Senior Communications Manager, Home Technology

About Us:

Dyson is a global technology enterprise. We’re growing fast and our ambition is huge – more categories, more locations and more people. Dyson launched in the US in 2002, and since then operations have grown exponentially. Our US headquarters is based in Chicago's Fulton Market neighborhood. We also have employees working in field sales, our service centers, and in our growing number of Dyson Demo Stores across the country.

We're committed to our campus culture and want to have people collaborating, developing, and learning from each other. By having everyone on campus together, we have been able to nurture a fantastic social and dynamic environment.

About the Role:

The US Comms Senior Manager, FC + EC Technology (Business Unit Lead) will manage daily media relations and support major initiatives to create awareness, interest, excitement and true understanding of Dyson, its ethos, its products and technologies, and its future in the US. They will ensure that all Dyson stories and opportunities are maximized in an effective and efficient way.

The role will be the main media contact for the Beauty Business Unit and will also have cross-functional communications responsibilities [press, influencer] across full Brand, and cross-functionally across other Business Units along with any other applicable new ventures for Dyson. Another Communications area of focus for the role is also overseeing the brand’s Corporate/Internal Communications strategy reflective of their Business Unit in partnership with the Head Of Communications, Dyson Americas, by advocating Dyson’s culture, enhancing employer branding, and facilitating understanding of business goals to support the Americas Leadership Team including the development of our reputation-driving communications, overseeing and executing internal messaging, and strengthening awareness of our corporate narratives.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES AND SUPPORTING ACTIVTIES:

Communications – Business Unit: develop, execute and support communications strategies to share Dyson news and elevate Dyson’s reputation externally. Individual is responsible for overseeing the overall FC and EC Business Units strategies and results across press, influencer, and events.

• FC and EC Communications

• Set media launch strategies for key products, campaigns, and partnerships that propel Dyson’s reputation forward as key contact for applicable Business Unit

• Foster and maintain relationships with industry KOLs across press, industry icons, key architects, and beyond

• Daily pitching to the media and securing regular positive coverage — about Dyson technology, the benefits of Dyson machines, timely events and cultural moments, and more

• Oversee and respond to inbound media inquiries including business-unit focused crisis communications and strategy in partnership with Head Of Communications

• Oversee agency relationship and strategy execution

• Write thorough creative briefs to request help and materials for projects and launches, and keep the team organized as we execute on those plans

• Manage PR budget

• “Never be satisfied” and always push for more results, increased interest, and sharing the Dyson point of difference to drive Dyson desirability

• Communications – Internal/Corporate and Reputation Communications

• Collaborate with Head Of Communications on Business Unit-focused internal communications strategy and implementation. Utilize copywriting, events, creative and storytelling skills to feature authentic, encouraging, and pioneering stories from and around Dyson. Aid in drafting important company-wide communications, including executive emails, internal newsletter articles, and other formats, as needed.

• Reputation: develop Dyson reputation narrative. Identify and manage relations with key media outlets, influencers, and KOLs for reputation communications, creating always-on communications opportunities. Manage execution of crisis communications strategies when needed for Business Unit.

• Support the Head of Communications, Dyson Americas and collaborate with cross-functional teams, playing a pivotal role in issue/reputation management process from media and social media perspective.

• Become an integrated team member with cross-functional leadership teams via quarterly trips to Chicago HQ.

• Influencers

• Drive Dyson Americas Influencer strategy across Business Unit[s] & broader Brand reputation. Provide strategic guidance in partnership with Head Of Communications to market leads in the Americas region to ensure aligned storytelling, messaging and creative.

• Manage Influencer Business Unit budget.

• Manage and execute events and influencer activations across both digital and physical – develop engaging, educational and socially shareable ways of bringing Dyson technology to life across all categories.

• Own the internal influencer calendar across all tactics for Business Unit – industry/brand-lead event opportunities, always on, NPD launches, seeding and new project opportunities / identify new ways of working in influencer space.

• Handle all selection, negotiating, and contracting/briefing influencers in partnership with agency, ensuring expertise in brand voices, trending creators, and 360-brand approach to talent

• Manage final content review once partners are confirmed for each campaign, including category input, in partnership with Head Of Communications.

• Monitor and optimise budgets to drive key priorities and ensure maximum ROI.

• Amplify influencer storytelling across each campaign, drive awareness, and align with Global PR, Communications and Marketing objectives and share insights and best practices for influencer and event activity across markets.

• Cross-Category Support

• Support Communications team initiatives across all categories and business priorities, with responsibility to understand full product portfolio and launch calendars

• Help develop plans for non-traditional PR work, including social media, influencers, events, placement opportunities, and more — ultimately working to raise awareness in key places and among key people and as growth opportunities for full 360-strategy

• Recommend new areas and angles to stimulate more awareness of Dyson, its technology, and its philosophies in the US

• Have/develop an understanding and ability to story tell full Dyson brand, inclusive of Dyson farming, Dyson family, and Dyson Institute / James Dyson Foundation and Awards

Be a good colleague — effectively communicate and collaborate with other departments within Dyson to ensure maximum impact.

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with internal partners in marketing and sales to ensure effective collaboration and sharing of Communications plans with key stakeholders across the business.

• Be an active part of our global communications team – share best practices and new ideas, keep an eye on what’s working in other markets and how we can translate their successes to the US, and more.

• Work in tandem with the rest of US marketing team and other departments within the US business to support business goals

People/Agency Management

• Agencies

• Manage reporting, influencer and PR agencies day to day, helping to set KPIs, keep teams on track and report results internally and globally

• Cross-functionally support influencer agency to ensure overall Business Unit strategy is maintained / updated

• Team

• Day-to-day management of US Communications Specialist in partnership with other Senior Comms Manager. Responsible for upskilling, training, and day-to-day responsibilities and results.

About You:

• 6+ years of experience in PR or communications.

• 1+ years of experience in leading people preferred.

• Strategic thinker; demonstrates ability to take a broad overview of issues and to identify most salient points. Takes an inventive approach.

• Analytical skills; ability to identify and analyze key trends, issues, and problems.

• Collaborative; able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of people both within the US Communications team and other teams across the US and Global business. Works co-operatively with others. as part of a team.

• Written and oral communication; able to present complex information and arguments in a coherent and accessible format to senior management. Skilled in using a variety of oral and written communication presentation techniques to ensure recommendations are considered.

• Creativity; demonstrates imagination, creativity and divergent thinking. Encourages creativity in others. Shows openness to alternative approaches and promotes considered risk taking. Balanced by good judgment in solving problems.

• Resilience; manages personal effectiveness by controlling emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks, or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation, and energy.

• Project management skills; must be able to manage budgets and deadlines – also plan, achieve and evaluate results.

• Successful media relations experience; having an up-to-date understanding of US media (print, broadcast and online) is essential. Must have a proven ability to develop and directly pitch stories to journalists.

• Demonstrate leadership behaviors; communicate, inspire, and challenge. Let people do it for themselves, get people to see beyond their teams, think long-term, invent and improve, and be passionate.

Benefits:

At Dyson, how we reward you is linked to our high-performance culture. But it’s about more than salary and bonus. Through a package of financial, lifestyle and health benefits, we support whatever stage of life you’re in and the moments that matter.

Financial benefits:

• 401K with up to a 4% match

• Company paid Life Insurance and AD&D

• Flexible Savings Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)

Lifestyle benefits:

• Competitive Paid Time Off Benefits including Separate Holiday, Sick, and Vacation Time

• Pre-tax Commuter Benefits (applicable areas only)

• Generous Child Care Leave Program

• Wellness Program

• Employee Assistance Program

• Dyson Product Discounts

Health benefits:

• Multi-Level Healthcare Coverage Options

• Vision & Dental Coverage

• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Salary Range:

$167,600 - 209,500 + annual bonus opportunity

Dyson is an equal opportunity employer. We know that great minds don’t think alike, and it takes all kinds of minds to make our technology so unique. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other any other dimension of diversity.