Senior Strategic Communications Manager

About the Role

Our team is seeking a Senior Strategic Communications Manager to join our Strategic Communications program, a global team passionate about putting people first in planning and infrastructure. As a full-service communications, engagement, and creative practice, we develop and implement ideas to bring people together in projects of every size and sector, fostering understanding and building connected, equitable, and sustainable communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of project communication and engagement strategies and plans for large and complex projects, including representing HDR in client meetings.
• Develop and manage communications task proposals, scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Provide strategic counsel to project teams, aligning recommendations with community priorities and objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to client leadership, boards, and governing bodies on communications, stakeholder engagement, and public-facing issues.
• Define messaging strategies for talking points, media releases, social media, project materials, and video scripts.
• Drive technology-forward engagement solutions to improve project outcomes, public participation, and stakeholder understanding.
• Lead interdisciplinary teams to deliver physical, digital, and experiential communications products.
• Plan and manage public meetings, hearings, open houses, workshops, and advisory committees.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with teams, subconsultants, and clients.
• Manage subconsultants and ensure work quality.
• Represent HDR in professional associations and industry events.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant industry experience, including management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a positive outlook.
• High aptitude for managing and solving tactical issues.
• Commitment to HDR’s employee-owned culture.
• Comfortable working with senior leaders and managing cross-functional efforts.
• Ability to operate strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Experience with flood risk, drinking water, wastewater, power, data center, gas, or terminal communications.
• Working knowledge of public administration, funding, federal programs, policy development, and program management.

Skills

• Strategic communications consulting.
• Project management.
• Stakeholder engagement.
• Public relations and media management.
• Technology-forward engagement solutions.
• Interdisciplinary team leadership.

Primary Location: United States-Texas-Houston
Industry: Strategic Communications
Schedule: Full-time
Employee Status: Regular
Business Class: Strategic Communications
Job Posting Date: Oct 22, 2026