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Job Title: Senior Manager, Content & Communications

Location: Irving, TX or Remote

Reports To: Senior Director, Media, Research & Public Affairs

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Content & Communications, is the operating leader for PPAI’s external storytelling engine, with primary responsibility for a key content marketing initiative in support of our industry. Responsibilities include content development, industry advocacy and reputation management, and driving earned media. This function encompasses public relations, broadcast and multimedia products, and key industry awards programs, leading global campaign storytelling to PPAI members as well as external decision makers to enhance industry perceptions and outcomes. The role combines strong editorial judgment, hands-on writing and execution, people leadership and cross-functional coordination to ensure PPAI communicates consistently, credibly and at a high level on behalf of our industry across external audiences.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Media, Research & Public Affairs, this leader serves as the primary editor for external marketing campaign content, directs day-to-day PR activity, guides scripting and editorial direction for broadcast initiatives, and manages internal and external content resources. The role works closely with Marketing, Creative Services, Business Development and senior leadership to translate strategy, research and organizational priorities into compelling communications that strengthen awareness of branded merchandise and advance the reputation of the medium and of PPAI.

This is a player-coach role. The Senior Manager is expected to set direction and manage resources while also writing, editing, pitching and producing work directly when needed. Success requires consistent follow-through, high editorial standards, strong external instincts and the ability to move multiple programs forward without routine senior-leader intervention.

Key Responsibilities

Editorial & Content Leadership – 35%

• Serve as lead editor for external marketing campaign content, owning the day-to-day editorial calendar, story pipeline, assignments, publishing cadence and quality standards for the platform.
• Write and edit content for marketers, agencies and brand leaders, contributing directly to the platform while ensuring all work is useful, credible, engaging and aligned to the campaign strategy.
• Manage a full-time contract content specialist and other freelance writers, creators and vendors, setting clear assignments, deadlines, expectations and editorial standards.
• Oversee the visual expression of campaign content in partnership with Marketing and Creative Services, ensuring articles, research, video, social assets, newsletters and other executions maintain a consistent and compelling brand experience.
• Identify opportunities to turn PPAI research, member expertise, case studies and industry proof points into high-value content for the broader marketing community.
• Coordinate with Marketing on audience acquisition, social distribution, influencer activity and campaign support, and with Business Development on sponsorable or revenue-generating opportunities that protect audience trust.

Public Relations & Reputation – 35%

• Strategize and execute PPAI’s day-to-day public relations program, building a consistent cadence of proactive outreach and visible external wins.
• Develop and pitch story ideas, experts, research findings and industry perspectives to trade, business, marketing and mainstream media outlets.
• Write and edit press releases, paid-media articles, executive bylines, contributed content, talking points and other external communications.
• Build, maintain and segment media and influencer lists; organize contacts, outreach history, placements and supporting data so activity is repeatable and measurable.
• Track and organize PR performance data, including share of voice, quality of coverage, sentiment and other agreed measures, and provide regular reporting and recommendations.
• Support issues management, executive visibility and crisis communications in partnership with the Senior Director, CMO and executive leadership.
• Develop relationships with journalists, creators, professional organizations and other external voices that can expand PPAI’s credibility and reach.
• Collaborate with leadership to support and strengthen PPAI internal communications (staff, volunteers and members).

Broadcast & Multimedia – 15%

• Lead editorial direction, scripting and content development for PPAI broadcast initiatives, including podcasts, video series, interviews and other multimedia programming.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director, various department leaders and other stakeholders on multimedia strategy, format development, audience priorities and opportunities to extend content across channels.
• Manage the Broadcast Manager as a direct report, setting priorities, programming expectations, deadlines and quality standards while supporting professional development.
• Ensure broadcast work is planned as part of the broader communications calendar and contributes to member media, campaign goals, social distribution and revenue opportunities where appropriate.

Awards, Recognition & External Representation – 10%

• Manage assigned PPAI awards and recognition programs that identify and celebrate the branded merchandise industry at its best.
• Own program calendars, communications, editorial support and cross-functional coordination to ensure awards are credible, well executed and aligned with PPAI’s broader industry narrative.
• Represent and speak on behalf of PPAI and the global campaign on occasion at industry events, partner meetings, interviews, panels or other external opportunities.
• Help identify members, case studies, campaigns and industry voices that can serve as proof points for branded merchandise and strengthen PPAI storytelling.

Team, Vendor & Performance Management – 5%

• Manage assigned staff, contractors, agencies and freelance vendors with clear scopes, priorities, deadlines, quality expectations and accountability.
• Build dependable workflows and operating rhythms across content, PR, broadcast and awards so execution does not depend on repeated senior-level prompting.
• Set and monitor practical KPIs across the campaign, PR, broadcast and awards, using performance data to improve content, distribution and communications decisions.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Director on performance, risks, opportunities, resource needs and recommended adjustments.
• Contribute to budget planning and manage assigned expenses and vendor relationships to ensure resources support measurable organizational value.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the range to produce audience-facing editorial content, executive bylines, media materials, scripts and concise strategic communications.
• Strong editorial judgment and the ability to identify stories, angles, data positioning and proof points that will resonate with marketers, media and other external audiences.
• Demonstrated public relations capability, including pitching, media relations, list management, contributed content and performance tracking.
• Ability to lead a digital content platform with a consistent publishing cadence, multiple contributors and clear audience goals.
• Experience developing scripts and providing editorial direction for podcasts, video or other multimedia formats.
• Strong people and vendor management skills, including the ability to influence or lead employees, contractors, freelancers and agency partners simultaneously.
• Excellent project management and organizational discipline, with a track record of moving multiple workstreams forward without sacrificing quality or deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building skills and comfort working across Marketing, Creative Services, Business Development, executive leadership and outside partners.
• Comfort using audience, media and performance data to judge effectiveness, identify opportunities and improve execution.
• Confidence representing a brand externally and communicating with professional audiences when called upon.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 8-10 years of experience in communications, journalism, public relations, content marketing, media or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience as an editor, writer or content lead with responsibility for publishing quality and contributor management.
• Hands-on public relations experience, including pitching, media relations, executive or contributed writing and performance measurement.
• Experience managing at least one direct report as well as contractors, freelancers, agencies or other external partners.
• Experience with multimedia programming, podcasting, video production or broadcast content development strongly preferred.
• Experience working with a non-profit, association, media organization, marketing organization or member-driven environment a plus.
• Experience in or strong familiarity with the branded merchandise, promotional products, advertising specialty or related marketing services industries is highly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or a related field; equivalent professional experience considered.
• Relevant communications, PR, content marketing or leadership certifications a plus.

Job Status

• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Compensation: Salary
• Job Status: Full-Time
• Daily Schedule: Flexible
• Work Location: Hybrid Remote Work Model (preferred to work from HQ location, but Remote considered equally)

Physical Activity

• Sitting
• Standing
• Lifting
• Pushing/Pulling
• Bending/Stooping
• Extended work hours, extended weeks (endurance requirement)

Work Environment

• Office environment
• Trade show floor or event venues
• Temperature controlled environment
• Travel: Must be able to travel (approximately 10%)

PPAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)

Apply to: apply@ppai.org

Location / Work Arrangement: Irving, TX — hybrid preferred; highly qualified remote candidates may be considered
Reports To: Sr. Marketing Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

As a key member of the marketing team, the Associate Marketing Manager will provide essential support to the Marketing department, collaborating closely with Senior Marketing Managers, Creative Services team members and internal stakeholders. This role requires a proactive, self-motivated individual who can manage projects independently from concept to completion while also thriving in a collaborative team environment. The Associate Marketing Manager will actively contribute to both creative and strategic discussions, playing a key role in maintaining marketing operations, supporting strategic initiatives and ensuring accurate and timely updates across various marketing platforms and tools.

What You’ll Do

Marketing Strategy — 20%

• Understand goals and objectives of all marketing requests and campaigns
• Co-create marketing strategies that align with client budgets and desired outcomes, while adhering to PPAI brand standards and reinforcing organization’s vision and mission.
• Author marketing briefs that are designed to drive results and achieve desired goals.

Project/Campaign Management — 30%

• Develop annual marketing plans for assigned business portfolio
• Plan, implement, and manage holistic marketing campaigns across digital, print, social media, website, and other channels
• Contribute to a comprehensive communications and content calendar, ensuring deliverables do not overlap and/or compete with other marketing initiatives.
• Utilize PPAI workflow management platform to build out project plans/workback schedules, providing accountability and visibility to client stakeholders and others responsible for associated deliverables.
• Schedule and lead marketing meetings
• Facilitate weekly status meetings with key stakeholders
• Working with the Sr. Marketing Manager, create post-mortem presentations after each campaign and present them to stakeholders
• Work directly with marketing department designers and videographers for direct mail, telemarketing, video production, email and online advertising assets.
• Execute social media and website initiatives related to campaign tactics

Client Communications/Performance — 30%

• Serve as the relationship lead for assigned business units, ensuring marketing plans, priorities, and initiatives align with the association’s overall strategic goals, brand standards, and organizational objectives.
• Establish and maintain a regular cadence of communication with business unit leaders, providing transparent updates, project visibility through the project management platform, and performance insights.
• Partner with stakeholders and Sr. Marketing Manager to develop and refine marketing strategies, independently managing feedback, priorities, and requests while ensuring marketing activities remain aligned with enterprise priorities and deliver measurable value.
• Partner with the Sr. Marketing Manager, to review post-campaign marketing analytics and performance data to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing strategies. Work to develop optimization recommendations for internal stakeholders based on campaign performance.

Budget Management — 20%

• Manage the marketing budgets for assigned clients, ensuring that campaigns are executed within financial parameters,
• Track monthly spending, report on budget status, and adjust plans as needed to stay on track.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business, or a related field. Agency experience a plus.

• 2-4 years of marketing or project coordination experience preferred.
• Knowledge of digital marketing, social media platforms, and analytics tools.
• Experience working with agile-based workflow management platforms (Workfront, Asana, Monday.com)
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple client projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, organization and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail
• Social Media certifications a plus; HubSpot certifications a plus
• Email campaign generation and management through HubSpot (preferred)
• Microsoft PowerPoint, MS Word, MS Excel
• Experience working in Canva or similar tool
• Understanding of Social Media Platforms and WordPress
• Experience working with creative departments

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

• Physical Requirements: Sitting; Standing; Lifting; Pushing/Pulling; Bending/Stooping
• Work Environment: Hybrid Remote Work Model (preferred to work from HQ location, but Remote considered equally)
• Travel Requirements: Occasional
• Schedule Expectations: Standard hours (in office Monday and Tuesdays), occasional event support

Job description: Full Stack Developer

At PPAI, we are committed to excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement in everything we do. We value clear and honest communication, consistently meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality work that serves both internal and external audiences. As a team, we strive to be fair, responsive, and supportive of our colleagues, leadership, members, and partners. We embrace change as an opportunity to grow and adapt – both individually and as an organization.  We empower every team member to take ownership of their impact and career development. Together, we uphold the cultural values, mission, and guiding principles that make PPAI a leader in the promotional products industry.

Job Description:

PPAI is looking for a highly skilled software developer and systems integrator to join our IT team. This role will be instrumental in growing the organization’s capabilities, enabling seamless interaction across internal and external systems while ensuring performance, reliability, and maintainability of our technology’s ecosystem.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, refactor, and debug .NET and PHP web applications and solutions on Linux and Windows Server infrastructure.
• Write, maintain, and optimize SQL queries and scripts to support data-driven functionality and reporting.
• Analyze and resolve complex technical issues across systems and platforms.
• Manage code changes and deployment pipelines using git and other source control tools.
• Participate in performance monitoring, optimization, and system health checks.
• Ensure all development complies with security standards and best practices, including PCI-Compliance where applicable.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other teams to support evolving business needs.

Required Skills:

• 6+ years of experience in software development and systems integrations
• Hands-on experience implementing and customizing NetSuite ERP, including SuiteScript
• Strong experience with .NET, PHP, WordPress, SQL and REST-based APIs
• Proficient in Git and version control workflows
• Proven ability to debug and troubleshoot complex systems and data flows
• Strong testing and documentation skills; secure coding practices

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Celigo or similar systems integrator tool (MuleSoft, Boomi, etc)
• Familiarity with Python scripting for automation and report generation
• Knowledge of PCI-DSS Compliance and NIST standards
• Experience with performance tuning and system optimization
• Utilizes AI tools in an ethical, productive, and responsible manner

Requirements:

• Flexible on-site hybrid or fully remote work model available
• Headquarters is based in Irving, Texas – candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. and be able to travel occasionally (3%) for team and industry events
• Completion of security awareness training modules monthly and achievement of your TAS (Trained Advertising Specialist) certificate within the first year
• Physical activity may require sitting, standing, lifting, pushing/pulling, bending/stooping, and occasional extended work hours
• 4-year college degree or equivalent work experience

PPAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.