Communications Specialist (St. Thomas) jobs at London, Ontario, Canada Full Time

Drive your Career!

We love our cars, but it’s the people behind them who make them what they are. To market, sell, and service great cars, we need great people. That’s why at Volkswagen Group Canada, we are passionate about our cars and our brand and foster this same passion and drive in our people. We know that the right people in the right positions can do incredible things, and we love making that happen.

We are currently looking for a Communications Specialist based out of St. Thomas, ON

Our mission has started. Volkswagen Group’s largest cell factory in St. Thomas will carry out all battery activities – from processing raw materials to developing a unified Volkswagen battery to managing the European and North American gigafactories. Headquartered in Salzgitter, Germany, we are experiencing the transformation of mobility up close. Our goal is to contribute a positive impact to our global society, the environment and the economy. To reach these goals we need your POWER!

Reporting to the Communications Manager, the Communications Specialist will help drive communication strategies that shape and amplify our brand voice and reputation both locally and globally across multiple channels. You’re a natural storyteller and strategic thinker adept at managing complex files and tight deadlines. You have at least 3-5 years of experience in an agency setting or global business, and a deep understanding of the intersection of economy, business, politics, and society. You live and breathe content, from video to newsletters, but can also step back to craft and implement compelling internal and external communication strategies. The position requires discretion and diplomacy as well as an ability to interact and cultivate relationships with a range of stakeholders including operational project teams and senior leadership. A background in media relations is advantageous.

This is a flex hybrid model, requiring 2 days per week in the St. Thomas office.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Be “hands-on” with solving problems and identifying opportunities to improve the effectiveness and reach of communications.
• Leads content ideation and develops communications for various vehicles including leadership messages, intranets, town halls, open houses, events, site visits, newsletters, videos, presentations, and social media.
• Develops and manages a content calendar aligned with departments and group-level milestones and strategy.
• Designs and produces visually appealing graphics, infographics, videos, and other multimedia content to support editorial narratives and campaigns.
• Serves as a liaison between departments (e.g., HR, Finance, Commercial) and the group to ensure alignment with communication strategies.
• Recommends, develops, and executes communication plans and solutions based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs, and in alignment with an overarching communication strategy.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with media and government stakeholders as needed.
• Sources and manages applicable vendors to ensure timely delivery of high-quality work.
• Provides communication advice and guidance to assigned business / group, on communication principles / programs / approaches, on effective ways to communicate (e.g. message development, vehicle selection, etc.) and on implementation solutions.
• Leads or participates in defining communication plans designed to positively influence or change behaviour; develops tailored messaging; identifies appropriate distribution channels.
• Measures and sustains communications solutions impacting target audiences. Gathers feedback and continually evaluates the effectiveness of communication content and the vehicles / platforms / tools / technology (e.g., Intranet, conference calls, e-mail, shared drives, and SharePoint sites).
• Operates at a group / enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in an agency setting or global business.
• A proven track record of developing and executing internal and external communication strategies and managing issues.
• A deep understanding of the intersection of economy, business, politics, and society.
• Familiarity with the electric vehicle and raw material value chains.
• Demonstrated facility with PowerPoint, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and other software
• Demonstrated experience developing content strategies, from ideation through execution.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and interact, develop, and influence the senior leadership team.
• Ability to manage and prioritize workloads within tight timeframes.
• Experience with media relations will be highly regarded.
• Confident interpersonal skills, including high-level discretion and diplomacy.
• Energetic team player, demonstrating a commitment to learning and improvement while helping colleagues at all levels of the company accomplish their individual and team objectives.

What You’ll Get In Return

• A flexible and collaborative team dynamic
• Opportunities for development
• Opportunities to participate in exciting company events that give back to the community.
• Competitive employer paid benefits and overall compensation package.
• And much more
• Please note that we appreciate the interest of all candidates, however only those under consideration will be contacted.

Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, family status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, or local laws.

Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities including during the application process. If you require an accommodation because of a disability, we will work with you to determine what reasonable accommodation may be available to meet your needs whether it be as an applicant or an employee. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation, you are encouraged to advise the Recruiter who will consult with you to determine an appropriate and reasonable accommodation.