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Senior Public Relations & Communications Manager

Company: Hayden Homes, LLC

Location: Redmond, OR

Career Area: Marketing

Education: Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business, or related field; Masters degree in Communications preferred

Experience: 7-10+ years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, or agency account management (homebuilding, real estate, politics or related industry a plus).

Travel: Travel is estimated at 2030% annually, including occasional overnight stays.

We are proud to be Great Place to Work Certified and selected as a Fortune 100 Best Workplaces!

How You Will Contribute:

The Senior Public Relations & Communications Manager will lead corporate communications, media relations, executive visibility, and reputation management across the Hayden Homes family of brands (Hayden Homes, Simplicity by Hayden Homes and First Story). This role is responsible for developing and executing integrated public relations strategies that strengthen brand awareness, support business growth, elevate executive thought leadership, and drive storytelling that connects our mission throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Responsibilities Include:

• Strategic Planning & Oversight
  • Develop and execute an annual PR and communications strategy including a year-round calendar aligned with company objectives, brand priorities, and key business milestones.
  • Lead agency relationships and partner with executive leadership to craft and deliver strategic narratives that strengthen brand reputation and drive business objectives.
  • Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging issues to proactively identify opportunities and mitigate risk.
• Media Relations
  • Build and maintain relationships across regional, national, trade, and industry media developing proactive outreach strategies that generate meaningful earned media coverage and increase brand visibility.
  • Serve as the primary media contact, coordinating timely responses to inquiries while identifying opportunities to position company leaders as trusted experts in housing, community development, workforce development, and corporate philanthropy.
  • Track, analyze, and report on media coverage, sentiment, and overall PR performance to inform ongoing strategy.
• Executive Communications
  • Develop and manage communications platforms for key executives, including the President, through speaking engagements, media interviews, award submissions, podcasts, and thought leadership opportunities.
  • Draft and deliver high-quality executive communications materials including speeches, talking points, op-eds, media statements, and presentations that reflect each leader's voice and priorities.
  • Ensure consistency and alignment of messaging across all executive communications and public-facing platforms.
• Community & Regional Communications
  • Lead communications planning for new community announcements, lead generation storytelling, partnerships, philanthropic initiatives, and First Story activities across all markets.
  • Collaborate with regional teams to identify and amplify local storytelling opportunities, while developing toolkits, templates, and best practices including press releases, media backgrounders, Q&As, pitch drafts, and image/caption packages to ensure consistency and quality.
  • Develop and manage processes that drive inter-departmental alignment and clear communication across all regions and markets.
• Agency & Vendor Management
  • Manage external public relations agency relationships, scopes of work, budgets, and performance expectations.
  • Collaborate with agency partners to develop and execute integrated campaigns that align with company objectives.
  • Evaluate agency performance and recommend strategic improvements to maximize impact and return on investment.
• Crisis Communications & Reputation Management
  • Develop and maintain crisis communication plans, protocols, and response frameworks to ensure the company is prepared to act swiftly and effectively when issues arise.
  • Partner with executive leadership, legal counsel, and operational teams to monitor reputational risks, manage sensitive communications issues, and provide strategic counsel on response approaches.
  • Lead all communication efforts during crisis situations to protect and strengthen company reputation.
• Training & Internal Readiness
  • Develop and facilitate media training and spokesperson readiness programs for executives and regional leaders.
  • Establish clear communication processes, approval workflows, and media response protocols.
  • Serve as a trusted communications advisor across the organization.

How You Will Succeed:

Success in this role will be measured in tangible outcomes: earned media placements and impressions, positive sentiment, executive visibility through speaking engagements, media interviews, and op-eds, and strong coverage at community launches. Those who thrive will be equally comfortable in the boardroom and the newsroom leading with confidence, executing with precision, and consistently delivering results that elevate Hayden Homes' brand and reputation.

What You Can Offer:

• Experience
  • 7-10+ years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, or agency account management (homebuilding, real estate, politics or related industry a plus).
• Education and Certifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business, or a related field.
  • Master's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business Administration, or related discipline.
  • Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) or similar professional certification.
• Skills
  • Proven success developing and executing strategic public relations initiatives, managing agency partnerships, and leading integrated communications campaigns that drive measurable business results.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and message-development skills with the ability to tailor communications for diverse audiences, channels, and executive stakeholders.
  • Strong media relations expertise with established relationships across regional, national, trade, and industry media, and a demonstrated ability to secure high-impact earned media coverage.
  • Confident and influential communicator with experience advising executives, preparing leaders for media engagements, and serving as a trusted communications partner to senior leadership.
  • Demonstrated experience in reputation management, issues management, and crisis communications planning and response.
  • Must be organized and efficient at completing administrative tasks and meeting deadlines.
  • Demonstrate intermediate Microsoft Office skills including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
  • Proficient using Adobe Creative Suite
• Abilities
  • Strategic thinking with the ability to translate business objectives into communication strategies, drive cross-functional alignment, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, to various audiences.
  • Ability to creatively solve problems and work under time constraints with minimal supervision.
  • Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage complex initiatives, budgets, timelines, and external partners effectively in a fast paced and rapidly changing environment.
  • Ability to work both independently and within a team to accomplish goals.
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills and an ability to establish strong relationships with all levels of the organization as well as build relationships with outside resources.

How You Will Be Rewarded:

Hayden Homes' compensation and benefits package consists of a competitive base salary along with bonus opportunities, generous health care coverage including medical, dental and vision benefits for team members and dependents, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, a team member home purchase discount, paid time off, volunteer time off, education reimbursement and career development opportunities.