National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

Compensation

Full Description

Job Title: Vice President, Communications Organization: National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) About NEMA: The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents over 300 electrical equipment manufacturers that make safe, reliable, and efficient products and technologies that power, protect, connect, and light our world. Together, our members contribute a full 1% of U.S. GDP and directly provide over 580,000 American jobs, adding more than $330 billion to the U.S. economy. NEMA serves its members by living our core values in every aspect of our work: respect, integrity, teamwork, leadership, and agility. Position Overview: · The Vice President, Communications is responsible for shaping, executing, and scaling NEMA’s external communications strategy across advocacy and regulatory affairs, technical affairs, member programs, and business intelligence in support of NEMA’s mission and members. · This senior leadership role ensures a clear, consistent narrative across key audiences and translates complex policy, regulatory, economic, and technical priorities into compelling messaging and campaigns across NEMA’s earned, owned, and shared communications ecosystem. · The Vice President oversees brand, creative, earned media, content strategy, and executive communications, and ensures coordinated, high-impact communications that advance NEMA’s objectives and elevate the voice of the electroindustry. · The Vice President supervises and mentors a high-performing team of communications professionals, fostering a culture of urgency, ownership, excellence, and continuous improvement in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. · Working closely with NEMA’s President and CEO, and Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, the Vice President leads an executive communications agenda that elevates NEMA’s profile and visibility, strengthens relationships with key external audiences, and positions NEMA as a trusted authority on the electrical manufacturing industry. Partners with senior leadership to ensure communications solutions and services are integrated across all aspects of NEMA’s matrix operating model. · The successful candidate is strategic, decisive, highly collaborative, and results-oriented, with strong judgment, exceptional messaging skills, and deep experience navigating earned media, executive positioning, and issues management, with highly effective people leadership skills and experience. · The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Public Affiars, is based in Arlington, Virginia, and allows for a hybrid work schedule with a minimum of three days in office. Key Responsibilities: · Lead and execute a comprehensive external communications strategy aligned with NEMA’s mission, strategic plan, and advocacy priorities. · Translate complex policy, regulatory, economic, and technical issues into crisp, persuasive messaging for diverse audiences. · Oversee NEMA’s brand, creative direction, content strategy, and editorial quality across communications platforms and products. · Direct the strategic execution of a proactive communications program, including press releases, blog posts, social media content, advocacy campaigns, op-eds, infographics, graphics, video, and speaking engagement support. · Serve as a core member of NEMA’s Leadership Team and act as a trusted resource, advisor, and partner across the organization. · Work closely with NEMA’s President and CEO to develop and deliver an executive communications agenda that strengthens NEMA’s national profile and thought leadership. · Work closely with NEMA’s Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and the Government Relations team to amplify and elevate NEMA’s advocacy agenda to help achieve advocacy goals. · Cultivate and maintain relationships with reporters, media partners, and allied trade organizations; proactively identify opportunities to elevate NEMA’s message and expertise. · Serve as an on-the-record spokesperson for NEMA and lead media engagement, including issues management and crisis communications response. · Lead NEMA’s standards promotion program to effectively communicate NEMA’s leadership and value as a standards-developing organization to key audiences. · Direct NEMA’s member communicators’ network and serve as the primary communications liaison for member companies. · Oversee NEMA’s member communications channels and website to ensure editorial consistency, quality control, and message alignment. Tracks and adapts to emerging media platforms to optimize impact and currency of NEMA’s messaging. · Supervise, mentor, and develop a highly productive team of communications professionals; foster a culture of accountability, performance, and professional growth. · Manage the communications budget effectively, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to achieve strategic objectives. Experience and Qualifications: · Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public affairs, political science, or a related field required; graduate degree a plus. · Minimum of 10+ years of experience in communications, public affairs, advocacy communications, or related fields; trade association or government experience strongly preferred. · Demonstrated success leading communications strategy across earned, owned, and shared channels, including media relations, executive communications, and thought leadership. · Strong experience developing executive-level messaging and materials, including speeches, op-eds, talking points, rapid response statements, and strategic communications plans. · Proven ability to translate complex policy, technical, and regulatory issues into clear, compelling narratives and campaigns. · Strong media relations experience, including spokesperson responsibilities, reporter engagement, and issues/crisis communications management. · Experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment with high expectations and tight timelines. · Ability to collaborate across departments, incorporate feedback, and drive alignment and message discipline across stakeholders. · Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong executive presence, and sound judgment. · Familiarity with digital communications best practices, including content strategy, social media, and performance measurement; SEO knowledge a plus. · Strong computer skills; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, Hootsuite, and modern AI-enabled communications tools a plus. · Willingness and ability to model NEMA’s core values in all aspects of work: respect, integrity, teamwork, leadership, and agility. NEMA offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, including paid holidays, personal time, flexible working hours, 401(k) plan, health/dental insurance, health savings plan, and partial pre-tax parking/Metro subsidy. Veterans are encouraged to apply. EOE/M/F/V/D.