Communications Strategist

At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We care and make a positive difference.

What's the role?

As a Communication Consultant, you will develop communication strategy on behalf of an assigned business unit, making recommendations to senior staff and directors on appropriate programs and projects for improving the overall communication environment. In support of the established strategy, will research, develop, implement and evaluate communication programs and processes, proactively ensuring that clear meaningful messages are conveyed.

Specifically, you will plan, manage and implement effective internal/external communication policies, processes and communication programs and initiatives that align with departmental direction and strategic priorities; assure adherence to established quality standards in departmental communications. Strategically, you will be a key participant on projects where communication is critical to achieving a successful outcome, at times providing consultation to assist project teams in communicating effectively.

Responsibilities:

• Develops the over-arching department communication strategy, establishes communication role of department leadership, leadership message and measurement of department communication effectiveness. 
• Construct, advise, coordinate and implement effective internal communication policies, processes and programs for the IS department. Leads committees and task forces consisting primarily of directors and managers in developing communication initiatives that support the IS department business direction, goals and objectives. 
• Plans, manages and implements communication programs, projects and initiatives that align IS employees with department direction and strategic priorities. 
• Recommends, develops, implements and maintains communication standards for IS department. Assures that quality standards are present in departmental communications. 
• Advises, facilitates and coaches IS client relationship staff on development and delivery of clear, client friendly and focused messages. 
• Advises department management on desired communications outcomes for both internal and external audiences. 
• Participate in projects where communications are critical factors in the success of the project. Provide consultation to project teams on effective communication methods.

Bring your Best! What this roles needs:

• Bachelor degree is mass communication, organizational communication, public relations or journalism. 
• 7 to 10 years of employee communication or public relations experience and a proven portfolio of business writing in multiple media. 
• Demonstrated experience with communication planning and objective setting. 
• Requires skill and ability in managing complex projects and multiple deadlines; business and journalistic writing and editing; listening; synthesizing and relating complex information; counseling clients; creating detailed communication plans based on analysis of communication problem/opportunities. 
• Demonstrated superior written and verbal communication skills with ability to build rapport negotiate with and gain acceptance at all levels. 
• Requires knowledge of Theories of mass communication; best practices in organizational communication; audience research methodology; communication planning and objective setting; media channel effectiveness; print, audio, video, web-based production methods.

This job is not covered by the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our client’s interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!