Senior Director, Media Relations

Aon Corporation • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As part of an industry-leading global communications team, you will help our firm share stories with external stakeholders and grow awareness and understanding of how Aon shapes decisions for the better – to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Aon is in the business of better decisions. At Aon, we shape decisions for the better to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. As an organization, we are united through trust as one inclusive, diverse team, and we are passionate about helping our colleagues and clients succeed. Communications plays a critical role in shaping perceptions within Aon and outside our firm about how we help clients make better decisions and deliver positive outcomes for colleagues, clients and shareholders. We’re a team that works hard, supports each other and has fun while making an impact, and we’re looking to further build on the senior talent within our global communications team. Aon’s Senor Director, media relations will be responsible for day-to-day media engagement – maintaining strong relationships with tier one, business and trade reporters – serve as a key storyteller and spokesperson for the firm, lead Aon’s social media strategy and execution, and lead and mentor a proactive, strategic, resourceful media relations team. This Aon leader will also lead a global Center of Excellence for media relations and external positioning to further develop and align standard methodologies across the firm.

Requirements

• 10+ years in communications and a proven track record of producing and leading the creation of compelling, sophisticated communications in support of global business objectives.
• A bachelor's degree.
• Experience with developing and leading national and local media relationships for a publicly traded and global brand, preferably in the professional/financial services, consulting, or technology industry.
• Ability to lead sophisticated, sensitive communication initiatives, carefully navigating each situation to balance individual and organizational agendas.
• Proven track record of advising and building trusted relationships with senior leaders, including C-suite-level executives, to support media relations and external positioning strategies and achieve corporate objectives.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with proven expertise using different styles and “voice” to reflect the nature of the individual, audience and message.
• Ability to communicate sophisticated concepts simply and visually.
• Equally comfortable telling the story in “words” and “numbers.”
• Exceptional organizational skills, including an ability to run multiple priorities and projects.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to complete programs with speed, accuracy and efficiency.
• Experience using traditional owned and earned channels, including multi-media and social media.

Nice To Haves

• Crisis and issues management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop journalist relationships, pitch and secure media coverage and respond to media queries to advance commercial objectives and influence positive perceptions of Aon's reputation, thought leadership and social impact.
• Build Aon’s share of voice across four key mega trends shaping client need across our Risk Capital and Human Capital capabilities.
• Implement distribution of corporate press releases, media advisories and updates shared via Aon’s newsroom.
• Partner with multiple team members developing integrated, aligned messaging plans and content articulating our firm’s growth strategy, brand strategy, progress with key initiatives and thought-leadership perspectives.
• Lead a global Center of Excellence for media engagement to drive an aligned and coordinated approach to proactive and reactive media relations and issues management throughout the firm, including Aon’s Marketing & Communications organization and agency relationships.
• Lead Center of Excellence media monitoring and reporting platforms allowing Communications teams throughout Marketing & Communications to generate consistent reports on coverage (trends, share of voice, sentiment, etc.), social media conversation and other indicators that enable us to articulate the impact we drive and find opportunities for refining our approach.
• Develop and lead a program preparing key leaders and others throughout the firm to participate in media interviews and public speaking opportunities.

Benefits

• a 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions
• an employee stock purchase plan
• consideration for long-term incentive awards at Aon’s discretion
• medical, dental and vision insurance
• various types of leaves of absence
• paid time off, including 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year
• 15 days of paid vacation per year
• paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws
• short-term disability and optional long-term disability
• health savings account
• health care and dependent care reimbursement accounts
• employee and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance
• optional personal insurance policies
• adoption assistance
• tuition assistance
• commuter benefits
• an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions

What This Job Offers

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