This position is a critical component of the Des Moines International Airport. Work is performed under supervision of the Executive Director with considerable leeway for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative. The person in this position is responsible for carrying out the public relations, marketing, and air service development functions of the Airport. He/she works with the external business public, external general public, Airport business affiliates and tenants, and internal Airport employees to increase the visibility of Des Moines International Airport and help attain the Airport's overall goals. This will be accomplished through a broad range of media relations activities, digital content creation, organization, and presentation, and air service business plan development. In addition to developing strong media relationships, this person will be creative, strategic and ambitious in his/her thinking for earned media and highly-effective, proactive story pitches - locally, regionally, and nationally. Strong airline personnel relationships will foster and direct aggressive air service development programs along with airline data mining software. The person in this position will be confident and consistent in the integration of messaging across all forms of communication channels, using those with the greatest impact toward achieving organizational goals.
Essential Job Functions:
Principal functions of an employee in this class are:

• Strategy: Implements a strategic plan that aligns with broader organizational communications, air service development, and marketing priorities that support service delivery and revenue generation efforts. Create and develop strategies for promoting Des Moines International Airport and/or services to the external flying public, business public, general public, and airport business affiliates and tenants, both current and future, thereby increasing awareness of local and regional opportunities.
• Media Relations: Develops and maintains productive working relationships with members of the media and works with executives and other staff to manage media efforts and relationships across multiple media markets in the region. Participates in the preparation and distribution of press materials. Supports the Executive Director through message development, interview coaching and preparation, etc.
• Public Affairs/Issues: Serves as on-the-record spokesperson when appropriate, and supports the Executive Director as the face of Des Moines International Airport, through media visibility, speaking opportunities, direct communication with government/policy leaders and other stakeholder outreach. Leads and supports all Public Affairs activities for the Airport across the Des Moines metropolitan area as well as at the state and national levels.
• Internal Communications: Supports executive level internal communication initiatives to include employee updates, employee newsletters and Authority Board communications.
• Digital Communications: Develops and implements a digital communications strategy for the Airport that reflects the priorities of the Airport and aligns with the organizational communications strategy. The digital communications strategy includes both web and social media content, and appropriate traffic generation for both. Produces relevant content for web and social platforms and manages curation and engagement through both.
• Crisis Communications: Serves as Public Information Officer in the event of an operational or reputational issue for the Airport, and coordinates with internal and external communications resources accordingly.
• Air Service Development: Work directly with airline personnel to develop and set goals for air service development that benefits business and leisure travel demands from Iowa's largest commercial service airport. Using airline data mining software, develop business plan presentations to maintain and increase domestic passenger and air cargo service. Meet with airline planning representatives to present route development opportunities in accordance with developed business plans.

• Marketing Content: Develops brand and creative content to support a variety of activities and advertising material used in external publications and media placements. Develops content to increase airline interest and entice further investigation in service opportunities. Develops content to increase the traveling public's awareness of the benefits of utilizing Airport provided services. Secures in-kind PSA placements. Coordinates resources necessary for the delivery of online and direct mail/direct response programs.
• Coordination with External Partners: Manages and supports collaborative working environment with external Airport business partners including, but not limited to, government affairs and communications agencies as well as creative and production vendors.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
The person in this position must:

• Be team focused
• Be highly organized and detail-oriented
• Possess strong interpersonal communication skills
• Possess strong written and oral communication skills
• Be motivational
• Be able to prioritize and problem solve
• Possess a working knowledge across a broad spectrum of marketing functions, including brand and creative marketing, direct mail and e-mail marketing, web-based services and mobile applications.
• Be an independent, self-starting individual requiring minimal supervision

Acceptable Experience, Training and Other Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, aviation management or a related discipline; and a minimum of 4 years' experience in communications, public relations, marketing, media relations, and/or air service development.

• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.

• Successful post-employment physical and drug test
• Successful background investigation to obtain unescorted airport identification/access privileges