Director strategic communications job description

Join The Chronicle Team!

Born from a tradition of nonprofit journalism and deeply engaged in innovative digital ventures, The Chronicle is powered by an essential mission: to inform, empower, and connect the people and institutions that work to improve society. Today, The Chronicle serves the higher-education and nonprofit communities through two industry-leading news and information resources: The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The Chronicle is seeking An Associate Director, Strategic Communications to join its Marketing Department. The Associate Director, Strategic Communications, in close collaboration with the Managing Director of Marketing and senior business and editorial leadership, is responsible for developing and executing a robust and multi-faced communications program to increase the visibility of The Chronicle of Higher Education's and The Chronicle of Philanthropy's brands, products, editorial coverage, and executive leadership within the higher education, non-profit, and publishing communities. This position is also responsible for corporate communications activities

What's in it for you?

Medical/Dental/Vision Plans
24 PTO Days + Company Holidays
Paternal/Family/Adoption Leave
401K with Company Contribution & Profit Sharing
Tuition Assistance
And more!

What you'll do:

Work with key business and editorial stakeholders to build and execute an annual strategic communications plan that drives awareness of The Chronicle's brands, editorial coverage, and expertise in covering the higher education and non-profit sectors.
Manage all outbound media relations activities for The Chronicle, proactively placing editorial coverage and company news in trade and mainstream media.
Oversee all public relations operations, including media list management and the tracking and reporting of mainstream, trade, and social media placements to measure the impact of PR activities on our brands, audiences, and revenues.
Manage editorial and executive speaker or panel engagements at industry conferences.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, journalism, or equivalent field of study preferred
10-15 years of experience in media relations, preferably with experience working directly with a newsroom in a publishing or media organization.
Experience growing the visibility of company executives and subject matter experts in mainstream and trade media outlets.
Exemplary communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to interact with external media contacts, reporters, and senior executives.
Ability to think strategically and execute tactically.
Superior writing, research, presentation, and project management skills.

The Chronicle is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse work environment. We encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply.

WestRock (NYSE: WRK) is paper and packaging leader generating more than $18.7 billion in annual sales. WestRock operates more than 30 containerboard and paperboard mills and has more than 320 operating and business locations, employing more than 50,000 employees in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Learn more at **www.westrock.com** .

At WestRock, our culture is built upon shared values and behaviors - they are fundamentals for winning together. **Integrity - Respect - Accountability - Excellence** are the standards of our behavior.

The Accounting and Finance organization is a mission and results driven team that operates with a strong sense of collaboration to support the business, while utilizing our technical expertise, as we manage processes to record, reconcile, and report all financial activity of the enterprise. We bring financial context into the picture when partnering with the lines of business, senior and executive management, and our board of directors.

The **Director of Corporate Finance - Strategic FP&A** will report to the VP Corporate FP&A and will serve as a key member of the Corporate FP&A team with primary responsibility for coordinating the consolidated corporate financial model through EPS and cash flow, including forecasting, analysis, and periodic 3-to-5-year financial outlooks. This highly visible role is one of three Directors that report to the VP Corporate FP&A and provides the opportunity to support senior leadership in strategic planning, capital allocation decisions, quarterly earnings calls, and Board of Director's meetings, as well as bringing value-added analyses and insight to key challenges and opportunities facing the business.
**HOW YOU WILL IMPACT WESTROCK**

+ Serve as a trusted advisor and hands-on financial partner to senior management, including managing special projects and analysis for the Treasurer and CFO.

+ Partner with business segments as a primary Corporate FP&A liaison to understand key business drivers and proactively bring insight and recommendations to help explain results, model potential outcomes for strategic options, and maintain realistic yet challenging goals.

+ Own the consolidated corporate financial model, collaborating with Treasury, Tax, Accounting, and Segment Finance teams to provide timely and accurate forecasting and analysis, along with periodic scenario planning and evaluation of portfolio return metrics (e.g., ROIC) to support strategic decision making.

+ Support Investor Relations in developing external messaging, materials, and preparing leadership for quarterly earnings calls and investor conferences and meetings.

+ Partner with HR and CFO to develop targets for and track performance to annual Short-Term and Long-Term incentive plans.

+ Develop and implement strategies to continuously improve Corporate FP&A processes and enhance our understanding of drivers of the business.

+ Lead a team of 2 to 3 high potential FP&A analysts, providing coaching and mentoring to accelerate their development.

**WHAT YO** **U NEED TO SUCCEED**

+ Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business/Engineering, MBA highly preferred.

+ 10+ years of steady progression in a complex finance environment of a large corporation, displaying superior financial analysis, influence, and leadership skills

+ Exceptional execution skills, displaying persistent sense of urgency, tenacity and resourcefulness and not requiring regular direction.

+ Strong analysis and modeling skills, able to leverage available data to model possible outcomes, draw conclusions, and communicate recommendations easily digested by operating executives.

+ Ability to independently execute numerous projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, working in partnership with operating partners as the sole finance support or with analyst support at times.

+ High degree of attention to detail and sense of urgency.

+ Ability to add value to the Company through coherent and thoughtful analysis.

+ Ability to manage and lead diverse teams and develop self and others, ambition for continued growth and passion for making a difference.

+ Expert Hyperion, Excel, and PowerPoint skills.

+ Superior verbal and written communications at all levels in the company.

+ Manufacturing industry experience is a plus.

**What we offer:**

+ Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence

+ A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work

_WestRock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create and maintain a diverse workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. WestRock does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law._

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

**Position Purpose:**

The Director of Strategic Communications is responsible for developing and promoting the overall messaging of the company's strategic priorities, business leadership, CSR, and executive communications, both internally and externally, in conjunction with Investor Relations and other key stakeholders. The Director will work closely with the company's CEO and Senior Leadership Team. The Director will also operate as a tightly connected partner with Investor Relations, Strategic Business Development, and the broader Corporate Communications team. The Director will manage all executive communications, including executive media relations and any necessary speech writing and internal message development, as needed. The Director will develop the overarching strategy and execution of internal strategy communications programs.

**Major Tasks, Responsibilities & Key Accountabilities:**

40% - Develop integrated internal/external messaging and strategies; Appropriately communicate the company's strategic vision among associates as well as external audiences, as appropriate

20% - Drive collaboration on message development and consistency among numerous cross-functional groups

20% - Develop clear messaging architecture to ensure consistent strategy communications across leadership and various business functions

10% - Oversee coordination and day-to-day logistics needs for internal and external events for the CEO and Executive Leadership Team

10% - Manage day-to-day communications activities for the company's CEO and other Executive Leadership Team, as needed

**Nature and Scope:**

This position reports to the VP Corporate Communications and External Affairs.

This position has up to 5 direct reports.

**Environmental Job Requirements:**

**Environment:**

1. Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

**Travel:**

Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.

**Additional Environmental Job Requirements:**

**Standard Minimum Qualifications:**

Must be eighteen years of age or older.

Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

**Additional Minimum Qualifications:**

**Education Required:**

The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

**Years of Relevant Work Experience:**

8 years

**Certifications & Licenses:**

**Physical Requirements:**

Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

**Additional Qualifications:**

**Preferred Qualifications:**

A college degree is required. An advanced degree in Business, Finance, English or Communications is preferred. Candidate shoud have 10-15 years of experience with a significant level of prior experience in a senior communications role, specifically developing strategic communications with an agency or Fortune 100 company.

**Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies:**

Ability to develop, articulate and drive execution of large, long-term strategic communications initiatives

Extensive experience working with senior-most leadership with the confidence and ability to provide helpful feedback to all leadership levels

Proven experience working with financial functions such as Investor Relations to translate complex messaging in a creative fashion

Strong business acumen and the ability to comprehend and act on complex situations

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.