Issues Management Senior Communication Specialist

Marathon Petroleum Corporation•Findlay, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Issues Management Senior Communications Specialist serves as a strategic advisor and program leader who works to protect the company’s reputation and its license to operate and grow. This role will provide multifaceted support to the company in three critical areas: Issues management and media relations, Crisis communications preparedness and response, and Business Development communications needs. As one of the company’s primary communications experts, the Issues Management Senior Communications Specialist must deliver well-crafted messaging that resonates with internal leaders and employees as well as external audiences. Daily activities will include development and implementation of communications strategies, creative storytelling and strategic counsel on a wide variety of topics and issues. The successful candidate will utilize consulting, influencing, coaching, project management and content development skills to navigate a complex and evolving business landscape. The Issues Management Senior Communications Specialist is part of the Communications & Community Relations organization and reports to the Senior Manager of Media Relations, Crisis Communications and Issues Management. This role belongs to a family of jobs with increasing responsibility, competency and skill level. Actual position title and pay grade will be based on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications. This position can be based in Findlay, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; or Houston, Texas. This position belongs to a job progression with increasing responsibility, competency and skill level. Final position title and pay grade will be based on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or related field required
Demonstrated capability to lead communications initiatives from beginning to end
6+ years of experience producing compelling communications for a variety of channels and audiences at a large or midsized company or public relations firm required; industrial setting (or industrial clients, if experience is with PR firm) preferred
3+ years of crisis communications experience in an industrial environment preferred, including experience working under the Incident Command System to manage emergency response situations
Energy or manufacturing industry experience strongly preferred
Up to 25% travel is required
Strong understanding of internal and external communications strategies, tactics and best practices; ability to think strategically and build implementation plans that have a measurable impact
Demonstrated capacity to be highly creative, analytical and data-driven
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with all types of employees, from front-line workers to executives
Ability to establish relationships with representatives of the media to encourage positive coverage and mitigate risks of negative coverage
Ability to identify emerging trends from news and analysis resources and apply learnings toward the enhancement of corporate image/reputation
Excellent writing and content development skills, including when under pressure; demonstrated ability to present business plans, concepts, strategies and results succinctly and persuasively; knowledge of Associated Press style
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, continuously changing environment with a high degree of autonomy, accountability and accuracy
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and sense of urgency. Takes the initiative to build plans and processes, applying expertise and insights gathered through collaboration and listening; ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently and with little oversight
Excellent collaboration skills with the ability to build strong relationships and work effectively in a matrix organization
High curiosity; eager to learn and understand a wide range of energy industry subject matter

Responsibilities

Build and maintain trusted relationships with leaders to advance their business objectives through delivery of compelling, fit-for-purpose communications, including providing strategic counsel on effective messaging to engage both external stakeholders and employees, with appropriate sensitivity to a range of perspectives.
Create and deliver executive-level communications plans and materials, including messaging and content for complex, sensitive and business-critical issues, including sustainability, business strategy, and crisis management topics and scenarios.
Develop and implement issues-management strategies and tactics.
Monitor and provide communications guidance on emerging issues at the enterprise or local level that could impact stakeholder engagement or media relations needs.
Respond to media inquiries as needed.
Ensure alignment of corporate and local positioning/messaging.
Understand and implement the principles of sound crisis communications response under high-stakes, time-constrained circumstances, including as part of the Incident Command System.
Craft and manage communications content (news articles, videos, presentations, social media posts, emails, newsletters, etc.) including writing, editing, overseeing creative design, and facilitating content approval; advise on content placement for appropriate enterprise communications channels.
Partner with the broader Communications & Community Relations team to align corporate positioning.
Participate in emergency-response drills as part of the Joint Information Center (JIC) under the Incident Command System, collaborating with JIC and other drill participants from the company and federal, state, local and tribal agencies.
Provide guidance and support to less experienced team members, and contribute to the overall development of the team’s collective skills and expertise