About WS Development

Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class installations and activations. Established in 1990, WS is a vertically-integrated company that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers. With over 22 million square feet of existing space and an additional nine million square feet under development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country.

WS is where great ideas and great people come together to design, build, and operate some of the best loved real estate projects in the country. We live at the intersection of entrepreneurship and establishment. We have the infrastructure of decades supporting a culture of free-thinking excellence.

We expect every WS employee to feel welcomed and valued irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, entrepreneurial brand and communications leader to step into a new role focused on articulating strategy both internally and externally, including via press; concepting and driving brand initiatives that fall out of that strategy and providing expertise in press communications to other marketing counterparts, primary our Field Marketing function.

We are looking for an individual who is not afraid to break from a traditional mold to define a communications strategy that is both reflective of our culture (which is humble and understated) and accretive to our goals (which are ambitious and growing). It will be important for this candidate to be equal parts steadfast in their beliefs and their disciplinary expertise, and flexible in experimenting with a company that hasn’t been bullish on telling its story to date.

The role will report to the SVP, Head of Brand & Marketing. Key cross-functional stakeholders will include the Executive Team, our Head of Human Resources, SVP, Seaport/Fenway, the Director of Brand Marketing and several others given the vertical nature of our business. This person will also liaise with and be responsible for our third-party PR partner relationships

Responsibilities

Corporate Strategy

• Work with cross-functional leaders to articulate – with appropriate depth – our corporate strategy: key pillars, differentiators, portfolio, and our commitment to Impact, for both internal and external consumption

Corporate Communications

• Develop short, medium, and long-term goals for corporate communications, both internally and externally
• Evaluate, drive and partner with external press agencies on corporate goals and strategies; maintain accountability through clear KPIs
• Develop and maintain press kit for WS
• Define a system of sharing wins/opportunities with Executive team and Group Heads
• Evaluate and refine internal process surrounding high-priority internal/external comms
• Develop relations with local and national press in real estate, retail, and business trade as well as consumer outlets
• Further define a pool of WS spokespeople and provide training and tools for them to articulate consistent messaging; identify valuable and differentiated speaking and conference opportunities for this pool to represent WS in RE, retail and adjacent industries

Corporate Storytelling

• Work with cross-functional leaders to articulate – with appropriate depth – our corporate strategy: key pillars, differentiators, portfolio, and our commitment to Impact, for both internal and external consumption

• Craft and edit written prose to accompany sales collateral and RFP responses
• Serve as editor in chief to our corporate communications, lending a consistent voice to these materials and outlets
• WS Impact
• Partner with the WS Impact team to develop and refine external articulation of the mission, goals, and success stories of this long-term effort

• Identify moments both internally and externally to demonstrate our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as well as Sustainability through partnerships, programs, and the communications that support them

Requirements

• College degree required; advanced degree a plus but not required
• 10+ years of brand strategy, corporate comms and/or related experience
• Proven track record of cross-functional collaboration and leadership
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Acts with urgency and results-obsessed
• Influential and persuasive
• Experience in fast-paced, entrepreneurial settings with an ability to prioritize and flex
• Ideal candidate will have experience with retail, business and real estate communications
• A desire to laugh and have fun