Manager, External Communications

Job Number: 10911

External Description:

About the role

The External Communications Manager leads strategic communications for key external audiences, including media, investors, customers, elected officials, influencers, and other stakeholders. This role is responsible for shaping and protecting the organization’s external reputation through proactive storytelling, media relations, executive messaging, and issues communications. It also ensures the business has a clear, consistent, and credible voice in the market across both planned communications and real-time response needs.

This position follows a hybrid schedule, with 3 days onsite and 2 days remote per week

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute external communications strategies aligned to business priorities and brand reputation goals.
• Write and manage a range of external communications materials, including press releases, key messages, media statements, case studies/testimonials, executive talking points, and other stakeholder-facing content.
• Lead proactive media outreach across trade, local, and business media to elevate brand visibility and secure positive coverage.
• Support media campaigns that strengthen awareness, credibility, and market positioning.
• Prepare leaders and designated spokespeople for media interviews, including briefing materials, message development, and interview preparation.
• Serve as a key partner in issues management by developing holding statements and supporting rapid, coordinated external responses when needed.
• Monitor media coverage, industry news, and emerging issues to identify risks, opportunities, and timely communications needs.
• Help translate business wins, customer success stories, and strategic milestones into compelling external narratives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, communications partners, and key external stakeholders.
• Growth in positive earned media coverage across target trade, local, and business outlets
• Quality, reach, and relevance of media placements
• Increased share of voice and visibility for key business priorities and brand stories
• Timeliness and effectiveness of media response and issues communications
• Readiness and effectiveness of spokesperson preparation and media engagement
• Consistency and quality of external messaging across stakeholder audiences
• Volume and impact of proactive story placements tied to strategic business wins, customer testimonials, and priority initiatives
• Effectiveness of media monitoring and issue identification, including speed of escalation and response
• Stakeholder confidence in communications support, counsel, and execution

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 7 + years of experience in external communications, public relations, and/or corporate communications

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or related field
• Experience in HVAC, building systems, or industrial/B2B industries
• Familiarity with media monitoring and analytics tools (e.g., Meltwater, Cision, Sprout)
• Experience developing communications for investors, government stakeholders, or industry influencers
• Experience supporting large-scale announcements (product launches, acquisitions, major initiatives)
• Strong presentation and advisory skills, with ability to influence senior leaders
• Proven experience developing and executing external communications strategies, including media relations and storytelling
• Strong writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to create executive-level messaging, press releases, and media materials
• Proven experience developing customer stories, testimonials, and case studies that translate business outcomes into compelling external narratives
• Experience managing media outreach, press engagement, and journalist relationships
• Experience preparing leaders and spokespeople for media interviews, including messaging development and briefing materials
• Demonstrated experience supporting issues management or crisis communications
• Ability to monitor media, identify risks/opportunities, and respond with timely communications
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, partnering with Marketing, Legal, and business leadership
• Ability to translate complex business topics into clear, compelling external narratives

Job Number: 30210914

Community / Marketing Title: Manager, External Communications

Location_formattedLocationLong: North Carolina, US