Director, PR

Job Category: Legal & Corporate Affairs
Location: Redmond, WA, US
Job ID: 819843-99680
Division: Legal & Corporate Affairs

The Director, Public Affairs PR will lead a small Microsoft team and an extended agency team in providing strategic communications leadership on a number of legal and public policy issues. This is a senior role, working on some of the highest-profile issues in the industry today. You'll serve as the communications counsel to senior executives on your topic areas and join their respective leadership teams. This is a role with global responsibility so you'll serve as the subject matter expert, working closely with communications teams around the world providing guidance and counsel on these high profile issues.

The role will report to the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Citizenship PR and objectives will align with the broader goals of this team. This team serves as the communications function across the whole of Microsoft's Legal and Corporate Affairs department.

The top priorities for this position will be:
1.Build a 360 degree communications plan for your areas of responsibility. In addition to managing high profile news cycles and designing focused public affairs campaigns, you'll build and execute a strategic communications plan to support the long-term goals and vision of the department.
2.Take ownership of all communications related to your topic areas around the world working closely with our legal team, outside counsel and subsidiary PR leads.
3.Lead and develop our in-house and agency PR team to continue to drive world class communications on these critical topics.
4.Serve as a senior member of the Citizenship and Public Affairs PR team partnering with colleagues on the team to drive improvements in our PR capability and effectiveness.

You'll have specific responsibility for:
Planning strategy and 360 campaign development: Identifying strategic communications plans that are aligned with the needs of the business, integrated with other teams and leverage all of the communication's vehicles at our disposal.
Storytelling and messaging: Building the overall narrative and identifying ways to tell our story
Media and influencer relations: Partnering with the agency to identify and build strong relationships with key media and other influentials.
Content Development: Author necessary written PR materials, define new content strategies that take advantage of digital and social media opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is a senior, demanding, and high-profile role. Candidates will have 12+ years' experience with 15 years or more preferred. Experience in public affairs roles either in-house, at a leading agency, or in government or the public sector is highly desired.
BA/BS required with a preference for qualifications in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing or related discipline. Relevant work experience is essential.
Experience defining and leading high-impact campaigns on public policy topics will be a significant advantage.
Proven ability to operate successfully in a highly matrixed global organization with different perspectives.
Must have strong collaboration skills and ability to partner at multiple levels of the organization, and the proven ability to influence senior executives.
Proven track record developing and executing complex campaign strategies.
Expertise in writing, editing and developing PR/media targeted messages; ability to drive message consistencies across a comprehensive set of communication vehicles/tools.
Business Leadership. An analytical mind that can assess and develop new strategies, and align communications strategies and plans with business goals is critical.
Experience in the technology sector will be a significant advantage.

This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by and employee within this position. The actual duties, responsibilities and qualifications may vary based on assignment or group. Microsoft is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workplace.

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