Strategic Communications Business Class Lead - Resources (Power/ Industrial/ Waste)

This position is specific to a business unit within HDR called the Resources Business Group (RBG). This business group includes the following markets: Power, Waste and Industrial.

Primary Responsibilities

The primary duty of the Resources Business Group Strategic Communications Business Class Lead (BCL) will be to drive the implementation of a market-sector focused strategic communications program within the Resources Business Group. This position will report to the Resources Professional Services Cross Sector Director through an operating Area and will have dotted line reporting to the Strategic Communications Cross Sector Director. This individual will partner with the other business group Strategic Communications Leaders to coordinate Strategic Communications activities and initiatives that are tied to achieving goals for the practice across business groups. The BCL will leverage HDR's performance metric tools to monitor the health of the Resources Strategic Communications business class to help drive the success of the Business Group.

The Resources Strategic Communications BCL will work to define a Resources program that identifies market sector opportunities to raise HDR's technical excellence in Strategic Communications; addresses methods to deepen the company's market integration; foster growth strategies through geographic and market sector expansion; and identify key project opportunities. The BCL will work with market sector leaders, technical staff and clients to integrate Strategic Communications strategy and market delivery. The BCL will also be expected to regularly engage with clients, as well as serve in key leadership roles on select projects to maintain thought leadership status in the industry.

More specific duties include:

Project and Program Support Responsibilities - The selected candidate will serve as a technical focal point for the Resources Business Group to deliver strategic communications services to our clients in collaboration with other Resources business class leaders and cross sector directors. This individual will work closely with other technical Business Class Directors, Business Class Leads, Regional Directors, Market Sector Directors and Client Managers to help fulfill long-term growth goals while maintaining high quality deliverables. Additionally, other duties include technical support, quality oversight, project review (PARR) participation, recruitment and staff development, best practice development, project leadership, and principal-level program/project management.

Marketing and Business Development - As a cross sector representative, the BCL will support other Market Sector directors in developing strategic communications initiatives to inform and support strategic visions. Further, the BCL will develop his/her own strategic and tactical plans to address market opportunities and technology initiatives and help drive the business into geographies and service areas that are most appropriate to strengthen our overall program. Additional duties include supporting internal and external client relationships in ways that help identify and capitalize on select major pursuit opportunities. This position also supports select project capture planning efforts, pre-proposal discussions and/or meetings, and proposal preparation and coordination with technical and marketing staff, as well as presentations and negotiations, when appropriate.

Technical Staff Development and Alignment - This individual serves as the Resources subject-matter expert on strategic communications, and leads and defines initiatives and best practices including promotion and collaboration with HDR practice group. Participation and leadership in Project Approach and Resource Reviews (PARR) to manage technical risk and quality project delivery. The BCL will partner with regional and area (local) teams in the recruitment of key staff; mentoring and staff development (knowledge sharing); and aligning Strategic Communications staff with market opportunities and client needs.

• Support Resources Professional Services by providing company-wide leadership of technical capabilities within Strategic Communications.
• Support development and application of technical tools, technology, standards, recommended practices and techniques to enhance service quality and efficiency. Verify technical staff are aware of and monitoring emerging technologies.
• Support the assignment of qualified, experienced Strategic Communications staff to projects including the support of work sharing.
• Provide strategic and tactical business trends as well as developing and implementing strategic plans for Strategic Communications for Resources (Power, Waste and Industrial Market Sectors).
• Monitor Strategic Communications direction, adherence to policies and practices, quality, technical tools, recommended practices, project staffing and resource to workload allocation for Resources.
• Build and/or enhancing technical expertise and production capacity through recruitment, implementation, training, and knowledge transfer. Coordinate Strategic Communications hires with Business Group Leadership at the national, regional, area and local levels.
• Support facilitating Strategic Communications experts in support of client development, proposals, and project pursuits.
• Support and verify Strategic Communications experts in Resources represent HDR by active involvement in industry organizations and functions including presentations and publications. Oversee practice groups within and associated with Strategic Communications.
• Support the facilitation of knowledge transfer (i.e. lessons learned) for project delivery, processes, trends, successes, strengths and weaknesses.
• Monitor company-wide performance within Strategic Communications in Resources to achieve defined goals and support Business Group Leadership at the national, regional, area and local levels in monitoring project performance and implementation of corrective actions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years with practical communications experience in the Architecture & Engineering industry
• Experience in the development and management of a wide range of client relationships and specific programs and/or project pursuits.
• Demonstrated industry leadership in associations and in maintaining a visible profile in the relevant markets.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with client managers, business class leaders, business group directors and operations staff.
• Proven experience recruiting and leading staff; strong history of mentoring.
• An understanding of HDR's Business Classes, Cross Sectors, Market Sectors and Business Groups.
• Demonstrated relationships with Area Management teams.
• A Master's degree in a marketing or communications field.

Keyword(s): Business Class Lead, Resources, Resources Business Group, Strategic Communications, Public Involvement, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Outreach, Public Outreach, Public Relations

• Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in related field
• Maintains a professional or Engineering registration and has related technical experience
• Experienced in development and management of diverse teams
• Works cooperatively with other business class directors, operations managers, technical directors and marketing managers on business class efforts
• Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must