Public Relations Manager Light Trucks and SUVs

This person must be located in one of these geographic locations: Detroit, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco or be willing to relocate to Nashville, TN.

Overall Responsibilities:

The Public Relations Manager Light Trucks and SUVs (Consumer Product & Technology), will lead internal and external communications for the company’s consumer tire business (OE & Replacement) and consumer-focused brand marketing initiatives. In addition, this role will also be accountable for managing communications pertaining to mobility solutions and sustainability initiatives targeted to consumer customers. This position will play a key role in managing the reputation of Bridgestone Americas among various key stakeholders, including but not limited to teammates, media, dealers, consumers, OEMs, and strategic partners. The position will interact with teammates at all levels of the organization, including Business Presidents and C-suite executives, and will serve as a key partner to manage the organization through significant transformational change. The position will ensure all communications developed are high quality and align with enterprise initiatives at the Bridgestone Americas and Global levels. Content delivered by this position must be multi-channel; compelling, accurate and well organized; and have a clear and consistent style/tone.

Specific Responsibilities:

· Develop integrated communications strategies, plans and activities to successfully launch new products, services and solutions for the Consumer OE and Consumer Replacement businesses in the Truck, Highway and Off-Road product categories.

· Provide strategic communications programming/support for all consumer-facing mobility solutions being developed by the company’s Mobility Solutions business.

· Provide strategic communications programming/support for sustainability solutions being targeted to Consumer OE and Consumer Replacement customers.

· Partner with Marketing, Strategy, Engineering and Influencer teams to develop the product story, subject matter experts, media assets, and media/influencer targets for successful product launches and Share of Voice sustainment.

· Identify unique and intriguing storytelling opportunities to drive attention, excitement and business results in support of Global Communications objectives.

· Generate high quality earned media coverage for Bridgestone and its consumer-related tires, services and solutions.

· Build relationships with leading automotive, lifestyle, business and technology media to secure strategic earned media placements.

· Drive thought leadership strategy and secure speaking engagements for company subject matter experts and produce content for each opportunity.

· Produce social media content for corporate and marketing channels to amplify the company’s consumer initiatives.

· Oversee third-party agency resources to produce results in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

· Manage budget for all consumer-related communications activities and initiatives.

· Write internal communications, including personnel announcements and organizational change announcements, in support of the Consumer OE, Consumer Replacement and Mobility Solutions businesses.

· Support communications for Special Projects as needed, including preparing communications materials for M&A, Product Recalls, and more.

· Monitor and mitigate issues on an ongoing basis to protect the company’s reputation among key stakeholders; align with Enterprise Crisis Management team and provide crisis communications support as needed.

Qualifications:

· 7-10 years of relevant work experience in corporate communications, public relations, journalism or another related field.

· Superior influencing and negotiation skills, including the ability to lead and work collaboratively with a cross-functional team of both internal teammates and external agency partners.

· Continuous demonstration of superior problem-solving, decision-making and project management skills.

· ‘Visual first’ mindset and proven ability to write content in a clear, concise, compelling way in the face of changing deadlines.

· Can-do, self-starter attitude and a sense of urgency in a rapidly changing environment.

· Results-oriented with an ability to think strategically while executing tactically.

· Executive presence and proven experience working with C-suite executives.

· Strong skills in project management, client service, time management, multi-tasking; an ability to adhere to fixed deadlines and flexibility to handle changing deadlines.

· Superior attention to detail.

· Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal and presentation skills.

· Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Adobe Acrobat.

· Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field of study.

· Global mindset, previous experience managing direct reports, and experience working in a matrix organization preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree; 6 y+ years of relevant experience including 3-5 years management or direct/indirect leadership experience

Or Master’s degree; 4+ years of relevant experience including 2-4 years management or direct/indirect leadership experience

Bridgestone Americas