Description
Communication Specialist needed in Alexandria, VA!!!!
BB16446
Alexandria, VA 22314
Main Purpose of role:
Working with business leaders and employees, the Senior Internal Communication Specialist will support and deliver the communications needs for the Managing Directors of the Intellectual Property Solutions business and the Scientific & Scholarly Research businesses on a short-term basis. The successful candidate will provide communications that are innovative, engaging and fun; that encourage staff to be curious about our business, to get involved in our online discussions and innovation forums, and ultimately, drive engagement and performance levels ever upwards.
The ideal candidate will be a self starter with a strong service ethic, a flair for creative writing, strategic communication experience and the ability to work in a deadline-driven environment. You'll have to quickly get along well with everyone, everywhere. Most of all, you must be passionate about the practice and the value of communications and the customers we serve.
Main areas of responsibility:
Contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of the overall IP & Science internal communications strategy.
Build trust and credibility as a senior communications partner to the IP Solutions and SSR business, providing IP & Science executives with sound advice, support and effective internal communications planning.
Develop, implement and maintain communications channels for employees; draft and/or edit leadership messages as required, providing context, clarity, consistency and appropriate tone, and create linkages to the company's strategic priorities.
Manage and keep multiple stakeholders at all levels of the company informed, and highlight and manage communications interdependencies, issues and risks.
Identify relevant communications and employee engagement opportunities and events, and evaluate their effectiveness; gather and act on meaningful employee feedback.
Work closely with the client Communication Functions to make sure our internal and external messages are aligned, the impact on all audiences is considered and the company's reputation safeguarded.
Be an engaged, energetic and collaborative member of the IC team; challenging team members wherever appropriate, and striving for ever-higher standards.
Support the Director, Internal Communications and other team members, by helping to manage and coordinate the pan-IP & Science communications plan with local/regional communications plans and activities.
About the ideal candidate
Communication: Ability to influence by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and information, including very strong writing skills.
Influence and persuasion: Able to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others, and persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
Managing relationships and teamwork: Build trust and credibility as a communications partner, and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people at all levels in the organization, often in virtual teams spread across multiple time zones.
Assertiveness: Sets out arguments in a clear and calm way; not a yes' person who is unwilling to challenge.
Resilience: Stays calm under pressure; keeps emotions in check when dealing with setbacks.
Flexibility: Adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups; understands and appreciates different and opposing perspectives on an issue. Has a flexible approach to time ie. does what it takes to get the job done to a high standard.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience
A solid 7+ years experience as a communication professional in a Matrix organisation, working across multiple regions, time-zones and cultures is desirable. But, much more important is a real passion for internal communications, and recognition of the fantastic potential that the function can unlock in the business, and the positive impact it can have on the lives of staff.