Sr Mgr External Communications

POSITION SUMMARY: Republic Services is a leader in the environmental services industry, providing customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste and environmental solutions. It is a Fortune 300 company based in Phoenix, with 40,000 team members across the U.S. and Canada. Its world-class Communications team is responsible for strategic external and internal communications, as well as charitable giving and meetings and events. The Senior Manager, External Communications, reports to the Director, External Communications, and manages both short- and long-term communications strategies and programs designed to advance and protect the company’s external reputation.

This position is responsible for company positioning and communications strategy/execution for critical and corporate issues related to the environmental services business and hazardous waste management. Duties include planning for, monitoring and acting on reputational opportunities and threats, representing the company with media and training executives to do the same, and developing messaging for use with various audiences. This person will develop content for media, executives, corporate reports and social platforms, and work directly with other functional teams and stakeholders to quickly align company positioning. They will provide direction to external agencies, establish meaningful KPIs and ensure delivery of agreed-upon objectives.

The Sr. Manager will work closely with internal partners, including the field, legal, sustainability, public affairs and investor relations to develop strategies, tactics and messaging that protect and advance the brand, and serve as company spokesperson.  They must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and a strong understanding of corporate issues management, sustainability and communications best practices.   Daily work will require triaging immediate and long-term communications needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develops proactive and reactive communications campaigns and strategies to effectively advance and protect and enhance the company’s reputation nationally and locally

• Develops short- and long-term company messaging and content, and is responsible for accuracy, timeliness and relevancy

• Manages issue tracking in coordination with key internal partners, including public affairs

• Develops new processes and best practices, obtaining buy-in from internal partners

• Actively builds strong partnerships with colleagues, external organizations and executives

• Conducts media training and serves as company spokesperson

• Directs agency partner support, including planning, execution and KPI reporting

• This position may require travel by air, car and/or other modes of transportation up to 10% of the time

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Corporate issues management strategy and communications experience

• Familiarity with the environmental services industry and environmental sustainability issues

• Familiarity with the federal/state regulatory environment

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• 7 - 10 years of relevant experience in corporate communications, journalism, public relations or public affairs/government

• Experience serving as a spokesperson with national media and preparing executives for media engagement.

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

• Experience ideating, developing and implementing through cross-functional collaboration to achieve goals.

• This position is responsible for communications for critical corporate sustainability f