Communications Manager

DESCRIPTION

We are looking for a talented External Communications Manager to join our team specializing in corporate communications for our Indianapolis, IN location.

Job Summary:

Plans, manages and produces communications and related materials to meet Cummins strategies and objectives.

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways:

• Enhance Brand Recognition: By positioning the brand to meet or exceed stakeholder expectations and applying brand standards, you'll create a competitive advantage and defend the company's reputation.
• Engage Target Audiences: Through compelling storytelling and creative communication design, you'll present information in a way that captivates and engages your audience, using the appropriate tools and media types.
• Influence Buyer Behavior: Leveraging current and emerging digital media strategies, you'll drive desired actions from target audiences, enhancing the effectiveness of campaigns and initiatives.
• Build Strong Customer Relationships: Your focus on customer-centric solutions will help in building and maintaining strong relationships, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Make Timely Decisions: Your ability to make good and timely decisions will keep the organization moving forward, ensuring progress and efficiency in operations.
• Develop Talent: By developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals, you'll foster a culture of growth and continuous improvement.
• Solve Complex Problems: Your skill in managing complexity will enable you to make sense of high quantities of information and solve problems effectively, even when faced with contradictory data.
• Navigate Organizational Dynamics: With your organizational savvy, you'll maneuver comfortably through complex policies, processes, and people-related dynamics, ensuring smooth operations and effective collaboration.

• Effective Leadership: Manage, coach, and mentor staff, providing clear guidance and direction while delegating work appropriately.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Solve unique cross-functional problems, ensuring smooth operations across different departments.
• Project and Vendor Management: Lead and coach on project, account, and vendor management, ensuring timely and efficient execution of tasks.
• Relationship Building: Build, lead, and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, leaders, and vendors to foster collaboration and support.
• Strategic Communications: Develop and execute strategic communications plans, including marketing promotional plans and communications strategies.
• Tactical Execution: Lead the tactical execution of marketing and communications plans, ensuring that all initiatives are carried out effectively.
• Process Improvement: Identify, coach, and manage process improvement initiatives, striving for functional excellence and continuous improvement.
• Content Creation and Editing: Write, edit, and create content and strategic messaging that adheres to relevant style guides and represents the Cummins brand.

• Enhance Cummins' profile and brand through effective public and media relations strategies.
• Collaborate with the Director of External Communications to implement the external communications and public relations strategy.
• Provide guidance on external communication strategies across all business units and functions, streamlining processes for efficiency and consistent messaging.
• Work with the Director to advise leaders on media relations and provide media training to global leaders.
• Serve on the crisis communications team, managing reputation and response strategies.
• Work closely with government relations and legal teams to ensure cohesive messaging on policy and legal matters.
• Develop, implement and refine critical messaging across the enterprise.
• Simplify complex messages for various stakeholders and business units.
• Write, edit and create content adhering to AP style and brand guidelines.
• Manage and update Cummins' style guide.
• Build and strengthen relationships with media, stakeholders, leaders and vendors.
• Manage budget and accounts payable.
• Plan and manage public relations events, including press conferences and media engagements, ensuring seamless execution and measuring success.
• Lead media and presentation training for key leaders, developing and maintaining effective presentations.
• Maintain a speaker matrix, identifying and training key leaders to effectively represent the company.
• Establish targets and make data-driven decisions by gathering, analyzing, and leveraging metrics and insights.
• Track and measure KPIs, including press releases and outgoing communications.