Director, External Communications

2 months ago

LAKE FOREST, United States Grainger Businesses Full time

 

Work Location Type: Onsite 

 

As a leading industrial distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom, We Keep The World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. With 2023 sales of $16.5 billion, we’re dedicated to providing value for customers, fostering an engaging culture for team members and driving strong financial results.

 

Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a 2024 Glassdoor Best Place to Work and a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry over our next 100 years.

 

 

Position Summary:

 

Develop and oversee external affairs strategies to enhance and protect Grainger’s brand and reputation and advance top priority company initiatives with external stakeholders. Responsible for overarching external strategy inclusive of media relations, crisis communications, corporate and employer branding, and monitoring. Lead and ensure the strategy, direction and delivery of all external communications maintain appropriate tone, positioning and visibility across Grainger’s external audiences. Lead a team responsible for creating and executing external affairs programs.  You will report to the VP, Communications and Public Affairs and be expected to work in either Lake Forest or our Chicago, IL office 3 times per week.

 

 

 

You Will:

 

  • Design and execute external affairs strategies to achieve business goals through earned media, organic social, speaking opportunities, press room content, corporate and employer branding, awards and other company communications.
  • Interface with media outlets, licensing agencies and other external organizations.
  • Lead crisis communications planning and response.
  • Program manage major company announcements and external events involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
  • Partner with relevant corporate and business functions to support external strategies and annual priorities including investor relations, corporate affairs, finance and supply chain.
  • Oversee employer and corporate branding strategies and partner with human resources and marketing to ensure strong collaboration and consistency.
  • Lead the strategy for company awards and oversee all submission processes, content and resulting communications.
  • Define and document processes and procedures to manage external communications including press releases, speaking engagements, etc.
  • Serve as the external communications expert and provide strategic counsel to company leaders and subsidiaries.
  • Partner with communications peers to support relevant initiatives that have broad, company impact, including external communications of company strategy and performance, ESG, and Grainger as a top workplace.
  • Measure effectiveness of external communications through a variety of vehicles, including monitoring systems, sentiment analysis and channel metrics.
  • Manage key external vendors and evaluate new vendors to help achieve Grainger’s communication objectives.
  • Lead a team of communications Sr. Managers, Managers and Specialists in developing external strategies that advance company goals, build brand and protect reputation.
  • Serve on department leadership team, responsible for talent management, relevant budgeting, development and strategic planning for department goals in support of company objectives.

 

 

 

You Have:

 

  • Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations or related fields required.
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in a corporate communications function with experience across multiple stakeholder groups with an expertise in external affairs and crisis communications.
  • Proven experience developing and managing media relationships.
  • Experience managing crisis communications planning and execution.
  • Ability to make decisions in a rapidly changing environment and perform in high pressure situations with multiple stakeholders, including senior executives under tight timeframes.
  • Prior experience managing highly confidential, sensitive or proprietary company material.
  • Proven strong ability to lead, influence and navigate and build relationships across all levels of the organization.
  • Exceptional and persuasive written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution.
  • Strong business acumen and ability to show up as a business leader and communications expert.
  • Strong executive presence and confidence to challenge the status quo with senior leaders.
  • Proven success working in a matrix environment, influencing without direct authority, and leading large scale or complex external initiatives.
  • Self-reliant, proactive, assertive, and results-oriented. Optimistic, energetic, flexible, collaborative, easy to work with.
  • Analytical – able to gather, analyze, package and make thoughtful recommendations based on insights from data.
  • Ability to effectively lead, manage and develop a team.
  • Ability to stand in for VP of Communications and Public Affairs as needed.

 

Travel Requirements:

 

  • Must be able to travel within and outside the U.S., up to 20%, depending on business need. Must be willing to travel internationally on short notice to meet unexpected needs of the business, including crisis situations, acquisitions, etc.

 

 

 

Rewards and Benefits:

 

With benefits starting day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs. Check out the highlights below and review all our benefits at GraingerTotalRewards.com.

  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance plans and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing
  • Paid time off (PTO) and 6 company holidays per year
  • 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no match required
  • Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education and tools
  • Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents

 

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

 

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment.  With this in mind, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.

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