Senior Communications Manager

Description

Position at Zones

Company Overview:

When it comes to IT solution providers, there are a lot of choices. But when it comes to providers with innovative and differentiating end-to-end service offerings, there's really only one: Zones - First Choice for IT.TM

Zones is a Global Solution Provider of end-to-end IT solutions with an unmatched supply chain. Positioned to be the IT partner you need, Zones, a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in business for over 35 years, specializes in Digital Workplace, Cloud & Data Center, Networking, Security, and Managed/Professional/Staffing services. Operating in more than 120 countries, leveraging a robust portfolio, and utilizing the highest certification levels from key partners, including Microsoft, Apple, Cisco, Lenovo, Adobe, and more, Zones has mastered the science of building digital infrastructures that change the way business does business ensuring whatever they need, they can Consider IT Done. Follow Zones, LLC on Twitter @Zones, and LinkedIn and Facebook.

Position Overview:

We're looking for a strategic communication marketer with digitally savvy chops to increase our market presence and ensure our customers are at the center of our messaging.

As the Senior Communications Manager, you will be responsible for driving Zones thought leadership via corporate comms (i.e., PR, AR) and digital channel comms (i.e., email, website, paid search, SEO, digital media), internal comms, sales comms and social media. You'll be responsible for both strategy development and implementation of the company's overall communication strategy for external and internal audiences across media channels. In addition, this role will support executive leadership as a comms adviser. This role will manage a team of communication professionals for each function. Overall, this role will work directly to build and scale the overall Zones voice in the market, elevate brand awareness, drive customer demand, build influence with key business decision-makers, and help position our brand in our customers' hearts and minds. This role will also help position Zones for success via industry recognitions, help establish and execute the internal communications plan, and help create a global social and communications calendar for the company.

You are an exceptional global communicator, dedicated media practitioner, and collaborative player who can roll up your sleeves and lead cross-functional teams throughout the organization.

This position will report to the Director of Marcom and is based out of the Auburn Office with the ability to work remote.

What you'll do as the Senior Communications Manager:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Supervising multiple junior staff remotely by mentoring, motivating, actively coaching, consistently providing honest and timely feedback, holding them accountable, and being invested in their development
• Managing, executing and overseeing multiple workstreams/stakeholder relationships simultaneously; ensuring quality work, deadline and budget adherence, and plan creation and execution is aligned to our goals;
• Create segment-based, audience-based communication strategies and execute a plan to drive Zones' brand positioning as the First Choice for IT™ and increase Zones' overall market presence/awareness.
• Understand the media landscape, plan the most impactful way to drive thought leadership, speaking engagements, and news announcements, and assess coverage and results for Zones' products, solutions, and services.
• Create and implement the Communications framework and processes to enable the organization to scale and ensure consistency in our messaging.
• Develop the Communication and digital media strategy and plans to drive messaging cadence in the market and internally.
• Drive thought leadership by analyzing, selecting, and managing PR, AR, and media agencies to deliver results per execution plan.
• Serve as media crisis management (security issues, product/solution failures, etc.) and respond quickly to draft statements.
• Position Zones for success via industry recognition.
• Drive PR and social media strategy for major events and announcements.
• Create a global social and communications calendar.
• As needed, provide media briefing, presentations, and coaching to Zones' spokespersons.
• Define, implement and report KPIs/metrics to track Zones' all-up market awareness (i.e., share of voice, etc.), positioning, and social analytics to increase engagement.
• Collaborate across teams to align strategy and execution to drive deliverables and results.

Deliverables

• A comprehensive communication plan and editorial calendar to drive awareness and demand for Zones.
• Monthly and quarterly reporting on KPIs.
• Communication content/messaging per target audience.
• Comms process and framework to enable the organization to scale.
• Project management of AR/PR vendors/agencies within deliverables, timeline, and budget.
• Coaching and performance assessment for team execution excellence.

What you will bring to the team:

Qualifications

• BA in Journalism, Market Communication, Business, or a related degree.
• 6+ years of PR experience in a B2B corporate environment (technology industry experience preferred).
• Experience building and driving integrated communication plans, agency management, public relations, developing story pitches, developing messaging, managing social media, and working with PR/AR agencies.
• Ability to effectively manage media campaigns with influencers in various computer trade, business, and consumer publications and broadcasts.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and exceptional storytelling, including speeches and presentations.
• Ability to articulate complex issues and formulate messaging and recommendations to influence various audiences, including executive influences.
• Results-driven with a consistent record of delivering campaigns and launching products that build hyper-scale B2B brands via cross-channel communications and relationship building.
• Ambitious, self-motivated, thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, and effectively manages priorities.
• Exceptional cross-group collaboration skills to successfully and independently work across many teams and functions.
• Experienced in planning, strategic thinking, business savvy, execution excellence, and detail-oriented.
• High integrity, excellent judgment, decision-making skills, and the utmost discretion in managing confidential corporate information.
• Top-level critical thinking and planning skills, including setting priorities, managing work plans, and working within budgets.

Qualified candidates can expect a salary range of $120,000 - $130,000.

Note: Compensation is benchmarked on local Washington area market rates. Qualified candidates in other locations can expect a salary package that may be adjusted based off applicable cost of wages in their respective location.

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Zones offers a comprehensive Benefits package

While we're committed to providing top-tier solutions, we're just as committed to supporting our own team. Our employees enjoy a variety of comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, a 401(k) plan with matching provision, paid time off, and much more. And as a Minority Business Enterprise, a Corporate Plus member of the Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council, and an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, our community is just as diverse.

At Zones, work is more than a job -with exciting careers with a global team who are client centric, have a passion for tech, who embrace change and lifelong learning in a collaborative culture. If you're interested in working on the cutting edge of IT innovation, sales, engineering, operations, administration, and more, Zones is the place for you!

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status or on the basis of disability.