Manager Enterprise Brand Strategy

Northrop Grumman•San Diego, CA

1d•$105,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. We are seeking a Manager of Enterprise Brand Strategy to join our Brand Strategy & Marketing team. This individual will lead the enterprise brand strategy function, shaping our company positioning, narrative, brand architecture, naming strategy, expression, and the frameworks that guide how we show up across audiences, programs, and channels. They will lead a team of brand strategists and partner across the enterprise to bring clarity and consistency to our company story, while helping teams connect business priorities to a shared strategic north star. This position is preferred to be located in Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, Falls Church, VA, Linthicum, MD, or Baltimore, MD. This role reports to the Senior Manager of Enterprise Brand Strategy and Marketing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Communications, Marketing) with a minimum of ten (10) years of related experience (e.g., brand strategy, brand management, marketing, brand communications), or a Master's degree in a relevant field with a minimum of eight (8) years of related experience.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing a team of brand, strategy, marketing, or communications professionals.
Proven experience developing and executing enterprise or corporate brand strategy – including positioning, narrative, architecture, messaging, and governance.
Strong experience in brand architecture, naming, messaging frameworks, and creative strategy.
Strong strategic judgment, with the ability to balance analytical rigor and creative thinking.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex and disparate inputs into clear, compelling strategies, narratives, and actionable frameworks.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, highly matrixed environment, navigate ambiguity, and adapt as priorities evolve.
Proven ability to build productive relationships and influence functional, business, and senior leaders without relying on direct authority.
Ability to bring teams together around a shared strategic direction while balancing differing perspectives and business needs.
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills – with the ability to articulate complex ideas and present confidently to senior stakeholders.
U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field.
Experience working at, or closely with, a brand, creative, or advertising agency.
Experience working in or with large, matrixed, and/or geographically dispersed organizations; aerospace, defense, or technology industries a plus.
Experience managing creative agency partnerships.
Demonstrated ability to challenge conventional thinking, develop new approaches, and create solutions that strengthen brand leadership.
Demonstrated ongoing development of AI capabilities, including emerging tools and approaches like prompt and context engineering and agent orchestration.
Experience applying AI tools to improve or redesign workflows and deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, or strategic output.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and evolution of enterprise brand strategy, including company positioning, narrative, messaging, thematic frameworks, and the broader company story – shaping how we position the company to customers, employees, prospective talent, and other priority audiences.
Translate enterprise business priorities into clear brand strategies and frameworks that guide how the company communicates across audiences, programs, and channels.
Partner with teams across the enterprise to develop and strengthen narratives, helping them articulate what matters most while ensuring their stories connect back to the broader company positioning and narrative.
Lead strategic brand workshops and working sessions, helping teams clarify positioning, articulate differentiated value, and build narratives that are clear, compelling, and connected to the enterprise story.
Lead brand architecture and naming strategy across the enterprise, including the development of naming systems, nomenclature, governance, decision criteria, guidelines and toolkits, and recommendations for new brands, products, programs, and capabilities.
Define and drive adoption of brand strategy across enterprise offerings and priority programs, balancing consistency at the company level with the needs of individual programs and audiences.
Partner closely with creative teams to translate strategy into compelling verbal and visual brand expression, including the development of strategic and creative briefs that inspire strong work.
Serve as a strategic brand partner to Enterprise Marketing & Activation, ensuring campaign strategies, creative platforms, and go-to-market approaches are grounded in enterprise positioning and strengthen the company brand.
Provide strategic counsel on priority campaigns, programs, and enterprise initiatives, helping teams define audiences, sharpen messaging, and translate business objectives into brand-building opportunities.
Lead strategy-driven conversations with creative, content, social, public relations, employee communications, tradeshows and events, business development, program communications teams, and agency partners to ensure work is connected to a cohesive enterprise story.
Bring a strong point of view to creative and communications development, helping teams move from complex business inputs to focused, audience-relevant ideas and experiences.
Step into emerging brand and business priorities as needed, quickly bringing structure, strategic clarity, and a brand perspective to new or ambiguous challenges.
Maintain a strong understanding of brand, marketing, communications, audience, and cultural trends inside and outside the aerospace and defense industry, translating relevant insights into implications for the company brand.
Develop brand strategies and plans aligned with enterprise priorities, using audience insights, research, and performance data to inform recommendations and evaluate effectiveness.
Champion the thoughtful use of data and insights throughout the strategy process, helping teams make more informed decisions and continuously strengthen brand communications.
Lead, develop, and inspire a team of brand strategists, creating an environment that values strategic rigor, curiosity, collaboration, strong craft, and continuous growth.
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing clear and thoughtful counsel on brand positioning, messaging, architecture, naming, and enterprise communications.
Build strong cross-functional relationships across a highly matrixed organization, creating alignment around brand direction while navigating differing business needs and perspectives.