Airport Director II - Communications (Senior Communications Director)

Reporting to the Assistant General Manager, Communications & Marketing, the Airport Director II – Communications position (also referred to as Senior Communications Director) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Airport’s Communications Division, serving as a principal voice and senior communications authority for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

The Senior Communications Director is responsible for developing and executing proactive, integrated communications strategies that advance the Airport’s mission, strengthen its reputation, promote its operational and economic significance, and maintain public confidence. The position leads media relations, public information, strategic storytelling, executive communications, and crisis communications, ensuring that ATL’s priorities, accomplishments, initiatives, and operational developments are communicated accurately, effectively, and in a timely manner.

The Director is expected to take an active, forward-looking approach to media relations by identifying newsworthy developments, pitching stories to local, regional, national, and international media, cultivating strong relationships with journalists and editors, and securing meaningful earned media coverage. The position requires the ability to recognize emerging news opportunities, anticipate public and media interest, develop compelling story angles, and position the Airport as a credible and authoritative source on aviation, transportation, economic development, customer experience, and other matters relevant to ATL.

As a senior communications leader, the Director must exercise exceptional news judgment, editorial skill, responsiveness, and discretion. The position requires the ability to rapidly gather and verify information, develop clear and accurate messaging, prepare written materials under demanding deadlines, and respond effectively to breaking news, operational disruptions, sensitive issues, and reputational risks. The Director must be equally effective in proactive storytelling and time-sensitive communications, ensuring the Airport is prepared to communicate before, during, and after significant developments.

The Senior Communications Director advises the Assistant General Manager, Deputy General Manager, Airport executive leadership, and other designated officials on communications strategy, media positioning, emerging issues, public perception, and reputational considerations. The Director establishes communication priorities, manages departmental resources, directs assigned personnel, and ensures that communications activities are coordinated across Airport divisions and aligned with City policies and organizational objectives.

This position requires a high level of professional judgment, political and organizational awareness, writing proficiency, media relations expertise, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly visible, 24-hour airport environment.

Supervision Received:

Reports directly to the Assistant General Manager, Communications & Marketing. Works under general executive direction and is expected to exercise substantial independent judgment in managing daily communications operations, establishing media and communications priorities, responding to emerging issues, and recommending strategies to protect and advance the Airport’s reputation.

The Assistant General Manager establishes strategic objectives and organizational priorities, while the Senior Communications Director independently manages communications execution, media engagement, editorial decisions within delegated authority, and time-sensitive responses. The Director elevates significant, sensitive, or high-impact matters to executive leadership as appropriate and ensures that communications actions remain consistent with established policies, approved messaging, and delegated authority.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in related field, and six (6) years related work experience.

- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English, or a closely related field.
- A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in journalism, public relations, media relations, strategic communications, or a related field, including demonstrated experience managing media relationships, developing communications materials, and responding to media inquiries under deadline pressure.

Licensures and Certifications

Valid State Issued Driver's License required.

Preferred Requirements

- Demonstrated success pitching and securing proactive earned media coverage across print, television, radio, digital, and other relevant media platforms.
- Established professional relationships with journalists, editors, producers, and media organizations, with a demonstrated ability to generate story opportunities and secure meaningful coverage.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to develop compelling story pitches, press releases, statements, interview briefs, talking points, and executive communications under tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to manage breaking news, urgent media inquiries, crisis communications, and sensitive public information matters in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience preparing executives and subject-matter experts for interviews, serving as a spokesperson, and translating complex issues into concise, credible, and accessible messages.
- Experience in aviation, transportation, emergency public information, municipal government, or another highly visible, complex operating environment is preferred.
- Experience supervising communications staff, managing media relations programs, and establishing performance standards and rapid-response procedures is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to develop proactive communications strategies that generate positive, substantive coverage while maintaining credibility, accuracy, and appropriate balance.

Work Environment:

- The position operates in a fast-paced office and airport environment that requires frequent interaction with executive leadership, media representatives, operational personnel, and external stakeholders.
- The role requires the ability to respond to time-sensitive communications matters, work under pressure, and adjust priorities rapidly as news and operational conditions evolve. Evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call availability will be required during emergencies, major incidents, significant operational disruptions, and other high-priority communications situations.
- The position may require travel throughout the Airport campus and attendance at press conferences, media briefings, operational sites, and other locations where communications support is necessary. Work may occur indoors or outdoors and may involve exposure to varying weather and operational conditions.
- Physical lifting and sensorial capabilities are required to perform this job successfully.
- Physical Requirements: The position may require standing, walking, and carrying equipment or materials consistent with assigned duties. Any lifting, climbing, environmental exposure, or other physical requirements should be established in accordance with the actual essential functions of the position.
- Lifting Requirements: Light work, involving exertion of up to 20 pounds occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position requires sitting, standing, walking, lifting of 10+ pounds frequently.
- The position requires climbing, balancing, crouching, crawling or the use of stairs and ladders frequently.
- The position requires reaching/working overhead never or occasionally.
- This position requires the ability to work in inclement weather and in varying temperatures.
- The position may require the ability to work in a confined space.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.