Senior Director, Communications General

Whirlpool • Benton Harbor, MI

6d

About The Position

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

The Internal Communications & Change Enablement Team reports to the EVP & Chief Human Resources, Corporate Relations, and Business Services Officer. The team manages internal communications, executive communications, change management, and the governance of communication tools, technology and processes for Whirlpool Corporation’s global workforce of approximately 40,000. Our team integrates creative design and technical operations to ensure clear communication from executive leadership to employees located at global manufacturing sites. Using tools such as the WHR 360 internal platform we coordinate internal messaging, define global communication standards, and provide operational support to business unit communication teams.

We are seeking a highly collaborative, systems-thinking executive who will partner closely with the External Communications & Corporate Relations lead. Together, they will lead the Communications function as trusted strategists and narrative counselors to the C-suite. This leader thrives at the intersection of high-stakes corporate messaging, operational discipline, and change management science. This individual is exceptional at breaking down complex corporate directives and strategies into cohesive internal storylines. They bring technical and creative platform rigor, utilizing a data-driven approach to run internal communication networks as a professional corporate operation. Furthermore, this leader possesses a high degree of empathy and diplomatic capability, enabling them to build robust bridges across matrixed business units and cross-functional corporate groups. Above all, they are a dedicated developer of talent who actively coaches, mentors, and builds highly capable, collaborative and engaged teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related corporate field.
• 12+ years of progressive corporate communications, change management, or HR leadership experience in a highly structured global organization.
• 5+ years of experience directly managing, coaching, and developing professional communications or HR teams.
• Proven track record of serving as a direct strategic advisor and speechwriter/comms writer to the C-Suite .
• Solid background deploying structured change management principles and managing modern corporate intranet architectures.

Nice To Haves

• MBA, Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Corporate Change, or Communications Management.
• Substantial communications experience in a highly matrixed global manufacturing, consumer durable goods, or heavy industrial corporate sector.
• Proven experience guiding a geographically dispersed, matrixed team of regional and functional professionals.
• Proven experience advising executive board teams on employee sentiment and change adoption during highly structural shifts.
• Proven experience supervising complex digital employee portals (such as the WHR 360 system) and directing creative/technical media studios.
• Formal corporate change management certifications (such as Prosci, ADKAR, or equivalent organizational alignment systems)

Responsibilities

• Direct the internal communication and narrative strategy for the CEO, CHRO, and senior executive leaders. Own all-employee town halls, leadership alignment, organizational design messaging, and executive stakeholder communications.
• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of communication, change management, and communication platform professionals. Establish clear development goals, foster professional growth, and build a highly collaborative, supportive, and accountable team environment.
• Lead and guide the rollouts of large-scale enterprise transformations, structural changes, and technology integrations. Direct team members in deploying rigorous organizational change management (OCM) frameworks.
• Serve as the dedicated, enterprise-wide owner responsible for designing and enforcing global communications standards, shared editorial workflows, calendar integrations, and digital compliance guidelines.
• Supervise and scale Whirlpool’s digital workplace solutions, specifically the WHR 360 intranet suite.
• Establish formal, structured forums and corporate routines to regularly align and build operational linkages across all global and business unit communications.
• Through collaborative cross-channel processes, structured alignment meetings, and integrated editorial planners, they will ensure corporate external releases and internal narratives reinforce one another seamlessly.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior