Media Relations & Crisis Communications Manager

Position Purpose & Summary:

The Manager, Media Relations and Crisis Communications Standards, is responsible for building the capability in the Global Communications practice to develop and govern the use of standardized tools and processes for media relations and crisis communications across the company. In this role, the manager will create common templates, toolkits and channels to advance streamlined ways of working. The objective is to deliver globally consistent, locally relevant tools for internal training and for externally interacting with the press. In addition, this person will work in close partnership with Global Security and Global IT, as well as other functions responsible for crisis response plans in the company. The objective is to deliver world class crisis communications preparedness and execution in an integrated operating company, while striving for agility and continuous improvement.

In this global role, the manager must have a deep understanding of best practices in media relations planning and implementation, including all channels to reach the media, track engagement and measure effectiveness. This person must be an expert in brand standards, spokesperson training and effective process for approvals. They should be experienced working with media agencies, understanding contracts, roles and expectations. In addition, the manager is responsible for updating the media and spokesperson policy for the company, managing compliance and effectiveness in partnership with the Global Media Relations team. This person should have firm knowledge of effective external and internal communication channels, as well as the process and measurable outcomes. Importantly, the manager must have effective collaboration, influencing, project management and listening skills to work at the corporate, business and function levels of the organization to ensure operational excellence in a global company.

Principal Accountabilities:

60% - Strategy, Policies & Procedures

• Develops and defines strategic communications standards and practices for media relations, including press materials, wire distributions and media and spokesperson training guides. 
• Directs the development of a compliance approach to drive process excellence and performance improvement, and proactively assesses and approves exceptions to standards. 
• Ensures consistency with communications standards, policies and processes for media relations across a global, integrated operating company. 
• Educates and ensures a professional mindset of communications leaders and employees throughout the organization. 
• Manage the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for external agency or vendor support in media relations and public relations, in partnership with Strategic Sourcing & Procurement, to select vendors for project execution.

20% - Continuous Improvement

• Applies an advanced understanding of the communications industry’s leading practices and external benchmarks to the development and ongoing strategic leadership of Global Communications’ media relations policies and procedures. 
• Drives the implementation of standardization and continuous improvement for the Communications Projects & Standards domain. 
• Directs and facilitates the sharing of best practices in media relations for the Communications Projects & Standards domain among the Communications function. 
• Ensures new set-up and changes in existing applications and technology solutions to optimize effectiveness, working closely with the External, Digital and Social Media Communications Standards managers. 
• Develops common tools for media relations practitioners across the company, and ensures updates based on best practices and organizational/brand changes. 
• Manages a library of the company’s media interactions, statements and tools for collaboration and use across the organization. 
• Provides strategic leadership and identifies the necessary tools required to execute against the Global Communications policies and procedures, including business requirements, technology solutions and data integrity. 
• Directs risk assessments for Global Communications across the company, seeks to understand root cause, escalates as appropriate and ensures issues are mitigated and resolved.

20% - Relationship Management & Capability Building

• Provides strategic leadership to Global Communications leaders and employees on media relations and crisis communications policies, procedures, and expertise. 
• Champions efforts with other Global Communications teams globally to ensure these standards and practices are implemented and executed upon successfully. 
• Partners/collaborates with other leaders to develop and maintain an industry leading Global Communications function. 
• Advises and provides coaching to develop understanding of media relations and crisis communications policies and procedures throughout the Global Communication function. 
• Leads capability development and training in media relations standards, practices and processes for the Global Communications team.

Required Qualifications:

• 6+ years of professional experience with media relations and crisis communications 
• Strong experience with media relations and crisis communications in a global, matrixed organization 
• Experience working in a corporate company or regional scope 
• Excellent presentation, public speaking and written communication skills 
• Experience developing effective crisis communications tools 
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills; ability to manage several projects at once 
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint 
• Vendor selection and management experience, along with familiarization with the Request for Proposal (RFP) process