Senior Communications Manager - LATAM

Position: Senior Manager, Communications - LATAM

Job Overview:

The Senior Manager of Communications for LATAM (both for Global Flex and Rigids) is responsible for providing strategic communications advice and hands-on support to leaders within the region with the aim of achieving organizational objectives and mid-term aspirations.

The role leads, sets and develops internal and external communication campaigns in support of the company’s growth agenda. S/he develops and implements effective communication plans including rolling out initiatives, facilitating change communications and provide alignment to the corporate, divisional and regional business strategy. The individual will create content for shared internal communication events and vehicles such as the intranet, ensuring a positive contribution to employee engagement and alignment.

S/he will also lead all external communication activities for the region aimed at enhancing or preserving the reputation of the Amcor brand and the division or business group, including potential crisis management. S/he will work closely with colleagues across Corporate Communications, other functions and business areas to ensure consistent and coherent communication throughout the organization. This role requires strong collaboration across the region, ability to manage competing priorities, good organizational skills and capability to partner with and advise leaders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide communication expertise, counsel and support for major change initiatives and transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, policy changes, etc.
• Partner with key stakeholders on the development and execution of innovative communications campaigns that boost growth.
• Develop strong relationships with Business/Functional leaders and other colleagues to facilitate effective delivery of the communications strategy and business key messages
• Develop and implement overall strategy for the LATAM region to achieve maximum reach and effectiveness for key internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure employees understand their contribution to the success of the organization.
• Provide dedicated internal and external communications support for company leadership and enterprise initiatives.
• Produce relevant and timely communications materials including announcements, articles, messages, question-and-answer documents, presentations, etc.
• Manage PR initiatives and provide strategic insight that will drive business results.
• Ensure all communications materials and activities reflect key business messages in an effective manner
• Contribute to consistent business-wide tools to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of communications activities
• Contribute to the identification and sharing of best practices.
• Collaborate with the Communications Leadership Team on global projects.
• Provide direct support and coaching to front-line managers and supervisors on large, sensitive projects
• Work with the Communications Center of Excellence to ensure digital platforms, including social media, are managed effectively.
• Research, identify and implement new communication vehicles that effectively reach employees in various settings, from offices to plants and remote employees
• Support significant leadership events (e.g., annual conference)
• Deploy and execute an annual communications plan and a portfolio of communication activities for internal and external communications in support of Amcor strategy.

Challenges:

• A multi-national manufacturing business culture – strong customer focus, delivery of tangible products and benefits, relentless cost management, all in a broad range of country cultures consistent with a regional and global head office.
• Complex business environment with regular changes to the scope (Mergers & Acquisitions), different stakeholder goals, global vs regional vs local approaches.
• Be a self-starter capable of drive multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment
• The ability to prioritize requests and manage time efficiently can be challenging. Adapting to changing priorities and multi-tasking is an everyday occurrence and requires total commitment to the tasks at hand.
• Balance strategic perspective with ongoing hands-on contributions to ensure efficiency of the business.
• Ability to work independently and deal with ambiguity.

Skills & Competencies:

• Fluency in spoken and written English. Additional languages a plus.
• For Latam-based roles, fluency in both Spanish and English with excellent written and oral communication skills is a plus. Good to have: Portuguese

• Exceptional copywriting skills across multiple formats (e.g., announcements, memos, speeches)
• Uncanny ability to read interpersonal situations and respond appropriately; comfortably interacts with all people in the organization (up, down, peer); able to maintain productive relationships even during conflict
• Demonstrates solid business and financial acumen, easily and independently translating business imperatives into communications solutions
• Remains resilient through adversity; pushes for and gets results despite tough condition; energized by new, tough assignments and overcoming obstacles
• Comfortable making fast decisions when needed, pushing back, challenging the status quo and proactively presenting new ideas
• Ability to shift between strategy and hands-on execution
• Proven ability to simplify complex concepts and translate ideas into creative assets
• Project management skills in complex projects involving multiple senior stakeholders
• Digitally (IT) savvy and deep understanding of communication tools and channels, including social media
• Hands-on and digital savvy contributor who has an excellent knowledge of modern technological communications tools
• Ability to build strong working relationships with a wide variety of cultures and functions / coach and develop co-workers in cross-functional teams
• Team player
• Ability to prioritize, plan and co-ordinate multiple business demands in line with the overall company strategy.

Qualifications:

• Approximately 8-12 years of in-depth experience leading both external and/or internal communications experience and demonstrated success, preferably in a packaging manufacturing environment.
• Solid hands-on experience in either FMCG, manufacturing or international companies, agencies
• Experience managing agencies and vendors
• Strong interpersonal communications skills; highly collaborative and able to lead projects
• Good experience in change communications and a proven experience in delivery of integrated internal communications programs and campaigns
• Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills 
• Mastery of communication tools and their relevance/efficiency to support business objectives
• Strong leadership skills to facilitate decision making in a matrix organization
• Strong project management skill, preferably involving change management at an enterprise level
• Focus on execution to drive a core set of deliverables and metrics and who feels comfortable creating and activating out-of-the box ideas to increase engagement.

Education & Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or related discipline
• Masters in Business Administration, Communications, audio-visual communication or related discipline a plus