The Senior Manager of Communications for UK and Europe leads a dynamic and growing Communications team dedicated to implementing and executing internal and external communications for Lockheed Martin across all the UK and Europe region. The role will lead development and implementation of a strategic communications strategy, aligned to the various business strategies.
The position will provide the regional chief executives and business leaders with communications counsel and strategic advice and will partner with all appropriate business areas to execute business strategies.
This role, which reports into the Director, GBDS & International Communications will ensure that all media relations, advertising, marketing communications, employee communications and community relations are leveraged to support business and communications’ objectives.
- Lead the development, and execution of integrated communications strategies for UK and Europe, drawing on the full suite of practice areas to position the company in region
- Manage the UK and Europe Communications team.
- Support the Regional Chief Executives and business leaders as a trusted advisor and partner; provide guidance and support for media interviews, speaking engagements and employee communications.
- Build and sustain recognition of the Lockheed Martin brand and position its broad portfolio across the region.
- Collaborate closely with Lockheed Martin business area Communications teams to develop localized plans, promote key business pursuits and programs.
- Ensure consistency and coordination of regional communications activities and coordination of internal and external messaging.
- Build strategic relationships on behalf of the company with opinion-shaping journalists, industry peer communicators, military and diplomatic public affairs staffs.
- Build a proactive media relations programme to engage opinion-shaping journalists and commentators, to include new media and digital outlets.
- Manage regional advertising in consort with the corporate advertising team to establish priorities and ensure effective and appropriate messaging.
- Manage in-region PR agency resources to extend the reach of local teams and to facilitate the execution of effective communications programs.
- Provide overall leadership for regional employee communications to engage, retain and attract a high-skill workforce.
- Capture and share best practices across Lockheed Martin’s International communications teams.
- Develop and regularly update crisis communications plans and ensure readiness.
- Ensure that objectives and strategies are measurable to establish success and accurate benchmarking.
- Provide surge support for trade shows, major announcements, webcasts, internal meetings, speaking engagements and other events as needed to support the success of international communications programmes.
Required skills, qualifications and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field with significant communications experience including public relations, executive communications, internal communications, integrated communications, and corporate communications. Postgraduate education preferred.
- Leadership roles in government or private sector aerospace/defense, and experience advising publicly traded companies preferred.
- Experience driving integrated, international or regional communications initiatives with demonstrated impact reaching corporate stakeholders.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and compellingly.
- Deep understanding of the geopolitical landscape, international news environment and implications for multinational corporations.
- Ability to build new capabilities and integrate new tools, gaining trust among executives and inspiring new ways of working throughout Communications teams.
- Experience leading through influence in a matrixed, geographically distributed, culturally varied environment.
- Ability to translate corporate milestones into news-making and storytelling opportunities that positively promote the organization’s thought leadership and reputation.
- Proven expertise in crisis communications, including developing regional and enterprise responses to crises.
- Experience designing and implementing international or regional communications strategies aligned with corporate strategy.
- Ability to travel as required.
Desired Skills:
- Strong leadership and team management skills, with a proven track record of managing high-performing teams, geographically distributed teams and budgets.
- Ability to build strategic and tactical plans that drive perceptions, deliver key messages, and achieve results.
- Innovative and creative thinker, with a strong work ethic and a positive attitude.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including executive management.
- Experience in a dynamic work environment, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
