Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Government Relations

About the position

We are seeking an experienced leader to fill the role of Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Government Relations. This position demands a proactive, highly motivated individual who will spearhead our efforts to elevate Akima's brand portfolio, cultivate strong relationships with senior Federal government stakeholders, enhance shareholder and employee engagement, and ultimately propel company growth. This position requires a comprehensive understanding of marketing, communications, government relations, and industry engagement, particularly within the federal contracting sector. Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Government Relations will play an integral role in shaping our growth trajectory. You will lead a diverse team of marketing, communications, creative design, and stakeholder engagement professionals, providing vision, mentorship, guidance, and individual support. If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for driving impact and influencing policy, we encourage you to apply for this key leadership position.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes comprehensive marketing strategies tailored to target audiences and channels to enhance the Akima's visibility, reputation, and brand recognition.
• Directs branding initiatives to effectively position Akima as a leader in the Federal sector, differentiating it from its competitors and establishing thought leadership.
• Strategizes and collaborates with company subject matter experts to develop compelling thought leadership for dissemination through various platforms including publications, speaking engagements, and webinars.
• Utilizes sophisticated analytics tools to continually monitor and optimize marketing program outcomes, including strategic allocation of resources and program adjustments based on detailed analysis of historical performance data and results.
• Leverages digital marketing tools and analytics to drive results through social media outreach and engagement initiatives.
• Leads government relations efforts by engaging with policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to advocate for policies supporting Akima's objectives.
• Collaborates with Akima's Competitive and Market Intelligence function to gather data-driven insights on Federal spending and forecasts, and provides corporate leadership recommendations on which Government organizations and programs to target for maximum growth.
• Drives innovation in identifying and seizing emerging opportunities within the Federal market, continually enhancing go-to-market strategies from a marketing and government relations standpoint in response to evolving market dynamics.
• Identifies and prioritizes industry groups, professional societies, conferences, trade events, and other outreach and networking activities to enhance Akima's brand visibility and industry influence.
• Leads and manages all internal corporate events, oversee company charitable initiatives and events, manage shareholder programs, and coordinate select employee outreach initiatives such as recruiting campaigns and employee events.
• Develops and implements internal communication strategies to ensure alignment and engagement across the organization, fostering a cohesive company culture and effective dissemination of key messages.
• Oversees crisis communications planning and execution, ensuring timely and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders during challenging situations.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment of messaging and branding across all internal and external communications channels.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, political science, business administration, or a related field from an accredited university. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, government relations, and industry engagement, with a focus on federal contracting.
• Strong understanding of branding principles and strategies for promoting organizational reputation and brand identity.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing effective branding initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing full lifecycle marketing plans including creating content that drives demand and engagement.
• Proficiency in digital marketing, including knowledge of emerging trends, technologies, and methodologies for digital marketing, content creation, and social media.
• In-depth knowledge of federal contracting processes and regulations.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, manage stakeholders effectively, and communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong foundation in navigating complex corporate cross-functional teams to drive and accomplish strategic goals and visions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Nice-to-haves

• Familiarity with other relevant software or tools commonly used in the role is a plus.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to multi-task.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer
• Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws