Unparalleled benefits package unique to SWA:
- Employee stock contributions, profit sharing, and other wealth-building benefits.
- 401k
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Flexible work approach catered to individual needs
- Paid time off
Required Education:
4 Year Degree
Internal Number: MD012023
SWA is seeking an experienced leader to drive firmwide communications and marketing operations. This new role at SWA will help to shape and define the overarching narrative for our business and to elevate and convey our services to all of the relevant audiences. As SWA’s Brand & Marketing Communications Director, you will help bolster external awareness of SWA as a leader in landscape architecture, urban design and planning, as well as support internal communications between studios. We are interested in an autonomous and creative-minded individual, preferably with experience related to landscape architecture, land planning, urban design, architecture or environmental design. This role will work with our executive leadership to concept and implement global communications, develop marketing and business strategies across multiple markets, and communicate our mission.
This critical role will ensure that SWA’s market-leading approach, design expertise, public outreach and research initiatives are well known by our clients and allied professionals. The right candidate will know how to create and share high-quality content (video, print, social media, etc.) and connect with our audience through media outreach, campaigns, announcements, editorial placements, events and speaking opportunities. The ideal candidate:
Takes an entrepreneurial approach to communications—meaning you can set a high-level strategy and get hands-on with the details
Thrives in a collaborative firm culture. Your marketing and storytelling skills will be an integral part of our diverse and talented team, guiding growth of our global practice
Displays excitement and ambition for a role that has access to some of the world’s most interesting projects, both nationally and internationally
Seeks an intellectually stimulating and creative work environment: we are an idea-driven firm; great design aspirations guide all aspects of our work
Key responsibilities:
Internal Communications:
Lead internal engagement strategies and create high-quality leadership communications and new content that effectively connects our employees and studios
Develop internal comms and employee engagement strategies and narratives for teams and channels
Partner with stakeholders to align comms approaches and strategy to the broader company roadmap
External Communications
Provide strategic insight, direction and counsel to key stakeholders and leaders on the communication approach and messaging, developing relationships to become a trusted partner and influence outcomes
Celebrate and promote our design talent and achievements and convey the strategic goals and purpose of our business services to the broader firm, media and industry
Set strategic direction for content distribution channels; identify and manage specialists as necessary to execute production and management
Measure and improve the effectiveness of messaging, channels, and practices Serve as copy editor and/or ghostwriter for leaders as necessary
Brand Stewardship and Leadership
Infuse the vision of the organization into all internal and external messaging
Continually and meaningfully connect “the why” to “the what” in brand communications
Drive team building and mentorship for firmwide marketing staff
Work collaboratively with a diversely skilled team of photographers, graphic designers, marketing staff, resource librarian and videographers
Plan, lead, curate, collaborate and assist in the creation of digital, video, audio and print content
Make sure all company materials have consistent and positive messaging and branding
In concert with the CFO, oversee the marketing and communications budget
Required skills and attributes:
Superior storytelling skills to engage designers, craft a brief and design compelling communication campaigns around projects, outreach initiatives or research endeavors
Ability to understand and integrate into the firm’s unique multi-studio culture
Self-driven, creative individual with ability to generate ideas, self-manage, take direction and proactively direct on-going communications and marketing initiatives
Professional demeanor with a positive, solution-seeking attitude and sense of personal responsibility
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to plan and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
In-depth knowledge of best writing and messaging practices for business correspondence, public relations, advertising, marketing and sales copy and social media
Strong technical and persuasive writing, editing and proofreading skills
Demonstrated results getting story placements and media coverage and managing crisis communications
Experience leading and motivating staff to produce high-level, brand-driven content
Analytical skills to solve problems and find the best way to convey a message
An ability to communicate cross-generationally
The technological ability to work on a variety of digital platforms and also create web and mobile content
Strong writing and editing skills, with a capacity for SEO-friendly headlines and content
Experience using CRM to capture and manage leads Required experience / education:
Candidates should have at least 10 years experience in communications, public relations, marketing, advertising or other relevant industries.
Candidate should have some firsthand knowledge of current software and hardware systems used in the creation of videos, graphic campaigns, desktop publishing, social media campaigns, website design and maintenance
Background in creative writing, editing and publishing
Must have at least a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, advertising, business administration, public relations or another relevant discipline. Experience in the fields of landscape architecture, architecture or related design fields a plus
The position will have the opportunity to work remotely or from one of SWA’s eight design studios
To learn more join us at: www.swagroup.com
To apply for this position, please submit a resume, a cover letter outlining your approach to communications / marketing and the unique value you would bring to SWA, one writing sample and samples of marketing and communications (video, print, various media, etc.) material you have developed. To jobs@swagroup.com
SWA is a network of eight landscape architecture, planning and urban design studios across the US and China. Our independently led offices sit in major coastal cities and urban hubs across the globe. Collectively, SWA utilizes innovation, creativity, originality and research to create the most livable places for today and tomorrow.
