garage (fee required).

AAP offers competitive salary commensurate with experience and skills and a full benefits package.  No relocation available.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter explaining your qualifications for this position, your resume and at least three (3) distinct writing samples to asporkin(at)publishers(dot)org . Include “Director, Communications Opening” in the Subject line.  Resumes received without cover letters and/or writing samples will be deleted.  Please, no phone calls.  Only those applicants who meet the position’s qualifications will be contacted for follow-up.   Full listing: http://publishers.org/careers/ (PF tipster)