DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS - Military veterans preferred

Tampa Port Authority


Description:

Port Tampa Bay is seeking a strategic, creative, and results-oriented Director of Communications to lead our communications strategy, oversee media relations, and ensure consistent, compelling messaging across all channels. This individual will play a key role in shaping our public image, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and driving brand awareness. If you're a seasoned communications professional with a strong and effective public and media relations background — we want to hear from you!

What You'll Do:

• Lead communications strategy across media, digital, and internal channels
• Oversee press relations, storytelling, and brand consistency
• Analyze communication efforts and provide insights for continuous improvement
• Drive engagement with diverse stakeholders

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressive experience in communications, with at least 5 years in a supervisory role.
• Experience in the Maritime industry or experience working in various industries such as shipping, cargo, cruise, consumer goods, frozen foods, distribution, agriculture, petroleum, aggregates and/or phosphate.
• Proven track record of managing media relations and strategic communications.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience with digital strategy, including social media and analytics.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
• Crisis communications experience.

Why Port Tampa Bay?

At Port Tampa Bay, you'll play a central role in shaping the future of one of the fastest-growing ports in the Southeast U.S. Join a dynamic team and get the opportunity to impact global trade, work with top-tier industry players, and help drive economic growth for the region. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative, mission-driven work environment.

Scope & Purpose:

The Director of Communications is responsible for the development and implementation of a professional public relations program that presents a positive image of Port Tampa Bay to the media and community. The incumbent administers a comprehensive program covering all aspects of Port Tampa Bay missions, goals, objectives, operations and programs. This employee acts as a spokesperson on all port public affairs issues and works on special projects that enhance the public profile of Port Tampa Bay. The incumbent performs a variety of difficult and complex research and writes or edits major news releases, speeches and related educational/informational materials. He/she supervises the activities of staff in conducting public relations and informational activities. This employee exerts initiative and independent judgment in developing, evaluating and presenting public relations ideas within broadly established objectives and policies. The incumbent must have training and knowledge in communications crisis management.

Essential Functions & Duties:

• Collaborates with executive leadership, board of directors, and/or other stakeholders to develop a public information strategy and guidelines for the organization.
• Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates an extensive public relations, information and education program covering all phases of Port Tampa Bay operations.
• Develops and implements a communications strategy for the corporation that builds and maintains a positive corporate brand.
• Collaborates with executives to advise and counsel them on public relations techniques, publicity programs, demographic trends, and potential problems and opportunities.
• Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates all social media communications and message development to align with other communications such as the website postings and responsible for aligning the CEO's social media.
• Coordinates the development and implementation of media strategies and communication activities to support and promote PTB programs, projects and events.
• Prepares or edits speeches and media releases, arranges news conferences and responds to media requests.
• Develops and maintains a network of contacts and relationships with media representatives locally, regionally and within the maritime industry.
• Works with Marketing Department to oversee and coordinates the preparation of promotional materials such as newsletter, videos, directories, annual and periodic reports, brochures and port maps, etc.
• Plans, directs, and promotes PTB by arranging or conducting speeches, tours, exhibits, and meetings with local and regional community groups.
• Prepares and manages the budget for public relations including oversight of third party digital mediums for social media boosted ad posts, PR Newswire and/or Business Wire and digital clipping and analytical services like Meltwater.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Must possess knowledge of the PTB government organization and functions; considerable knowledge of effective public and media relations; considerable knowledge of community and government resources;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with members of local and Tampa Bay print and broadcast media, civic groups, government officials and the general public; including regular meetings and interaction with members of print and broadcast media.
• Extensive ability to speak and write effectively; including writing and editing informational materials such as but not limited to, media/press releases;
• Considerable ability to manage public relations projects, personnel, and informational programs;
• Familiarity with Florida's public records' law;
• Demonstrated management skills with the ability to multi-task, the flexibility to adapt to frequent changes and to work outside of normal working hours;
• Ability to interact effectively, confidently, and professionally with PTB officials and employees, other government officials, PTB tenants, and the general public.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple priorities of extremely sensitive issues and complex situations.
• Must possess great organizational and time management skills.
• Must possess honesty, integrity, and sound professional judgment.

Minimum Training & Experience Requirements:

• Must have bachelor's degree with major course work in communications, journalism, public relations or related field;
• Ten years of public relations work with at least five years in a supervisory position.
• Experience in the Maritime industry is preferred or experience working in various industries such as shipping, cargo, cruise, consumer goods, frozen foods, distribution, agriculture, petroleum, aggregates and/or phosphate.
• Foreign language skills, particularly Spanish are desired but not required.
• Experience working for or with broadcast or print media is preferred.

Special Requirements:

Incumbent must possess a current and valid Florida Motor Vehicle Operator's License or capable of obtaining one within thirty days from the date of hire.

Must successfully pass a seaport security background check and compliance for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

Supervisory Responsibility:

Incumbent may supervise the performance of personnel and other staff within the department.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in a professional office environment with occasional site visits to commercial and industrial jobsites.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
  

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Frequent computer use.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-the-area and/or overnight travel may be expected.

Port Tampa Bay is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PTB is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law, except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement and the individual is unable to perform the essential functions of the position with reasonable accommodations.

ADA policy

It is the policy of PTB to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified disabled individuals who are employees and applicants for employment, unless it would cause undue hardship.

We kindly ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this role.

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