External Communications Manager

We're hiring a savvy, strategic leader to shape and execute external communications for the Port of Portland!

In this role you'll support and guide a team of four skilled communicators and content creators to raise awareness of and help move the Port's ambitious agenda for our region.

The big things we're looking for in this role:

• Comfort and familiarity with the key community, business, and policy issues alive in our region.
• A track record of supporting great teams to get even better - building amazing team culture and driving exceptional performance.
• Outstanding writing and editorial direction (you get to do both in this job).
  
  

About the Port of Portland
With our three airports (including PDX), three active marine terminals, and six business parks, the Port of Portland is a vital engine for the region's economy. Across all areas of our work, we prioritize creating good jobs and opportunity for local businesses and improving quality of life for everyone who lives and works in our region. Our work, our commitment to our community, and our commitment to fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive, are shaped by our core values: leadership, inclusion, service, and safety.

• Communications Strategy
  • Establish strategic direction of the Port's external communications team.
  • Lead the development of integrated communications strategies for the Port of Portland and PDX.
  • Partner with internal teams to ensure brand and message alignment and provide strategic guidance on when and how to show up across earned and owned channels.
  • Prioritize key narratives and establish a clear, consistent voice that reflects the Port's mission and values. Includes writing foundational messaging and materials.
• Media Relations and Issue Management
  • Serve as spokesperson for Port-wide issues and areas of focus.
  • Collaborate with communication leads on messaging and response strategies for emerging policy or reputational issues.
  • Share 24/7 media assistance on a rotating, on-call basis, including for weather-related issues and emergency response.
• Executive Communications and Strategic Counsel to Port Partners
  • In collaboration with subject matter experts and communication leads, craft external-facing messaging and materials for executives.
  • Prepare executives for media interviews and other speaking engagements.
  • Provide strategic communications counsel and support to internal stakeholders to ensure message and brand consistency.
• Management
  • Manage a team of four professionals responsible for storytelling across all of the Port and PDX's communication channels, including social media, media relations, digital content, and video.
  • Help foster collaborative team culture within external communications team and across Corporate Communications.
  • Support staff development through coaching, mentorship, and adoption of best practices in communications.
  • Identify ways to improve workflows, effectiveness, and impact.
  • Responsible for all supervisory actions, including performance management and hiring.

Education, Experience, & Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public or Media Relations, or related field
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in communications, public relations, marketing, advertising, or related field; or, the equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in a mid-level management role.
• Must successfully pass and maintain clearance of a comprehensive Criminal History Records Check and a Security Threat Assessment for a PDX Security Badge, are required.

• Demonstrate commitment to valuing differences among individuals and a passion for being inclusive.
• Show the utmost respect for others and act as a team player.
• Expertise in message development, integrated planning, and adapting content across diverse platforms and audiences.
• Experience in media relations, digital strategies, and video storytelling.
• Skilled in crisis communications and knowledgeable about regional public policy issues.
• Strong oral/written communication skills, with senior-level time management, and organizational abilities.
• Proficiency in social media and digital content strategy.

Compensation: Our organization adheres to established salary ranges for each position to ensure equitable pay practices. However, final offers are determined based on various factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and considerations of internal pay equity.

Selection Process (tentative schedule):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources the week of August 4, 2025.
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials.
3. Our goal is to schedule virtual first round of interviews with candidates who successfully passed the SME evaluation week of August 18.

About us:

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region's success. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.