External Communications Manager

Job Description You don’t see it, but it’s there. Our employees work on the world’s most advanced electronics – from saving emissions in the City of Lights to powering the Mars Rover to protecting the F-35 fighter jet. At Electronic Systems (ES) you’ll be among the brightest minds, working on the aerospace and defense industry’s most difficult problems. Drawing strength from our differences, we’re innovating for the future. And you can, too.

In this role you will play a key role in sharing the ES story with audiences around the world. You will oversee the sector’s media relations activities to promote the products, capabilities and successes of a global organization of more than 16,000 employees with sales exceeding $6 billion. This role will oversee the development and execution of external communications strategies for the sector’s largest pursuits and programs within the ES sector. You will also build an in-depth knowledge of the organization’s technology, innovation, and culture to inform critical projects and campaigns. As a trusted advisor, you will oversee strategic and integrated plans to ensure message alignment and increase return on investment in support of business priorities. Ideally, you will bring to the role an understanding of the company’s competitive environment and knowledge of key customers and industry challenges.

This position provides leadership, guidance, and coordination to the ES Media Relations team. Sound like a team you want to be a part of? Come build your career with BAE Systems.

You will:

• Work closely with leadership and business stakeholders across ES to develop external strategies that align with key campaigns in support of the brand, strategy and business objectives.
• Develop and implement develop external communications strategies to raise awareness of the BAE Systems brand in communities where we live and work.
• Proactively develop and lead a comprehensive external communications strategy that delivers measurable results based on key performance indicators.
• Lead the sector’s incident communications response – partnering with colleagues across the function to deliver a unified and comprehensive approach.
• Manage and build relationships with key technology, business, regional and local news media outlets to generate positive coverage and third-party endorsement for the sector.
• Manage, coordinate, and support the development of key messages for earned and sponsored media content.
• Monitor the competitive environment to proactively identify trends and potential issues for sector, campaign and communications leaders and teams. Recommend and support solutions.
• Collaborate with marketing to create materials to enhance storytelling with external audiences.
• Manage, mentor, develop and retain talent. Be proactive, take action and make decisions regarding personnel matters. Ensure the team is aligned and collaborating to deliver maximum impact.
• Drive collaboration across a matrixed team of diverse communications professionals.
• Provide strategic communications counsel and guidance to senior leadership.
• Develop, maintain and report out on metrics to demonstrate investment impact.
• Collaborate with other sectors and BAE Systems, Inc. headquarters teams on strategic international and joint campaigns.
• Demonstrate alignment with the sector’s cultural principles and model safe and ethical behavior.
• Ensure compliance with appropriate company policies and procedures.
• Report to the Director of External Communications and be an active member of the Communications leadership team.

Because this role involves a combination of independent and collaborative work, this position can be conducted 100% remotely.Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, or Marketing or similar.
• 10 years of experience in a communications discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience).

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated people management and leadership abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Strong relationship building, negotiation, time management and influencing skills.
• Established business acumen.
• Demonstrated track record of leading enterprise-level communications projects and campaigns.
• In-depth knowledge of modern communications tactics, media, procedures and concepts.
• Must be a team builder, collaborator, networker, and motivator with a strong desire to learn and grow.
• Must work collaboratively and act as one team by supporting others to achieve our vision and fulfill our missions.
• Ability to simultaneously initiate, prioritize, and coordinate multiple projects and tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional proofreading and copyediting skills.
• Proficiency in all MS Office programs.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Defense or high-tech industry communications experience preferred.
• Proficiency working with social listening tools.
• Exposure to Google Analytics or web analytics platforms.
• Exposure to search engine optimization (SEO).
• Exposure to Salesforce or other customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $132000 - $224400

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.