Communications Specialist- Cedar River

Communications Specialist- Cedar RiverDescription:What if you were given the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference? It is time to embrace your Infinite Possibilities. This is your opportunity to be part of International Paper, a Fortune 500 company and global leader in paper and packaging products. IP is known for our commitment to the environment and to cutting-edge technology. We have spent more than 100 years creating new ideas, and we are looking for people who can collaborate to help us build on our history, while creating future success. We are committed to attracting, preparing, promoting and supporting our teams. At International Paper, you control your destiny. We offer benefits, challenges, global opportunities and total rewards. When we say Infinite Possibilities, we mean it.The Mill Communications Specialist at International Paper's Cedar River Mill will support the mill's leadership, employees, community and other key stakeholders. The position consists of leading, developing and implementing a communications strategy for the mill that enables the deliberate and continuous focus on key manufacturing and business objectives, including safety, cost reduction, reliability, capital and employee engagement efforts reliant on establishing and implementing effective and sustainable communications systems.The position reports directly to the manager, IPG Communications Manager, Amy Simpson with reporting responsibilities to Cedar River Mill Manager, and manager, manufacturing communications, on specific manufacturing initiatives.**Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities**+ Responsible for developing and maintaining a facility communication plan, which includes strategies for enhancing both internal and external communications and addresses stakeholders, channels and facility and business objectives/deliverables+ Provide tactical communications support to mill leadership+ Create, collect and disseminate messaging that drives deliberate improvement, facilitates alignment to realize results and supports employee engagement+ Develop, manage, enhance and sustain effective employee communication channels and feedback systems, such as a newsletter, message boards, mill-wide meetings, etc.+ Develop systems for the ongoing collection of leadership and employee feedback to gauge effectiveness of communication channels, systems, material and alignment+ Collaborate with mill leadership to create an environment that supports and encourages open employee feedback+ Align with business and corporate communications to coordinate crisis communications and ensure crisis communicationprocesses and protocols are in place+ Work with corporate and business communications to respond to media inquiries and write news releases as needed+ Coordinate media and crisis communications training to facility leaders and others as needed+ Develop a community engagement strategy to manage community goodwill, identify key risks and manage implementation of community initiatives to support facility goals and align with the company's community engagement strategy+ Serve as IP Foundation ambassador (liaison between facility and IP Foundation) and manage end-to-end grant award process+ Partner with government relations to facilitate local official visits as necessary+ Support other facility or business special projects and/or initiatives as necessary+ Minimal travel is required (less than 10%)**Key Challenges**+ Managing multiple and diverse issues of leadership and employees (hourly and salary union/non-union)+ Developing/maintaining employee trust, credibility and influence+ Translating company/business communications initiatives into effective local mill communications+ Balancing mill objectives and goals with company and business objectives and goals+ Understand complex manufacturing process and become embedded as strategic business resource+ Time management/balancing multiple priorities among various stakeholders+ Advancing communications methods beyond present approach**Scope**+ Responsible for internal and external mill communications at facilitywith 220 employees+ Manage internal and external mill communications and donations budgets**Knowledge and Experience**+ Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related major+ A minimum of three years of communications experience+ Demonstrated employee communications and community relations experience+ Media relations experience preferred but not required+ Ability to interact and build relationships with various levels of the organization in a professional manner+ Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and adapt to a changing work environment+ Proficient in Microsoft Office products+ Experience with graphic design software and web-based tools a plus+ Manufacturing environment experience preferred+ Key Leadership Competencies required: Interpersonal Savvy, Action Oriented, Listening, Time Management, Planning, Dealing with Ambiguity+ Key Functional/Technical Competencies required: Message Creation, Channel Management, Speaking & Presentation DevelopmentInternational Paper is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.Location:Cedar Rapids, IA, US, 52404Category: CommunicationsDate: Oct 21, 2021