Director of Corporate Communications

Primary Function: 

The Director-Corporate Communications develops the company’s internal and external communications strategy, is responsible for managing and implementing communications programs throughout the organization and overseeing the Corporate Communications organization. Communications media include web/digital, print, video production, speechwriting, and social media. In addition, the Director works closely with Investor Relations, Human Resources, Marketing, and the executive team to ensure the company’s communications programs are effective.

What is Great about this Opportunity?

• Join a stable and growing organization committed to strong financial performance, strategic acquisitions, global expansion and the highest ethical standards of conduct 
• Represent a well-known brandwhose products improve quality of life and are considered top-of-the-line within the industry 
• This role is a nice mix of both strategic and hands-on communications that provides a broad range of organizational exposure

Responsibilities:

Financial Communications:

• Responsible for the design, photography, content, and printing of the wrap-around portion of the Annual Report to Shareholders as well as the printing and distribution of the entire document. 
• In conjunction with the Vice President-Investor Relations, responsible for drafting and distributing all quarterly financial press releases. 
• In conjunction with the executive staff, legal, and corporate development, drafts all internal and external communications relating to acquisitions, joint ventures, or divestitures. 

Media Relations:

• Drafts all corporate press releases including executive promotions, awards, plant openings and closings, and major product announcements and determines the distribution for these releases. 
• Serves as company spokesperson in absence of Senior Vice President-Human Resources and Public Affairs. 
• Works with individual reporters who are writing articles about A. O. Smith to obtain information, photos, or fulfill interview requests with executives. 
• Provides media spokesperson training to members of executive team. 
• Crisis Communications - responsible for updating company’s crisis communication plan, serves as communications lead person during any crisis. 

Executive Communications:

• Provides communications services to executive team including speechwriting and presentation development. 
• Identifies and implements appropriate measurements and KPI’s to evaluate department’s effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvements. 

Digital Communications:

• Responsible for the design, content, SEO capabilities of www.aosmith.com. Serves as liaison with third-party sites shareholder.com and aosmith careers. 
• Responsible for design and content of A.O. Smith’s intranet site (AOSNET), working with the team to identify content opportunities, make assignments, train content editors, supervise web developers, and serve as liaison with third party sites SuccessFactors, TRIP (expense reporting), and SAP. 
• Works with IT to integrate newly acquired employees into AOSNET groups. 
• Supervises social media activities, primarily LinkedIn, contributing content ideas. 

Video Production:

• Overall responsibility for the annual Executive Report video including executive interviews, scriptwriting, location video, overseeing translations, graphics creation, and editing. Works with Human Resources to distribute the finished video worldwide. 
• Provides corporate video service to internal clients. Determines scope of video project, develops and secures approval for subject treatment, hires video talent for project, develop or oversees development of script, supervises editing process. 

Corporate Recognition Program Management

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in journalism, corporate communications, or public relations 
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in corporate communications or public relations, including management of a comprehensive communications program, preferably in a manufacturing environment 
• Extensive experience and demonstrated proficiency in all tactical elements of the job
• Excellent verbal and written communication ability 
• Good managerial and organizational abilities 
• Accredited Public Relations professional (APR) or Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) preferred, not required 
• Good people skills and strong ability to influence without authority for dealing with executive leadership and other functions 
• Proven ability to manage a diverse group of suppliers including web developers, photographers, designers, and video production crews to deliver on-time, on-budget performance with outstanding creative efforts

Competitive base salary, bonus plan and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.