Responsibilities

• Leads and works alongside other communications team members, external agencies for story mining within the organization to identify story opportunities that bolster WM’s reputation as a leader and innovator in the environmental services industry and beyond.
• Responsible for creating comprehensive, multi-channel communications strategies and campaigns to raise WM’s profile with external audiences, including employees, media, customers, communities, and shareholders.
• Liaises with team that oversees the strategy for Area communicators across North America, ensuring consistent messaging is brought down to a local level, as well as the delivery of relevant communications tools.
• Integrates overall reporting for quality and quantity of media coverage alongside any owned channels performance while using data to inform future strategies and tactics.
• Exceptional writer and copy editor.
• Creative, results- and solutions-oriented thinker that can craft communications plans that garner results.
• Comfortable with proactive media relations outreach.
• Protect WM’s reputation through creative storytelling, strategic media relations and external communications planning.
• Assists with directing external agency relationships.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree (accredited), or equivalent experience in Communication, Journalism or Public Relations.
• 7-9 years of overall external communications experience (with a strong emphasis on media relations, executive visibility and comprehensive communications plans) working for an agency or in an in-house Corporate Communications role at a Fortune 500 company.
• Possess a keen understanding of integrated communications and the ability to make recommendations for storytelling across all channels.
• Crisis communications experience preferred.
• Experience in advocacy communications/working with government relations teams preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team but also be a self-starter with the ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to prioritize requests and leverage communications resources in a matrixed environment for business requests.
• Ability to craft impactful storytelling messages.
• Experience securing local and national press.
• Highly organized and able to prioritize under pressure.
• Comfort level working with external vendors/agencies.
• Ability to make recommendations and guide the process for visual assets that help guide communications planning.
• Familiarity with media databases and monitoring tools – such as Cision, Meltwater and MuckRack.
• Position may require up to 10% travel.

Preferred

• Crisis communications experience preferred.
• Experience in advocacy communications/working with government relations teams preferred.

Benefits

• At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability.
• As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more!
• Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days.
• Please note that benefits may vary by site.