Director, Marketing and Public Affairs

The successful candidate for this role can be based anywhere in Canada or the United States. While this role offers the flexibility of remote work, it also requires travel across North America, with a focus on customer and work engagements, particularly in and around Washington, D.C.

New Flyer is North America's heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE® brands. It also offers infrastructure development through NFI Infrastructure Solutions™, a service dedicated to providing safe, sustainable, and reliable charging and mobility solutions. Further information is available at www.newflyer.com.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a key leader within NFI Group, reporting to the Vice President, Sales and Marketing (Public Sector), the Director of Marketing and Public Affairs will drive the strategic direction of the New Flyer and MCI brands across North America. This role is crucial in shaping our engagement with government bodies and industry stakeholders, ensuring our interests are effectively represented through sophisticated public relations strategies and strategic lobbying efforts.

In this role, you will lead our public relations and government affairs initiatives, representing New Flyer and MCI in key engagements. You will also oversee comprehensive marketing campaigns across digital and print channels, ensuring alignment with NFI Group's brand strategy. This position is a strategic leadership role with the potential to shape NFI Group's future presence in North America, driving our success and maintaining our industry leadership.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Marketing Leadership: Drive the development and execution of advanced marketing strategies that solidify New Flyer and MCI as industry leaders, especially in the zero-emission vehicle sector. Create and deliver compelling value propositions that directly contribute to the success of our public sector sales initiatives, with a focus on measurable market share growth.
• Government Relations & Public Affairs: Lead all government relations and public affairs initiatives across the U.S. and Canada, with a mandate to shape policy and regulatory frameworks in favor of our business. Engage with high-level government officials, policymakers, and industry leaders to advocate for our interests, ensuring NFI Group's voice is influential at every level.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the principal representative for our brands, cultivating and managing relationships with key external stakeholders, including government agencies, industry groups, and lobbyists. Ensure all engagements are aligned with our strategic objectives, driving outcomes that support our long-term vision.
• Marketing Assets & Brand Management: Oversee the creation, maintenance, and strategic deployment of all marketing collateral, ensuring our sales teams are equipped with the most effective tools to engage and convert clients. Lead the development and enforcement of brand standards, guaranteeing a consistent and powerful brand presence across all platforms and materials.
• Customer-Focused Initiatives: Partner with customers to design and execute special events, promotional activities, and digital strategies that enhance their experience and strengthen brand loyalty. Lead sponsorship initiatives and perform ROI analysis to ensure customer events are strategically aligned with our business objectives and deliver tangible results.
• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure that all marketing and public affairs activities strictly adhere to relevant regulations and legal requirements, including organizational policies and standards related to environmental, health, and safety. Proactively manage risk to protect and enhance NFI Group's reputation.
• Leadership & Team Development: Inspire, mentor, and develop a high-performing marketing and public affairs team. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, providing training and guidance to ensure the team remains ahead of industry trends and best practices. Lead by example to drive the team toward achieving strategic goals and delivering exceptional results.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Marketing, Public Affairs, Public Relations, or a related field.
• Experience: Proven track record of success in senior marketing and public affairs roles, with a strong understanding of federal and state/local political environments. Experience in leading complex, large-scale events, and strategic communications initiatives.
• Skills: Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with high-level stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, site development platforms (e.g., Squarespace, WordPress), major social media channels, and Google Analytics.
• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of the U.S. and Canadian political, social, environmental, and media landscapes, with a proven ability to navigate and influence these arenas effectively.

Between 20-30% of travel is required in this position. 

OUR WHY: 
We exist to move people. Our mission is to design and deliver exceptional transportation solutions that are safe, accessible, e­fficient and reliable.
 
NFI Group is a leading independent global bus manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions.  News and information are available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com, www.alexander-dennis.com, www.carfaircomposites.com and www.nfi.parts.