Director of Communications

### Job Title:
Director of Communications

### Reports To:
SVP, Marketing and Communications

### Position Summary:
A strategic leader in Visit Alexandria’s award-winning Marketing & Communications (MarComm) Department, the Director of Communications develops and leads communications and content strategies and serves as a project manager across numerous organization-wide initiatives. Works closely with members of the MarComm team and the senior leadership team and supports an integrated approach across paid, earned, and owned channels. Manages communications team members and external media relations and visitor guide agency. Serves as day-to-day media relations and communications strategy lead. Creates messaging and targeting strategies to communicate key messages to our key audiences of leisure visitors, meeting and event planners, conference attendees, and travel trade – domestically and internationally. The Director of Communications is required to live in or relocate to the Washington, D.C. region, within a reasonable distance of Alexandria, VA, to adhere to the hybrid schedule and journalist hosting responsibilities.

### About Visit Alexandria
Visit Alexandria is the City of Alexandria’s not-for-profit destination marketing organization (DMO), promoting Alexandria, Virginia, as a premier destination for tourism and meetings. Our organizational culture values teamwork, strategy, creativity, and innovation centered on a passion for our community.

Named a 2024 Top U.S. City by the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards and a 2024 Top 3 Best Small City by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel and a walkable lifestyle—a welcoming escape adjacent to our nation’s capital. With a nationally designated historic district founded in 1749, Alexandria is home to more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques alongside intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront. At the heart of it all is bustling King Street, a walkable mile recognized as one of the “Great Streets” of America. Visitors can explore vibrant neighborhoods beyond Old Town, trace George Washington and the Founding Fathers’ footsteps, and follow the stories of Black Americans who shaped the history of Alexandria and the United States.

### Essential Duties and Responsibilities

#### Communications

• Leads a PR-first storytelling approach for media relations, content development, and more, fostering a team culture of curiosity and enthusiasm to explore and uncover new and trending experiences throughout the city.
• Ensures communications strategies are grounded in Visit Alexandria’s brand strategy, making a positive emotional connection with target audiences, uniquely identifying Alexandria from its competitors, and promoting Alexandria as a compelling destination.
• Oversees the development and evolution of key messages for the destination and major initiatives, addressing core audiences including visitors, meeting planners, travel trade, journalists, and members.
• Sets communications and PR goals, objectives, and strategies and manages organization-wide communications initiatives.
• Serves as day-to-day media relations and communications strategy lead.
• Oversees the development and project management of seasonal content timelines and annual PR pitching calendar.
• Leads communications and content planning for Visit Alexandria’s member promotions and major events.
• Develops strong relationships with Visit Alexandria member businesses and business associations, uncovering trends and story ideas.
• Directs website editorial content, working closely with the Sr. Digital Content Manager and PR and Communications Manager.
• Oversees production of the Official Alexandria Visitor Guide. Works with agency partners and Visit Alexandria’s membership team to generate revenue through advertising opportunities.
• Advises Director of Marketing on photo and video asset needs for editorial use.
• Contributes writing for special projects.

#### Media Relations

• Oversees the creation and execution of media relations strategies, working with PR agency of record and PR and Communications Manager.
• Manages media requests and maintains strong relationships with journalists across the international, national, regional, and local media landscape.
• Cultivates strong destination storytelling and spearheads the creation of press materials.
• Secures and oversees the production of domestic and international familiarization (FAM) trips and individual press trips.
• Serves as a member of the Northern Virginia Tourism Partnership (NVTP) PR committee and attends occasional media missions.
• Works with regional TV producers to plan and arrange broadcast segments.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of PR tools for media (i.e. digital press kits, image galleries, briefing sheets).
• Maintains and updates organizational media lists regularly.
• Manages Visit Alexandria’s crisis communications plan.
• Acts as an official spokesperson in media interviews and speaking engagements.

#### Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manages the hiring, management, and evaluation of communications staff.
• Direct reports include the Senior Digital Content Manager and PR and Communications Manager.
• Manages external PR agency and visitor guide publisher.
• Establishes objectives, coaches, and counsels direct reports in line with organizational professional development priorities.

#### Leadership and Project Management

• Serves on Visit Alexandria’s leadership team.
• Works closely with the SVP, Marketing & Communications to help set goals, shape strategy, manage budget, and report results.
• Ensures consistent brand positioning and storytelling across communications channels.
• Oversees the PR and Communications Manager on project management of inter-departmental timelines.
• Represents Visit Alexandria in various capacities, including tourism committees and boards.
• Oversees annual travel and tourism industry award applications.

#### Financial and Administrative

• Manages and ensures efficient use of budget for communications programs.
• Tracks PR efforts in CRM and reports to key stakeholders.
• Oversees monthly communications department reports.

### Qualifications

• 5 to 10 years of communications experience.
• At least 3 years of management experience.
• B.A. degree in communications, PR, journalism, or a related field.
• Demonstrated strength in media relations.
• Excellent project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strategic approach with experience setting goals and managing complex communications projects.
• Strong storytelling ability with outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and time management skills.
• Experience managing vendors and contractors preferred.
• Positive energy and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Available to work occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Crisis communications experience preferred.
• Familiarity with Alexandria or the tourism/hospitality industry is a plus.

### Compensation and Work Environment

• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Full insurance package including health, dental, vision, and disability.
• 401(k) match up to 12% after one year.
• Generous vacation and paid leave policies.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid parking or Metro public transit benefit.
• Modern office facility with great amenities.
• Hybrid work model (in-office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays; remote most Mondays and Fridays).

### To Apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] with “Director of Communications” in the subject line. Please include how you learned about this job posting. No unsolicited phone calls, direct messages to staff, or office visits, please.