Communications Manager

Strategic communication, thought leadership, storytelling, and content development are critical to EnterpriseKC’s ability to build brand awareness, communicate differentiated value, and accelerate engagement across industry clusters, stakeholders, and operating system applications.

The Marketing Communications Manager’s mission is to wake up every morning thinking about how to clearly, consistently, and compellingly communicate the EnterpriseKC story across all communication channels and stakeholder groups. The individual serves as a strategic storyteller and content architect responsible for translating complex systems, platforms, initiatives, and cluster activities into digestible, engaging, and actionable narratives.

The Marketing Communications Manager will lead EKC’s written communications strategy and execution including quarterly reports, thought documents, blogs, articles, social media content, stakeholder communications, executive communications, and publication management. The role is responsible for ensuring that all written communications reinforce EKC’s brand identity, positioning, operating system narrative, and strategic objectives while maintaining consistency in voice, tone, and messaging.

The individual will work closely with the Senior Director – Vision and Brand, Graphic Artist / Visual Storyteller, Product Owners, Cluster Operatives, and Pillar Leaders to ensure communications are coordinated, strategically aligned, visually reinforced, and effectively distributed to target audiences.

Ownership

• Digital media content and strategy advisement.
• EKC written communications strategy and execution.
• EKC quarterly reports and publication management.
• Thought Docs, white papers, blogs, and executive narratives.
• Social media content and production integrated into larger editorial calendar.
• Messaging consistency across all communication channels.
• Stakeholder and product-specific storytelling and communications.
• Editorial calendar management.
• Media outreach including press releases, pitches and other supporting content.
• Website and landing page written content.
• Internal content review and editorial quality standards.
• Support of marketing campaigns for EKC products, tools, and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with EKC’s brand, mission, and operating system for economic development.
• Create and manage all EKC written communications including quarterly reports, Thought Docs, blogs, articles, newsletters, executive summaries, one-pagers, testimonials, press releases, and Landing Pages.
• Translate complex systems, technical concepts, economic development strategies, and cluster initiatives into compelling and understandable narratives for diverse stakeholder groups.
• Develop stakeholder-specific messaging and communications strategies for enterprise, education, government, philanthropic, workforce, and community audiences.
• Maintain and manage a social media editorial calendar aligned to EKC priorities, products, events, and campaigns.
• Create content strategies to support adoption and expansion of EKC operating system applications including the DataSphere, TalentSphere, Heartland Cyber Range, xRange, and IdeaSphere.
• Collaborate with the Graphic Artist / Visual Storyteller to ensure written content and visual storytelling are aligned and reinforce one another.
• Work closely with the Senior Director – Vision and Brand to ensure all communications support EKC’s positioning, messaging architecture, and strategic priorities.
• Conduct ongoing reviews and audits of existing marketing materials, website content, landing pages, publications, and communication assets to identify inconsistencies, messaging gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Establish and maintain editorial standards, writing guidelines, and messaging consistency across all internal and external communications.
• Develop executive talking points, speeches, presentation narratives, and stakeholder communication materials as needed.
• Assist in the development and execution of integrated marketing and awareness campaigns.
• Support event communications including promotional materials, recaps, media coordination, and stakeholder follow-up communications.
• Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, industry publications, and strategic communication partners.
• Monitor communication trends, engagement metrics, and stakeholder feedback to improve communication effectiveness.
• Copyedit content for grammar, clarity, and consistency across deliverables.

General Responsibilities

• Stay updated on the latest trends and best practices in digital content, making recommendations on ways to better engage audiences.
• Remain current on issues impacting the targeted industry clusters and EKC strategic initiatives.
• Develop and execute project plans and coordinate communication timelines across multiple initiatives.
• Respond to internal and external communication requests in a timely and professional manner.
• Support cross-functional collaboration between Pillars, Product Teams, and Cluster initiatives.
• Identify business, market, technology, and workforce trends utilizing multiple data sources.
• Maintain organized communication archives, editorial calendars, publication schedules, and version control processes.
• Protect the confidentiality of client, partner, and company information.
• Develop weekly Progress, Problems, Plans (P3) reports.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Expected Outcomes

• EKC is recognized as a thought leader in economic development, enterprise growth, workforce systems, and cluster-based innovation.
• EKC communications consistently and clearly articulate the organization’s operating system for economic development and differentiators.
• Quarterly reports and Thought Docs become recognized, high-value regional and national thought leadership assets.
• Stakeholders clearly understand EKC’s mission, products, platforms, and value proposition.
• Increased online engagement, measured by agreed upon channel-specific metrics. Written communications consistently align with EKC brand standards, messaging architecture, and stakeholder expectations.
• EKC products and strategic initiatives experience increased awareness, engagement, and adoption through effective communications.
• All EKC communications maintain a high standard of professionalism, clarity, precision, and craftsmanship.

Key Metrics

• Quarterly report completion, quality, and distribution metrics.
• Thought Doc publication cadence and engagement.
• Social media impressions, engagement, and follower growth.
• Website and landing page content engagement metrics.
• Media placements and publication mentions.
• Stakeholder engagement with communications and publications.
• Content production timeliness and quality.
• Reduction in messaging inconsistency and communication rework.
• Product awareness and engagement metrics tied to communications initiatives.
• Email engagement including subscriptions, open rates, and click-through rates.

Attributes

• Smart, creative, and engaging.
• Results-oriented, action-oriented, and proactive.
• Inquisitive, life-long learner.
• Analytic, problem solver.
• Adaptability.
• Trustworthy, respects confidentiality.
• Personal accountability and high-performance standards.
• Polite, respectful and demonstrates good judgment when dealing with people.
• Passion for creating value, delivering above and beyond what is asked.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong storytelling and thought leadership writing ability.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple writing projects, deadlines, and communication initiatives.
• Experience writing blogs, white papers, executive summaries, reports, and social media content.
• Strong understanding of marketing communications, brand positioning, and public relations principles.
• Ability to translate complex technical, economic, and systems-level concepts into understandable narratives.
• Familiarity with content management systems, social media platforms, and publishing workflows.
• Strong interviewing and information synthesis skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, and editorial calendar management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and stakeholder groups.
• Familiarity with SaaS business models and technology-driven platforms preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, digital publishing platforms, and Teams skills.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours as needed.
• Ability to maintain high standards of quality, consistency, and professionalism under deadline pressure.