Senior Director, Communications & Marketing

The Senior Director of Communications and Marketing will lead the development and execution of an integrated strategy to elevate VIPC’s brand, engagement, and impact. Working in close collaboration with the operations team and VIPC leaders, this role will help define and build VIPC’s marketing structure, systems, and goals—providing strategic clarity and alignment across internal teams and the broader innovation ecosystem. Overseeing all communication functions—including content, branding, digital, events, and external relations—the Senior Director will drive cross-functional collaboration, manage key partnerships, and ensure all achievement of critical marketing metrics and outcomes. Leadership & Team Management ● Act as a key integrator and thought partner across VIPC divisions, effectively influencing to align priorities and drive enterprise-wide collaboration ● Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing plan tied to VIPC’s strategic goals. ● Directly manage the Communications and Marketing team. ● Establish and track clear performance metrics for team outputs, external engagement, and communications ROI with direct impact on organizational objectives. ● Manage the strategic integration of external partnerships into internal workflows, ensuring optimal support across creative development, digital engagement, and paid media initiatives. ● Oversee budgeting, planning, professional development, and cross-divisional collaboration efforts. ● Provide regular reports to the Executive Leadership team and Board of Directors on communications impact and initiatives. Branding, Advertising, and Digital Strategy ● Lead the refinement and consistent application of VIPC’s brand identity across all media and platforms. ● Establish metrics and reporting frameworks to measure communications impact and ROI. ● Oversee the creation and distribution of marketing materials, digital assets, and publications, including website, mobile, and emerging technologies. ● Direct the development and execution of targeted paid, owned, and earned media campaigns to increase VIPC’s visibility, stakeholder engagement, and lead generation efforts. ● Collaborate with state agencies and regional partners to integrate brand messaging and enhance the Commonwealth’s value proposition for early-stage technology innovation. ● Manage vendor relationships and budgets tied to advertising and brand development. Outreach, Ecosystem Awareness, and Customer Engagement ● Design and implement outreach strategies to grow engagement among key stakeholders. ● Lead the development and implementation of CRM strategy to support audience segmentation, targeted campaigns, and personalized communication, including content tagging, workflows, and automation for email and stakeholder engagement. ● Collaborate with the Data team to ensure a unified CRM experience across stakeholder touchpoints. ● Build and lead state-wide marketing collaboration with ESOs and other early-stage technology ecosystem partners, including VEDP, to amplify impact and improve Virginia’s reputation as an innovative state. ● Coordinate high-profile events and ecosystem programming to elevate Virginia’s and VIPC’s brand awareness for leadership in innovation. ● Analyze and report on outreach performance metrics to inform and adjust campaign strategies. Communications Management and Media Relations ● Demonstrate executive presence in all communications: translating complex ideas for diverse audiences while fostering trust and alignment across internal and external stakeholders. ● Serve as lead spokesperson and media strategist for VIPC, cultivating press relationships and securing earned media opportunities. ● Develop and manage strategic media relations programs in collaboration with state partners to maximize VIPC’s exposure and brand value. ● Prepare executive leadership for media engagements with talking points, speeches, and presentations. ● Implement internal communications strategies to promote information sharing and alignment across VIPC divisions. Qualifications: ● Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or related field is required; an advanced degree is preferred. ● Minimum 15-20 years of experience in communications messaging, design and development in Digital, Social Media, Multi-Media, Video, Print, Convention Display, and emerging communication technologies (national / international experience preferred). ● Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier leadership, reporters, and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements. ● Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print, online and video communications media. ● Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization’s mission and goals. ● Experience with leveraging new media technologies for both day-to-day communications and event design and presentations. ● A minimum of 10 years of experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print, video and multi-media publications. ● Track record for translating strategies into action plans and output. ● Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team. ● Experience collaborating with external partners, agencies, and vendors as a united team VIPC will not now, or in the future, provide sponsorship for this role.

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