Senior Manager, Workplace Communications

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

     

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity
This position works onsite out of our headquarters at Abbott Park, Illinois.

What You’ll Work On
The Senior Communications Manager will play a pivotal role in helping formulate, execute and sustain an external communications strategy for Abbott that positions it as a premier company and employer globally. It will also lead the workplace strategy and execution of content generation for a number of the company's social channels and executive leaders. This position requires a strategic thinker and creative storyteller who has demonstrated the ability to work with top-tier media, has a global mindset, and has developed compelling storylines for traditional, digital, and social channels. This person must be an excellent writer with a deep understanding of the news business, media trends and the converged media landscape and have a portfolio of media placements driven by him/her, preferably but not limited to ones that support company reputation across a number of attributes, including management, workplace/HR news and policy communications. 

Core Job Responsibilities

• Position Abbott as a leading company and employer globally through proactive external communications and executive communications.
• Cultivate a deep understanding of, and strong relationships with, media and social media influencers.
• Maintain and develop relationships with editors and reporters through thoughtful, strategic engagement – especially related to workforce topics and corporate reputation.
• Collaborate with C-suite leaders, particularly the executive vice president of Human Resources, to develop and implement communications strategies.
• Prepare Abbott leadership before interviews including contributing to key message development and positioning.
• Staff on-site management of media interviews and events.
• Offer a deep understanding and utilization of social media channels and engagement strategies
• Must be a strong teammate who:
  • Operates with principled leadership and sound business ethics, exercising the highest level of integrity.
  • Can adapt to an organization in transition; entrepreneurial mindset combined with an ability to navigate in a large, complex organization.
  • Takes a global view.
  • Treats others with respect – listens and cares.

Position Accountability / Scope

• The senior manager will report directly to the Divisional Vice President, External Communications.
• Readiness to travel 15%+ annually.

Required Qualifications

Minimum Education

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, public affairs or related field – or equivalent real-world experience.

Minimum Experience / Training Required

• More than 10 years of experience in media relations and/or journalism, with a deep understanding of how to use external communications to enhance reputation.
• Skilled at building pu