Communications Strategist – Corporate Reputation

Summary:

The communications strategist – corporate reputation is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing communication strategies that protect and strengthen the Northwestern Mutual brand as part the company’s Corporate Reputation communications team.

The communications strategist creates and implements communications plans that serve to protect the company’s reputation, conducts insightful research audits, monitors the competitive landscape, and develops insights-based reporting tools that demonstrate progress against key reputation metrics. This individual works with internal partners across Marketing, Social Media, Public Relations, Internal Communications and other teams to deliver appropriate communications responses across various audiences (clients, financial representatives, corporate employees etc.) consistently and effectively.

This role reports to the Sr. Director, Corporate Reputation as part of the company’s Strategic Communications team.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supports the senior director in the development, socialization and implementation of strategic communications plans that support reputation management scenarios.
• Leads the strategic management of third-party research partners to deliver research and insights to business stakeholders across the company, meeting regularly with the partner to understand the external environment and to identify preparedness efforts for the company.

• Works collaboratively with members of the Marketing, Social Media, Public Relations and Internal Communications teams to identify potential reputation issues and create recommended responses or other communications materials. Proactively stays apprised of programs, projects and campaigns across these areas as a dedicated team liaison, and shares formal updates with Corporate Reputation team members to enhance team business acumen.

• Conducts clear, thorough and insightful research audits using internal and external tools on a variety of subjects that support the company’s reputation. Regularly and carefully monitors the news landscape for relevant news cycles, key industry articles and competitive insights and brings these findings forward in a consistent format that is useful across internal teams. Pulls news articles quickly when news breaks to share with key partners.

• Partners with team members to identify, develop and maintain monthly, quarterly and annual tracking and reporting tools that demonstrate progress against key reputation metrics. Creates reports that showcase Corporate Reputation team successes and bring examples to life in order to merchandise the collective team’s results.

• Maintains and evolves team processes and procedures playbook to ensure a consistent and efficient approach across team members. Drives team efficiencies by preparing agendas, status documents and meeting notes in support of regular meetings. Leads the team’s overall organization efforts to maintain files, documentation and archives.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Business or Political Science or related field.
• A minimum 6 years of experience in public relations, internal communication, marketing or related communication field with at least some experience in PR and media relations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to absorb information and convert to an understandable and visually appealing format. Writing samples will be requested.
• Proven ability to build positive, collaborative relationships across a diverse set of functions.
• Possesses a high degree of organization, project management skills and impeccable attention to detail.
• Sound problem identification, judgment, resolution and decision-making skills often in ambiguous situations. Works efficiently under pressure.