Senior Director, Communications and Marketing

About NAMA:

Founded in 1936, the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) represents the $34.9 billion U.S. convenience services industry. The convenience services industry consists of service operator companies that meet consumers' nutrition and retail needs through vending, micro markets; coffee, tea, water; and pantry services. With nearly 1,000 member companies — including many of the world’s most recognized brands – NAMA provides advocacy, education, and research for its membership.

Summary of Position:

NAMA seeks a Senior Director of Communications and Marketing to join its high-energy, results-driven team. Representing the U.S. Convenience Services Industry, the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing will direct, manage and participate in the planning, creation, and implementation of omnichannel public affairs, media relations, communications, and marketing initiatives to grow industry awareness with key publics, serve member recruitment and engagement needs, and drive the association’s business objectives. The Senior Director of Communications and Marketing will be highly collaborative, partnering with cross-functional teams to create and deliver earned media, strategic content and messaging for the association including external communications materials, executive communication, reports, digital assets, and more.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Direct, manage, and appropriately contribute to all communications and marketing functions across a matrixed organization and diverse issue set.
• Increase NAMA and NAMA Foundation visibility through the development and execution of creative, high-impact member communications, program marketing, public affairs, and earned media strategies.
• Evaluate NAMA’s current position in the market, identify gaps, and set goals for a thriving, growth-oriented future.
• Drive NAMA’s influence on policy issues by increasing industry and association brand recognition and member engagement.
• Lead NAMA content and message strategy based on advocacy goals, member needs, business objectives, and best practices.
• Contribute to member recruitment and program participation strategy, in partnership with the Membership, Programs and Services teams, to deliver member value and realize revenue goals.  
• Personally handle the creation of executive level correspondence, speeches, periodic columns, Op-eds, Board presentations and communications, published material and other work products in multiple mediums.
• Develop strategic marketing programs for key revenue streams within NAMA to achieve operational and financial objectives.
• Oversee cross-platform, traditional and rich-media (graphic, audio, video) content creation and editorial leadership for NAMA products including editorials and executive positioning, NAMAnow.org and social media platforms, the quarterly In Touch magazine, and member e-newsletters.
• Develop a strong network of media contacts and establish NAMA as subject matter experts to solicit industry news coverage.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or significant time spent in a similar role.
• Seven-to-ten years of experience in leading broad-based communications associated with trade associations, public affairs, government relations, or political campaign marketing or communications.
• Superb organizational and interpersonal skills combined with the ability to diplomatically prioritize demands.
• Demonstrated success in leading a service function or organization to internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience managing staff as well as multiple, simultaneous projects for internal clients.
• Demonstrated aptitude and prowess for written and oral communication.
• Experience working with reporters and serving as an on-the-record spokesperson.
• Experience with content management and media intelligence platforms.

Behavioral Requirements:

• Highly collaborative style; experience developing and implementing communications strategies.
• Innate curiosity and passion to learn the industry to create and drive content to meet member informational needs.
• The analytical abilities necessary to gather key business and user insights and apply strategic skills to create a long-term vision for the content that’s generated. A high-level thinker who has a penchant for keeping track of details is an ideal candidate for this job.
• Possess proven understanding and capability for effective financial management and business line profitability.
• Proven digital competence including critical use of electronic media for communication.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives.
• Standout idea generator and problem solver with excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Possess organizational savvy, understand the dynamics of the organization and its commitment to members and use that information to establish alliances to achieve organizational objectives.
• A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives, concurrently.
• High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, association members, volunteers, and vendors.

If you were working with us, here are some of the things you would have done this week:

• Worked with the CEO and leadership team to promote industry innovation and advocacy objectives.
• Spoken with members to learn and promote their stories to influencers and decisionmakers.
• Engaged media to build the profile of the convenience services industry.
• Created executive level communication work product in various mediums (print, electronic, in-person etc.).
• Led omnichannel communications and marketing to cultivate member and nonmember affinity for NAMA.
• Placed industry experts input opportunities with local and national media coverage of relevant topics/stories.
• Devised and/or oversaw execution of a membership appeal, NAMA Show promotion and launch of a new product, coordinating synergies and messaging to advance brand value and impact.  

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements of the Job

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers, handle and/or feel objects, handle tools and/or controls, and talk and/or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is required to engage in extensive walking at multiple trade shows throughout the year. In addition, long periods of standing are required.
• Must be able to travel occasionally.

NAMA is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, and other factors protected by law.