Corporate Communications Manager
Whether the cook is a future Emeril or a toddler helping to make chocolate chip cookies (licking the spoon, of course!), chances are Pampered Chef has a better, faster, and more delicious way of getting things done in the kitchen. We sell our superior-quality, innovative collection of prepping, cooking, and serving products through a network of more than 42,000 direct sales consultants throughout the US, Canada, and Germany. Millions of customers use our products every day. Each of our 450 HQ coworkers—from product designers and supply chain specialists to ecommerce developers—is committed to bringing the best to our customers. And we have fun doing it!
Established in 1980 by Doris Christopher, Pampered Chef was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2002, a sure sign of our growth potential. In 2014, Tracy Britt Cool, a key member of Warren Buffett’s team, joined as our CEO to lead our transformation into a progressive, open door, cutting-edge workplace. We believe happy coworkers are the best coworkers and are committed to keeping creativity, innovative solutions and customer engagement top of mind. Pampered Chef is pushing the boundaries for our customers, consultants, and coworkers.
MAIN COURSE (Job Responsibilities):We are looking for an accomplished writer and media-savvy corporate communications manager who will help grow awareness and demand for the Pampered Chef brand, and position Pampered Chef strongly with key constituents, including media and influencers, customers, consultants and coworkers. This is a hands-on role that requires exceptional communications and project management skills.
You will help craft external and internal communications, ensuring messaging consistency across multiple platforms and channels. This position reports to the Director of Corporate Communications who is responsible for all communications initiatives and staff, including executive communications, coworker communications, media relations, influencer program, and charitable giving to ensure appropriate and cohesive messaging across all key audiences.
Your performance will be measured by awareness growth and positioning with key constituents, and your ability to partner with a high-performing cross-functional team. This position requires demonstrated media and influencer relations experience, solid messaging and communication skills, exceptional organizational skills, a procrastination-free proactive approach, a collaborative spirit, and a focus that starts with the audience and works backwards. If you have what it takes to join the Pampered Chef marketing team, you’ll work among world class talent in a fast-paced, rapidly growing and evolving environment.
- Amplify Pampered Chef brand narrative to generate awareness and position Pampered Chef strongly with media, influencers, consultants, customers, employees and the community;
- Collaborate with director on a wide range of corporate reputation programs, strategic campaigns and proactive and reactive initiatives, including successfully nurturing proactive media and influencer relationships, maintaining excellent relationship with press and influencers, and developing and managing the speakers bureau program, awards programs, product placement, customer reference program, online media site, and other communications programs that consistently drive positive coverage and editorial leadership for the company.
- Thoughtfully-support coworker communications by evaluating incoming communication needs, recommending the appropriate vehicles for message success and revising communications for brand voice and alignment to company strategic initiatives
- Partner with the leadership team to write speeches, prepare presentations, draft articles, arrange interviews, and maintain other forms of external contact;
- Act as a key strategic owner for charitable giving, community relations and corporate responsibility programs;
- Monitor industry trends and consumer habits, staying ahead of the curve to inform communications strategies and tactics;
- Measure brand awareness, positioning and communications effectiveness
- Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, English or related communications discipline. Minor in Marketing a plus.
- Minimum 6 years of demonstrated success in public relations in corporate and/or agency environments.
- List building prowess, media measurement tracking know-how and an in-depth knowledge of the editorial pitch process
- Master of written and verbal communications skills, coupled with highly-developed interpersonal skills
- Strategic, creative thinker
- Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills with a drive meet deadlines and a personal passion for tackling the most important projects first
- Ability to be flexible and open to changing priorities and challenges
- Media training, interview preparation, key message development and/or internal communications experience preferred
- Demonstrated proficiency with PowerPoint, Word and Excel a must; experience with Cision or Meltwater list building and media tracking strongly preferred
DESSERT! (The Sweet Rewards of Working at Pampered Chef!)
Our core values are respect, humility, accountability, meritocracy, integrity, authenticity, passion, and innovation (in no particular order!). We embody those values in our work, but also in the great desserts we offer to our coworkers.
- Each and every coworker makes a difference every day by asking tough questions, finding the answers, and then making it happen—our entrepreneurial employees are the key to our success! Pampered Chef is big enough to implement cutting-edge technology, and small enough for all ideas to be heard and challenged.
- We are a learning focused environment—we want you to learn from us, and we expect to learn from you and what you’re passionate about! We even provide training and development for added brainpower.
- We get to mix it up! PC has offices in Addison and in downtown Chicago. Some of our roles will have the opportunity to work in the Chicago office full time, part time, or on occasion.
- We collaborate every day in a high-tech space with writable walls, open collaboration zones, quiet “I need to contemplate” zones, and fun zones with ping pong, basketball, and bags, of course. No boring cubicle farms here!
- We are concerned about your physical and financial well-being and offer BC/BS PPO or HMO health plans, dental, disability, matched 401K, life insurance, on-site fitness center, comfy chairs, on-site cafeteria, and dry cleaning valet service.
- Most importantly, Pampered Chef has a strong, proven history of bringing fun to cooking, creativity to recipes, and sharing to family and friends around the table.