External Senior Communications Manager - Media & Digital

Responsibilities

• Media Relations & Earned Media
• Develop and execute proactive media strategies aligned to enterprise priorities, business campaigns, and innovation launches.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with tier‑one, trade, and emerging digital media across relevant beats (business, technology, innovation).
• Lead media outreach, story pitching, press materials, interviews, and spokesperson preparation.
• Monitor media coverage, issues, and external trends; provide insight‑driven recommendations to leaders.
• Digital‑First Storytelling
• Contribute to a digital‑newsroom approach to external communications, ensuring stories are designed for relevance, reach, and engagement across channels.
• Partner closely with content, social, and digital teams to translate earned media moments into owned and shared content.
• Apply knowledge of digital platforms, analytics, and audience behavior to continuously optimize storytelling and channel mix.
• Technology, Innovation & Transformation Communications
• Support communications for digital technology, innovation, and transformation initiatives, helping make complex concepts clear, credible, and human.
• Stay informed on digital trends, platforms, and tools that influence media, reputation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Bring forward new ideas for how technology can improve storytelling, measurement, and distribution.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to internal stakeholders across business, marketing, digital and executive teams.
• Work seamlessly with agency partners to extend capacity, expertise, and reach.
• What Success Looks Like:
• Clear, compelling stories that elevate reputation and support business priorities.
• Strong media relationships that consistently result in credible coverage.
• Digital‑savvy communications that reach the right audiences, in the right channels, at the right time.
• Trusted partnership with internal stakeholders and communications leadership.
• Position Details:
• This is a hybrid role based out of Naperville, IL or St. Paul, MN.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
• 10 years of professional experience
• 7 years of experience in agency communications, external communications, media relations, or related. Experience in journalism is highly regarded
• Proven track record securing high‑quality earned media and managing complex media relationships
• Strong writing, storytelling, and message development skills across formats and audiences
• Experience working in a fast‑paced, matrixed, global organization
• Immigration sponsorship not available for this role
• Experience communicating about digital technology, innovation, or transformation topics
• Demonstrated curiosity and working knowledge of digital platforms, analytics, and evolving media landscapes
• Experience integrating earned media with owned and social channels
• Background in B2B, industrial, technology, or purpose‑driven organizations
• Annual or Hourly Compensation Range

Benefits

Additional Information

The External Senior Communications Manager - Media & Digital is a strategic and execution‑focused communications leader responsible for shaping and delivering high‑impact external storytelling that strengthens reputation, drives brand familiarity, and supports business growth. This role blends earned media excellence with a strong digital mindset -supporting a modern, newsroom‑driven approach to communications across traditional media, owned channels, and emerging digital platforms. The ideal candidate brings deep media relations experience, intellectual curiosity about digital technology, and a passion for translating complex topics (innovation, sustainability, digital solutions, transformation) into compelling, credible narratives.

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