Senior Director, Business Communications

Grant Thornton is seeking a Business Communications Senior Director (Leader of the Americas) to join the team. Approved office locations can be found below. 

Grant Thornton is re-imagining its Communications function to 1) support the business and anchor in the CEO’s and organization’s key priorities; 2) deliver on a global scale with greater efficiency, quality and operational rigor; and 3) broaden the scope of the core team through new capabilities and competencies including M&A, investor relations, issues management, change enablement and tech integration, such as AI tools and other resources. 

The Senior Director of Business Communications will have proven experience leading a complex, matrixed communications function and serving as a trusted advisor and people leader. This individual will focus on the creation and execution of programs, processes and outcomes in support of the CEO, Executive Committee and the broader firm. Business communications is at the core of our client-centric delivery model and this individual is expected to identify and create programs, campaigns and messaging that invigorates and engages employees, at all levels, enabling the firm to bring distinctive points of view and messaging to various stakeholder audiences. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Work closely with the Head of Communications to create energy, excitement and market-relevant news, that cascades across the business and mobilizes stakeholders to execute on the firm’s strategic objectives.
• Ensure firm leaders are better able to effectively communicate strategic business and reputation-enhancing messages that build credibility, foster growth and high performance, and provide transparency and clarity to its teams and stakeholders.  
• Equip leaders with market-data, trends reporting and other intel that helps them stay proactive and prepared for authentic, timely and relevant engagement with stakeholders.  
• Work closely with the Office of the CEO and other functional areas to maintain a deep understanding of the business, constantly applying a change-enablement mindset.  
• Apply innovative perspectives that continue to promote a change-rich company, including the application of investor-relations and M&A informed practices, leveraging the reputation of a 100-year-old company, while remaining cutting-edge in approach to all we do. 
• Provide overall direction for storytelling, message delivery, and activating the firm’s brand and culture. 
• Create and guide the development of senior-level executive communications programs to impact target audiences and in support of our recruiting, retention and overall talent value proposition. 
• Leverage key points of differential around service delivery, business model, products and offerings, and purposeful impact (e.g., culture, inclusion, community).
• Lead and develop a high-functioning and high-performing team of Communications Business Partners and specialists, with a pulse on what is happening in the market across the Americas and globally.
• Serve as a key member of the Communications leadership team, supporting the scale of a global workforce and in collaboration with teammates in Europe, India and other areas of the world.  

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND IMPACT 

• Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Journalism, English or other related major. 
• Minimum of 17 years’ experience as a communications professional with current track record of senior executive support in a dynamic, matrix organization. 
• Proven ability to ideate, create, and execute breakthrough programs, processes and outcomes with tangible and measurable results.
• Exude confidence in executive settings and be intellectually curious.
• Represent the persona of a leader that people want to follow and learn from – having the capacity to serve as a top-notch coach, helping the team to be their best and produce optimal results. 
• Outstanding oral, written, editing, creative and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a highly matrixed environment and perform under pressure.
• Ability to quickly grasp complex subject matter into accessible, useful content.
• Tech-savvy and ability to leverage tools and technology to foster efficiencies (e.g., MS Office Suite, Smartsheet, Copilot, other AI).
• Well connected to the communications and business community, with resources such as associations, memberships, and others that promote continued growth and development and investment