The Corporate Strategic Communications Director, External Affairs, is responsible for managing global communications for the Company’s growth strategy platform, specifically communications that advance awareness of the Company’s business strategy and can be measured for impact. By collaborating cross-functionally, the individual will lead the creation of messaging, strengthen communication strategies, execute plans, and represent the Company to internal and external stakeholders globally.
The ideal candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment; meet tight deadlines with quality work; bring creative ideas and solutions to communications challenges; work across multiple countries and cultures; understand communication strategies for traditional, social and new media; and manage relationships with stakeholders at all levels including media.
Key Duties:
Develop expertise in Company strategy to effectively lead and support communications with key audiences and stakeholders (e.g., top-tier media, consumers, customers, investors, bottling partners, government, community leaders, employees and other constituents).
Support cross-functional team through planned Company commercial actions across the portfolio that will shape choice, innovate, promote clear facts, market responsibly and lead engagement.
Manage crisis communications and corporate reputation issues with external stakeholders and media concerning growth model and business strategy.
Drive and support global rollout of external communications plan to position the Company positively and maximize opportunities to tell our growth story with key announcements.
Coordinate with global cross-functional communications teams, bottling partners and other functions to ensure consistency of communications and public affairs strategies to external audiences around telling our growth story.
Manage content creation and editorial calendar for external media outlets and key events, including researching, developing, writing and editing across mediums, message development and creative message management.
Initiate, maintain, build and strengthen relationships with key contacts in media, community, academia, government, NGOs and the private sector through communications programs that create measurable value for the business, protect and enhance our brand, engage and influence stakeholders, and prevent and remove barriers.
Provide subject matter expertise, content and coaching to senior management to serve as effective spokespeople as well as provide support and guidance for managing incident and crisis response.
Create useful communications tools to showcase our work and progress. Establish and effectively manage the resources, capability and measurements required (i.e. people, processes, systems, environment) to consistently deliver high-caliber results.
Proactively identify storylines and opportunities to advance the growth narrative.
Functional Skills & Expertise:
Candidate should demonstrate the following: exceptional writing and editing skills; a track record of developing and executing communication strategies that create awareness and incite action; strong media relations experience in both traditional and social channels; ability to manage short-term and long-term assignments in a fast-paced environment with accuracy and discipline; deep background in crisis communications and media issues management; experience generating creative campaign ideas that further public affairs goals; meet deadlines with quality work product; strong research, writing and editing skills; ability to effectively interact with senior-level management; and confidence, flexibility, sound judgment and a strong work ethic.
Specific areas in more detail:
Exceptional Writing and Storytelling: develop and deliver bylined articles, data and consumer oriented press releases, media alerts, backgrounders, pitches, fact sheets, speeches, bios, executive briefing materials, PR update/recap presentations, position statements, talking points, website content; strong attention to detail. Ability to find unique angles and opportunities to capture work in a compelling manner to internal and external audiences.
Strategic Communications: support development of annual communications planning process; provide strategic recommendations on integrated communication strategies/programs and tactical execution for global rollout, and help develop platform for measuring progress.
Media Relations: solid understanding of top-tier media outlets; media news cycle; media list development and management; media relations experience (proactive and reactive) including creating media strategies and pitching traditional and social media (local, national and international); help plan and execute press events to achieve positive media coverage; ability to provide timely and in-depth analysis of coverage results and trends; manage and interact with media in crisis situations. Previous experience as a journalist a plus.
Project Management: ability to effectively run programs and projects, as well as manage external agency partners; ensure timeliness and accuracy of deliverables; anticipate challenges, develop recommendations and brief managers accordingly; ability to think ahead of stated deliverable; manage project budget and relevant agency partner teams; ability to effectively organize and manage multiple responsibilities for multiple managers; ability to forecast issues and resolve conflict; strong time management skills.
Technical Skills:
Communications Expertise: Knowledge of procedures and information for public relations/communications strategy development, planning and execution; strong understanding of public relations concepts, tactics and media relations.
Stakeholder Management Expertise: Ability to navigate difficult stakeholders and or situations, both internal and external, in a professional manner that shows a vested interest in positioning the Company well and is beneficial to the team and Company.
Narrative and Business Writing, Editing and Proofing: Ability to prepare business materials for Senior Leadership and other audiences by writing, selecting, revising and correcting copy.
Specialized Software: Knowledge of various software and its application to communications strategy and operations. This includes media contact management systems, online news databases (Factiva). Ability to use various software packages to access, input and manage information and maintain communications resources. Strong Power Point and additional presentation abilities a must.
Specialized Writing Skills: Knowledge of format and requirements of specialized writing styles (e.g., speeches, news releases, web content, position papers, social media and consumer response letters). Ability to write effectively and quickly within required style.
Decision Making: With the support and confidence of senior leadership, a demonstrated ability to make recommendations and independent decisions in urgent situations as needed in terms of media and external constituencies with speed and a long-terms view of the overall good of the business is needed.
Agency Management: Ability to effectively communicate with and manage agency support to deliver against objectives within budget scope and schedule.
Job Requirements:
The following is a listing of minimum indicated requirements for this job:
Education: BA degree, preferably in Communications, Journalism, English or PR related discipline
At least 10-15 years in public relations, communications and/or related field, including advertising, media, and publishing; agency or journalism experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge of The Coca-Cola Company or similar operating system a plus.
Leadership Behaviors:
DRIVE INNOVATION: Generate new or unique solutions and embrace new ideas that help sustain our business (encompassing everything from continuous improvement to new product and package innovation).
COLLABORATE WITH SYSTEM, CUSTOMERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS: Develop and leverage relationships with stakeholders to appropriately stretch and impact the System (Company and Bottler).
ACT LIKE AN OWNER: Deliver results, creating value for our brands, our System, our customers and key stakeholders.
INSPIRE OTHERS: Inspire people to deliver our mission and 2020 Vision, demonstrate passion for the business and give people a reason to believe anything is possible.
DEVELOP SELF AND OTHERS: Develop self and support others’ development to achieve full potential.
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