Senior Director Communications, Retail

Staples Canada•Framingham, MA

14h

About The Position

The Senior Director, Communications Retail is responsible for developing, driving, and leading a dynamic Retail communications strategy that aligns with and supports business priorities. This position has complete ownership of internal communication vehicles and systems and is charged with their ongoing improvement, evolution, and innovation. The Senior Director manages the Retail Communications team, is highly collaborative, and works cross-functionally with numerous partners in retail to ensure that the communication plans and content are aligned with business needs to drive retail sales, service, strategic programs, and initiatives. This position is accountable for ensuring that the field team is properly supported with the information needed to drive business results – from the day-to-day operations to strategic initiatives, to new programs and launches. Critical to all of these responsibilities is serving as a key point person for the field team, engaging them in upfront planning, and incorporating input, feedback, and ideas on an ongoing basis. The Senior Director, Communications Retail owns the Retail Internal Corporate communications, engaging with all the different leaders across US Retail, working closely with ELT and SLT on developing and deploying strategic communications, managing all key Retail corporate communications and events relative to company-wide communications and live broadcasts/forums.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, plus 12 + years operational and/or field communications experience in multi-channel retail.
Expertise in communication practices and techniques.
Strategic thinking and planning and proven leadership abilities.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively across organization.
Superior writing skills - including the ability to finesse topics and cater to appropriate audiences.
Project Management expertise.

Responsibilities

Lead the overarching communication strategy for US Retail with partnership with key stakeholders across the organization. Responsible for creating and implementing the US Retail field communications strategy – a strategy that focuses on driving retail sales, service, strategic programs, initiatives, and engagement.
Develop and drive comprehensive launch plans for new products, programs, and strategic priorities.
Exhibit a solid understanding of USRs programs and strategic initiatives to ensure they are communicated clearly and consistently across appropriate communication vehicles and audiences.
Work effectively with cross functional business partners to support their programs and ensure the field team is receiving necessary, accurate, and integrated information to drive these programs.
Support executive communications for US Retail Leadership team.
Overall ownership for communication vehicles – systemic support (including version upgrades) strategic roadmap, content planning, execution, usage – including but not limited to:
Core field tools: Zipline, USR Hub, Brightcove, MS TEAMS for field specific application/use.
Relationships with vendor partners supporting communications systems/tools.
Oversee and supervise daily communication strategy as a gatekeeper for US Retail Store and Internal Corporate communications. This includes evaluating feasibility and accuracy of content, timing, and recommending changes to achieve objectives and results.
Videos – ad hoc video messages to support key programs, business needs, and SLT updates.
Chat collaboration tools, 2-way communication via Teams/MOD device/AMD device.
Support end to end planning and content development and key leadership meetings – USR Town Halls, Leadership Conference, Field Leadership monthly and ad hoc meetings, GM Meetings.
Evolve and innovate our communication tools and approach to support the changing needs of the business and adapt to changes in how our user base consumes information.
Infuse creativity and excitement into the communications approach.
Leverage technology to increase the effectiveness – identify new tools and technologies to expand reach and better target retail associates.
Lead benchmarking efforts – stay current with competitive landscape and new tool sets.
Through analytics and user feedback, evaluate and improve vehicle effectiveness relative to driving field execution and awareness of programs, initiatives, and strategies.
Actively serve as a primary liaison and thought partner for the field team to home office partners.
Ensure ongoing feedback and communication between the areas including, but not limited to, program rollouts, business opportunities, and effectiveness of programs and initiatives as it relates to key communication vehicles and support.