Senior Communications Manager

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. 

From your PASSION to ours

The Senior Manager, U.S. Communications (“Senior Manager”), will play a pivotal leadership role in helping design and implement the communications strategy for Lactalis in the United States, with responsibilities for internal and external communications. The role will include responsibilities such as developing and executing U.S. communication strategies to guide employee expectations and behaviors for Lactalis USA, it’s divisions and shared services, and manage corporate reputation with external audiences in a manner consistent with the goals of Lactalis Group and Lactalis USA. The role reports to the Director, U.S. Communications, and will supervise two team members and be a strategic business partner to stakeholders throughout the U.S. business.

The incumbent will manage internal messaging to employees and build relationships with company leadership throughout the organization (e.g., HR, Sales, R&D, and other functions). The Senior Manager will also manage external media relations and platforms as well as collaboration across internal shared services and U.S. divisions to align with the company’s goals and values. The incumbent will partner with the Director, U.S. Communications, on the vision for the Communications department, working with communications teams at the Group level as well as with Lactalis affiliates outside of the U.S.

The Senior Manager will act as a strategic business partner that leverages knowledge of the business to drive communications strategies and business results. The role requires the ability to work in a matrix organization and operate at all levels within the organization; to approach work with a “growth mindset”; to embrace challenges, to learn from critical feedback; and to seek continuous improvement.

From your EXPERTISE to ours 

• Communication Expertise: Provide a high level of communications expertise and leadership to the Communications department, U.S. business units and functional/U.S. shared services leaders and/or as part of cross-functional teams for key enterprise projects/initiatives, including developing communications strategies, planning and managing implementation.
• External Communications Management: Provide a high level of communication expertise and leadership for U.S. external communications, including oversight of media relations, public relations campaigns, and external communication channels to ensure consistent and effective external communications outreach. Promote and protect the reputation of the Lactalis USA brand and support company organizational objectives. Manage company news, media relationships, media monitoring and reputation measurement. Oversee channels such as websites, social media, advertising and community relations.
• Internal Communications Management: Oversee management and continuous improvement of the USA intranet and digital site signage platforms to ensure they support internal communication needs. Oversee management of USA town halls, the USA Viva Engage Community and the company’s digital newsletter. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to gather, create, and publish content. Generate analytics to enhance user experience and impact for the intranet, digital newsletter, Viva Engage and digital signage platforms.
• Executive Communications Management: Provide communication expertise and leadership in support of Director, U.S. Communications for key executive-led meetings/events across shared services and divisions, including managing the creation and distribution of content through a variety of communications vehicles. Support USA CEO and CEOs of U.S. business units as well as other executive leaders with support for internal communications.
• Employee Engagement: Lead and further build-out the company’s partnership with Feeding America to help end hunger in Lactalis USA communities. Collaborate with Lactalis colleagues to increase employee and site participation in the program. Promote the partnership internally and externally. Liaise with Group Communications to support Group employee engagement initiatives.
• Message Development and Collaboration: Work with functional leaders and executives in message development. Further develop a communication system that ensures message integration and alignment across the company, leadership involvement and efficient distribution of information, and multi-directional dialogue. Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for audiences and purposes they serve and in alignment with the department’s Style Guide. Critically evaluate their own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style, and grammatical correctness.
• Stakeholder Messaging: In coordination with other members of the Communication team and internal stakeholders, manage messaging and position the company positively with all stakeholders.
• Content Management: Lead overall content management for USA communications, including the development of high-quality, compelling content for news releases, reports, newsletters, social media, etc. and oversee the USA editorial calendar for internal and external communications. Ensure all communications are researched, written, proofread, designed, produced, translated as needed, packaged, scheduled, and delivered to employees on time and on budget for all communication vehicles.
• Team Leadership and Collaboration: As a leader in the Communications function, foster collaboration, inspiring creativity, and ensuring alignment with the organization's vision and messaging. Coach team members to enhance their skills and grow professionally, providing guidance and support to achieve goals. Encourage teamwork within the department and across other areas of the organization. Provide constructive feedback.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours 

Education

• Bachelor's degree in related area of communications is required.
• Experience with dairy, food & beverage, and/or CPG a plus.

Experience

• 10+ years corporate communications or agency experience required.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Experience with the use of a broad mix of communication strategies and channels (e.g., intranet, digital signage, newsletters, videos) to deliver simple, compelling messages quickly across the organization to all levels of employees.
• Expert-level communication (written and verbal) and message development skills.
• Strategic orientation and the ability to define and guide communication strategy.
• Apply critical thinking skills in conducting research and evaluating information.
• Strong fundamental business acumen and analytical skills necessary to communicate critical business context and establish effectiveness metrics.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Experience working with senior leaders and cross-functionally with partners at all levels.
• Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness, and diversity.
• Experience working with the media a plus

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.