Director Communications and Public Relations

We are Generac, a leading energy technology company committed to powering a smarter world.

Over the 60 plus years of Generac’s history, we’ve been dedicated to energy innovation. From creating the home standby generator market category, to our current evolution into an energy technology solutions company, we continue to push new boundaries.

The Director Communications and Public Relations is a key member of the Corporate Marketing team, reporting to the Vice President of Communications & Public Relations. The individual will be responsible for creating and executing integrated communications strategies, building and nurturing strong media relations, increasing awareness for our products and services, and building a positive image for the company.

- Create and execute external communication strategies and programs to build and protect the company’s reputation across its various stakeholder groups. This includes developing holistic and effective stakeholder communication plans in collaboration with internal teams such as investors relations, public/government affairs, community relations, corporate strategy, etc.

- Build and execute holistic PR plans and initiatives to increase brand awareness and consideration across Generac’s portfolio of brands and products. This will include launching new products and supporting multi-channel campaigns by creating, executing, tracking, and measuring proactive communications plans as part of an integrated marketing/PR strategy.

- Coordinate and facilitate public relations agency relationships, budget, and agency resources on a global basis (primarily North America) to ensure communications strategies and objectives are achieved.

- Serve as trusted advisor by providing ongoing external communications counsel and support to senior leadership, subject matter experts and peers including strategic planning, messaging, speechwriting, award nominations and presentations creation.

- Develop proactive and reactive communications strategies that address issues affecting the company’s reputation and crisis response. Serve as a primary company spokesperson.

- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with local and national media reporters, publishers and editors.

- Create content and identify, leverage and integrate video digital, social media and other appropriate platforms to increase the effectiveness and timeliness of communications.

- Support and coordinate efforts for external communication tactics related to community relations, corporate sponsorships and donations, recruitment initiatives, and other corporate initiatives to build the employment brand for the company.

- Develop global external communications strategies that are strongly linked to business strategy including positioning as an industry leader across its global markets.

- Direct the work of the External Communications and social media teams; coach and develop staff; set clear expectations to inspire and motivate the team; manage performance – recognizing achievement, providing feedback and other actions as necessary.

- Bring innovative communications tools and approached to the team to increase efficiency and effectiveness as part of building a leading Communications and PR team.

Minimum Job Requirements

- Education

- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Work Experience

- 12 years’ experience in communications

- 10 years’ experience managing media relations and service as a corporate spokesperson in both broadcast and print media interviews.

- 7 years’ experience leading, managing and training others.

- Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

- Exceptional editing skills;

- Outstanding oral, written and presentations skills, with the ability to adapt messaging to various external and internal target audiences, and adapting content to different communication mediums;

- Strong project management abilities; comfortable working independently and in teams to create and meet deadlines; capable of developing and managing a project plan, establishing priorities, working to deadlines and controlling a number of projects at various stages of work;

- Ability to collaborate with all levels of management, as well as directly with customers, with decisiveness and flexibility;

- Ability to present information and influence across all levels of management;

- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Job Requirements

Work Experience

- Progressive experience in a communications role within a fast-scaling global manufacturing company;

- Comfortability taking story ideas from concept to launch, creating themes that can play through PR, social media, executive keynotes, marketing tactics and internal messaging;

- Previous experience building and maintaining effective relationships with the media, evaluating and managing corporate sponsorships; participating in brand positioning, and social media strategy:

- Previous experience in energy, durable goods, home improvement, building or electrical product markets a plus.

Physical Demands

: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel.