Strategic Communications Manager, External Relations & Corporate Reputation

LANXESS Corporation • North Fayette Township, PA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Develops and executes communications strategies that strengthen LANXESS’ reputation, visibility, and stakeholder trust across North America. The role serves as a strategic partner to business units, group functions, and production sites by translating business priorities, innovation stories, customer-facing initiatives, and sensitive issues into clear, credible communications for external and internal audiences. Leads media relations, issues management, crisis communications, executive visibility, digital storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and selected business-facing communications activities. The role also prepares leaders and site representatives for media or stakeholder interactions, manages agency and partner relationships, and uses communications insights to improve impact and alignment with business objectives. Responsible for agency management, communication analytics and special projects. High degree of independence and requires strong strategic judgment in a fast-paced and often ambiguous environment. The role must balance corporate reputation, business objectives, stakeholder expectations, legal considerations, and operational realities when developing communications strategies and messaging for varied audiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Business Administration or a Communications-related field.
• 10 or more years of relevant experience.
• Lead proactive/reactive media relations, act as spokesperson, develop press materials, manage journalist relationships, monitor issues and coverage.
• Partner with Market & Brand Communications and Business Units (BU) commercial teams to identify customer stories, product/application successes, sustainability stories, trade show/event opportunities and market trends.
• Develop issues management and crisis communications plans, including executive messaging, stakeholder statements, and media response materials.
• Translate business priorities, innovation topics, customer stories, and site-level developments into clear communications for internal and external audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes communications strategies that strengthen LANXESS’ reputation, visibility, and stakeholder trust across North America.
• Serves as a strategic partner to business units, group functions, and production sites by translating business priorities, innovation stories, customer-facing initiatives, and sensitive issues into clear, credible communications for external and internal audiences.
• Leads media relations, issues management, crisis communications, executive visibility, digital storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and selected business-facing communications activities.
• Prepares leaders and site representatives for media or stakeholder interactions.
• Manages agency and partner relationships.
• Uses communications insights to improve impact and alignment with business objectives.
• Agency management, communication analytics and special projects.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages, inclusive of a global bonus program.
• Comprehensive Benefits: retirement plans, health programs, life insurance and medical care.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Ongoing pursuit of education, training and knowledge through both formal and informal learning.

What This Job Offers

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