Director of Community Affairs, Greater Washington DC

Clark Construction Group is seeking a Director of Community Affairs to help drive the company’s strategy across small business and workforce development, external stakeholder and client relations, government affairs, and community engagement in the Greater Washington, DC Region. The Director will serve as a trusted advisor and partner to the Executive Vice President of Corporate and External Affairs.

This role provides strategic community relations and communications leadership to build long-term trust and amplify Clark’s positive impact in Washington, DC, and in the surrounding region. You will cultivate key relationships with local public officials, civic leaders, and external stakeholders to align with key priorities and proactively address community questions and opportunities.

Additionally, this position offers high visibility and cross-functional exposure across Executive Leadership, Business Unit Leadership, Legal, Finance, Subcontractor Development, Marketing, and Corporate Responsibility—providing a path for professional growth and talent utilization at Clark.

This is a full-time, in-person position based in our McLean, Virginia, and Washington, DC, offices. The office is Metro-accessible; however, access to a car for transportation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Public Sector Relations: Serve as the primary liaison between Clark and local government officials to keep them informed and ensure that Clark is aligned with key public priorities.

• External Advocacy & Strategic Networking: Engage local business, civic, and community networks to raise awareness of Clark’s activities, milestones, economic impact, and community programs.

• Community Relations: Act as a strategic problem-solver to address emerging community questions and opportunities, as well as help maintain the company’s positive working relationships in the community. 

• Workforce Development: Oversee local workforce development and hiring programs for large-scale construction projects in the DC area, ensuring Clark expands local access to construction careers and meets local hiring and apprenticeship targets. 

• Local & Small Business Engagement: Oversee local and small business development initiatives to expand Clark’s trade partner pipeline and drive outreach to meet or exceed project participation goals.

Qualifications

Core Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field;

• At least 10-12 years of relevant professional experience;

• Proven experience leading community outreach, workforce development, and small business engagement efforts within the Greater Washington, DC community and/or the construction industry;

• Expert proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace; 

• Proficiency with AI tools to streamline workflows and productivity (highly preferred); and

• Ability to work overtime as needed to support business requirements. 

Professional & Leadership Skills

• Executive Presence & Stakeholder Management: Exceptional diplomacy and cross-cultural competency; high degree of professionalism and ease when engaging with executives, public officials, trade partners, and community members. 

• Proactive Problem Solving: Sound judgment and the ability to take initiative, with a track record of problem-solving and acting as a trusted advisor. 

• Communication & Facilitation: Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to distill information into clear messaging and action items; demonstrated ability to confidently facilitate meetings of all sizes, from internal planning meetings or executive briefings to public town halls.

• Organization & Agility: Strong planning and project management skills with the demonstrated ability to manage complex, multifaceted projects and competing priorities; the ability to maintain discretion with confidential information and adapt as business needs evolve. 

• Deliverable Quality & Attention to Detail: High level of precision and detail orientation, with a proven ability to develop, produce, and deliver accurate, polished plans, schedules, and executive presentations, as well as other work products.

The Physical Side of the Role: Given that a good portion of your day will be spent at a desk, you should be comfortable with prolonged periods of focused work, whether it's collaborating with colleagues, analyzing data, or developing strategies. The role demands effective communication and sharp visual acuity for reviewing complex documents and performing detailed computer work. While there are times for quiet concentration, you'll also be expected to move actively throughout the office and travel occasionally to various locations, including dynamic construction sites, utilizing different modes of transportation. The ability to lift and move objects up to 10 pounds regularly, and up to 25 pounds on occasion (think a box of files or small office equipment), is also required.

Your Work Environment: Your primary workspace will be in our professional office, which has a typical, quiet-to-moderate noise and light levels. As part of your work, you will likely be required to visit active construction sites. These environments are naturally more dynamic and can include exposure to outdoor weather conditions, louder noise, and moving equipment. Your safety is our top priority, and you'll be expected to follow Clark Construction's safety policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, at all locations.

Our High-Performing Culture: This is a demanding, high-performance environment. We are looking for candidates who are energized by challenge, thrive under pressure, and are prepared to do what it takes to achieve exceptional results. Success in this role requires significant commitment, including flexibility to work extended hours, especially during critical project phases or client deadlines. Beyond regular working hours, there will be occasions where business needs require your attention, particularly for time-sensitive matters or emergencies. You are expected to monitor and respond to communications (phone calls, emails, text messages) as required to address these situations effectively. Your ability to manage these expectations and be responsive when critical issues arise is key to your success in this role and our collective success as a team.

A Drug-Free Workplace: Clark promotes a drug-free workplace. A pre-employment drug “fitness for duty” screening is required, and the company conducts random quarterly drug “fitness for duty” tests.

Clark offers a total compensation package that includes base salary, bonus potential, and a comprehensive benefits package including health/dental/vision benefits, paid time off, retirement/401(k), and Company Contribution plan. Additional benefits include life insurance, commuter benefit, short & long term disability, fitness reimbursement, FSA, tuition reimbursement, back-up daycare, tutoring & family support benefits, EAP/Work-Life assistance, and a holiday contribution program. For this role, the base salary range is $140,000 - $185,000. Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. Base pay is one part of the Total Compensation Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work. https://www.clarkconstruction.com/careers/clark-experience