Director Global Communications Performance Coatings

The organisation

AkzoNobel creates everyday essentials to make people's lives more liveable and inspiring. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals, we supply essential ingredients, essential protection and essential color to industries and consumers worldwide.

Backed by a pioneering heritage, our innovative products and sustainable technologies are designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet, while making life easier.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we have approximately 45,000 people in around 80 countries, while our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon and Eka. Consistently ranked as a leader in sustainability, we are dedicated to energizing cities and communities while creating a protected, colorful world where life is improved by what we do.

AkzoNobel’s Performance Coatings business area produces a number of leading products and brands for customers including major global industrial and consumer companies. We are passionate about innovation, and our portfolio includes high performance paints and coatings for ships, aircraft, automotive, industrial installations, architectural components, and mobile devices.

The position

Your mission in this role is to act as a member of the Performance Coatings and Global Communications Leadership teams, providing leadership and direction by making a decisive contribution to the successful execution of the Performance Coatings and Global Communications strategies.

In doing so you ensure that all communications strategies and activities support the AkzoNobel and brand positioning, values and business strategy, while significantly contributing to our change agenda and policy of continuous improvement.

Is this a challenge that matches your skills and ambitions? Can you drive strategies and tactics for corporate, brand and product communications activities? Are you able to build internal and stakeholder engagement, understanding and support for our strategy, and business and brand objectives? Do you have the experience and credibility necessary to act as a trusted advisor to the Performance Coatings Leadership Team on all matters relating to Communications and Public Affairs? Above all, can you make a real difference within our dynamic, multinational and multicultural business environment?

If you offer all this and more we invite you to apply for the role of Director Global Communications Performance Coatings.

Tasks & responsibilities

Working from our global headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, you manage a team dedicated to developing a full service communications and public affairs strategy for Performance Coatings. In doing so you drive the company’s overall corporate reputation and the consumer brands agenda for leading brands.

In particular you manage the worldwide, shared in-region communications function and shared central content production team in order to ensure a seamless operation across businesses and geographical regions. A key task in this regard is the creation of digital programs and tools, and the optimization of social media strategies, in order to drive brand awareness.

Further, you manage the adaptation and roll-out of AkzoNobel-wide communications and positioning programs, translating them into relevant programs for business area initiatives and themes such as Human Cities and Planet Possible. You also develop Performance Coatings specific partnerships that support the wider Human Cities company positioning.

In terms of media relations you establish consistent and seamless processes for management across the business area including alignment with Investor Relations and Legal on matters of material importance to protect and enhance AkzoNobel’s reputation.

On an ongoing basis you analyze gaps in existing protocols and practices and lead and establish solid issues management and an emergency communications process.

At all times you seek to enhance the perception of AkzoNobel worldwide as an employer of choice and a respected leader in the industry. This requires you to build and expand strong networks with external stakeholders and to work closely with subject matter experts in media relations, Government/Public Affairs and Internal engagement.

Finally, you introduce measurement and roll-out KPIs to track effectiveness of the Performance Coatings communications strategy. Your performance will be measured against criteria including brand awareness and equity (based on sustainability and innovation), market share growth, reputational benefit (Ebiquity research), business integrity, and social responsibility via the Human Cities program.

Candidate profile

To apply for this position you must possess the following attributes:

• Masters Degree in Communications or Journalism (or similar)
• Extensive experience in a high level corporate communications role for an international company
• Able to drive employee understanding and engagement of business strategy and priorities
• Able to interact effectively across our complex matrix organization
• An understanding of the social media landscape and familiarity with standard office technologies
• A high level of written and spoken English and, preferably, two other European languages

Interested?

You can apply to this position by using the link below. For further information, please contact Jacquelien Huisman, Talent Resourcing Partner, at +31 (0)88 010 67 89, option 2. Only online applications will be accepted.

Agency or sales calls are not appreciated.