Senior Communications Manager

Introduction

As a member of Optimizely’s Global Communications team, the Senior Analyst Relations Manager will work with the Head of Communications to co-develop the Analyst Relations strategy, objectives and tactics to ensure Optimizely is regularly in front of influential industry analysts and frequently mentioned in relevant industry research. This person will work closely with internal product stakeholders to drive best possible results in annual vendor evaluations and, when appropriate, marketing counterparts to leverage analyst assets for demand gen purposes. As a highly visible role with internal executive stakeholders, you will need to have exceptional written and verbal communication skills. It is also critical for you to have proven project management skills and the ability to work under pressure with tight research deadlines. We are seeking a results-oriented person who’s passionate about cultivating strong relationships with industry influencers to bring Optimizely’s story to customers, partners and prospects. 

Job Responsibilities

    Work with Analyst Relations (AR) agency to project manage analyst research deadlines and deliverables, including but not limited to: survey submissions (RFIs), customer reference requests, briefing and demo scheduling, etc. 
•    Proactively communicate with and support product stakeholders to meet research deadlines
•    Work with the Customer Reference group to properly communicate with and prepare customer references in support of evaluations and ad hoc analyst requests
•    Exhibit humility and problem-solving skills under pressure, and practice discernment if reprioritization is necessary
•    Assist with project management of licensed research promotions in partnership with PR, Design, Digital and Demand Gen teams
•    Initiate regular cadence of “Analyst Insights” reports for the business, including evaluation highlights and relevant research summaries to share with product teams, sales teams, and executives
•    Facilitate regular interactions (i.e. briefings and inquiries) with relevant industry analysts
•    Work with AR agency to keep a calendar of analyst interactions and important evaluations, capturing analyst sentiment and important commentary to feed back to business stakeholders
•    Works with Customer Marketing team to develop strategy for driving customers to complete Optimizely product reviews on Gartner Peer Insights
•    Challenges the status quo, and has cool new ideas how to improve Optimizely’s influence and reputation in the analyst and influencer world
•    Effectively organize historical analyst submissions in a way that provides context for future RFIs, reducing the legwork required by the product team

Knowledge and Experience

•    5-8 years’ demonstrable experience in Analyst or Influencer Relations 
•    Strong interpersonal skills and superb written and oral communication skills
•    Ambitious yet flexible self-starter who can work in a rapidly changing environment and pivot at a moment’s notice 
•    Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail, and proven project management experience with the ability to juggle multiple tasks at one time
•    Experience in/knowledge of the software industry (digital marketing, CRM or commerce preferred)
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint & SharePoint
•    A desire to work hard, make a difference, and have fun doing it

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Information Technology, Communications or similar field or related business experience

Competencies