Senior Communications Leader, Global External Communications

The role of Senior Communications Leader requires a highly motivated, energetic, and creative communications professional with a bias toward action who will lead and manage PPG’s global corporate external communications. As part of our global communications and public affairs team of about 30 professionals, this position will have the opportunity to interact with team members and PPG leaders from across the world in driving, managing and supporting the communications goals of a Fortune 250 company. 

This key communications leadership role reports directly to PPG’s chief communications officer. The role is hybrid and will be based at PPG's headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.

Responsibilities 

Collaborate with PPG’s chief communications officer to develop and execute a comprehensive external communications strategy for PPG that includes these key areas and activities:

• Media relations- this includes building relationships, pitching key stories and managing all in-bound media inquiries regarding PPG/enterprise topics

• Be the key media contact for all PPG corporate announcements

• Support the CEO in all media appearances

• Serve as the official company spokesperson for PPG

• Serve on PPG’s CRU and be the key media contact

• Acquisitions and divestitures communications

• Global crisis and issues management

• CEO/leadership support: media messaging, talking points, presentations, speeches

• Oversight and governance of global external communications and newsbureau activities

• Key reputation rankings – management, outreach and managing content/applications for these key reputation measures

• Reputation management activities

• Corporate publications (PPG’s Annual Report), quarterly PPT

• Support key events, such as the Annual Shareholder Meeting (news announcements)

• Oversee frontline and operations communications

• Oversee sustainability comms and reporting

• Support S&T communications/innovation story telling

• Financial comms. support working with IR/Finance – quarterly earnings and key message development

Strategy and Oversight 

• Create global external communications strategy and plan.

• Formalize a team structure comprised of direct and indirect reports to drive communications activities at all levels of the organization.  This role has oversight responsibility for operations communication and global sustainability communications. 

• Develop a working group, comprised of talking partners from partner functions, who will lead development and implementation of continuous improvement in external communications.

• Strengthen and document processes for external communications across the enterprise. 

• Strengthen external communications measurement tools and efforts in working toward a data-driven, evidenced-based approach for external communications. 

• Develop plans to continuously improve external communications and support the overall goals of PPG’s business. 

• Implement digital tools to strengthen channels, further develop two-way communications channels and grow engagement capabilities. 

• Collaborate across the function to create and monitor a master calendar to support the execution of the external communications strategy. 

• Create innovative communication tactics to introduce new programs, processes or information, to increase awareness and adoption of current business-driven programs to drive business results. 

• Develop, manage and implement communication plans to deliver key messages and optimize business results, based on audience needs. 

• Develop best practices and template approaches that can be shared across team members for optimal efficiency and impact 

• Coordinate and track regional success metrics and KPIs for management reporting 

• Engage regional colleagues actively to support the successful delivery of external communications. 

• Strengthen and manage vendor and freelance support. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing communications or related field.  

• Ability to write quickly. Familiarity of Associated Press style is preferred.   

• Proven ability to be a “strategic doer” - develop and execute big picture, global internal communications strategies and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude to get the job done.