Director, NAM Public Relations & Crisis Communications

Schneider Electric has a new opening for a Director, NAM Public Relations & Crisis Communications based in Boston, MA.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing a cohesive public relations strategy that will build, enhance and/or protect:

• Schneider Electric’s brand in North America, with a focus on positioning the company as the strategic energy technology partner through media relations and thought leadership efforts in support of businesses and end markets aimed at targeted persona audiences.
• Lead C-level and strategic media interactions, including top journalist relationships, and positioning Schneider Electric to continuously enhance and protect the brand.
• Oversight of the territory’s crisis communications efforts, with direct responsibility for the U.S. – as well as indirect management of Canada and Mexico/Central America - in collaboration with global, European and Asian counterparts.

This role reports directly to the VP, NAM Brand & Communications, and is considered a “practice owner” in Marketing to develop and enhance the company’s public relations expertise over time.

Develop and execute a comprehensive media relations and thought leadership program for the U.S. comprised of:

• Always-on storytelling aligned with news trends and reporter/editor interests; proactive newsjacking that capitalizes on shortened news cycles; news announcements and media pitching; development of op-eds and bylined articles for earned media placement; and mining for and crafting compelling pitches that secure long-form or cover stories or broadcast segments.
• Build trust and credibility for a roster of executives by identifying and securing strategic speaking engagements that increase visibility and demonstrate thought leadership on topics important to the business.
• Enhance Schneider Electric’s brand awareness by designing and executing an awards program that solidifies the company’s reputation as a trustworthy brand and individuals’ reputations as thought leaders.
• Support major industry or company-owned events by performing required media relations and executive speaking opportunity duties, such as producing press conferences, preparing news announcements and talking points, conducting media training, and managing journalist interviews.
• Partner with paid media, social media and internal communications teams to deliver a 360-degree approach that maximizes the visibility of news stories across multiple platforms and audiences.

Drive the NAM Issues/Crisis Management approach and lead coordination during crises, specifically in the U.S./NAM, alongside global, European and Asian counterparts. Ensure issue and crisis preparedness is aligned with Schneider Electric’s overall risk management work, feeds into enterprise heat map tracking, and is coordinated with local communications and Government Relations teams.

• Engage on reputational issues and serve as a strategic counselor to business leaders, with a focus on the U.S./NAM, in partnership with global and local communications teams.
• Act as the senior advisor in the U.S. time zone on global issues and crises.
• Contribute actively to the crisis-handling management standard operating procedure, and create and manage crisis communications in partnership with global communications, businesses, functions and operations teams, as appropriate.

Act as Operations lead for NAM Brand & Communications function, ensuring strong measurement & reporting of quarterly performance indicators is delivered in a strategic, contextual manner.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Communications, Marketing, or related discipline
• Highly proficient in spoken and written English
• 5-7+ years of experience in…