External Communications Director
GKN Aerospace
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Papendrecht • Netherlands
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Job Level
About the role
- Lead the global media communications strategy to strengthen brand awareness, engage with journalists, and position the organization as a global technology leader and employer of choice.
- Coordinate external communications across the business, ensuring messaging is aligned with the global narrative and released in a way that maximises impact.
- Act as a central point of guidance and governance for external communications activity.
- Develop and deliver a global social media strategy that enhances employee engagement, protects our company’s reputation, and reinforces the organisation’s leadership position in the aerospace and technology sectors.
- Provide crisis communications leadership, developing robust preparedness plans, training key stakeholders, and leading communications responses during incidents to safeguard the company’s reputation.
- Oversee the development and continuous improvement of the award-winning global corporate website, ensuring content remains current, engaging, and aligned with strategic messaging, working close with the Digital Communications Manager and external agency partners.
- Partner with the Executive Team of GKN Aerospace to enhance leadership visibility and industry profiles, providing strategic counsel on messaging, media engagement, and the development of key narrative materials.
- Lead media and journalist engagement at major global events, including flagship industry events such as the Farnborough and Paris Air Shows.
- Define and track communications metrics to measure media and PR performance, using insights to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate impact.
Requirements
- 10 years’ experience in communications within a complex global corporate business.
- Relevant professional qualification or training.
- Familiarity with publicly listed companies, preferably in a highly regulated and technical sector.
- Track record of leading media relationships and crisis communications.
- Experience in working in an international environment, preferably of global scale.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills, diplomatic and able to act as business partner to executives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Dutch or Swedish.
- Proficient in using MS Office suite and social media.
- Ability to travel globally.
Benefits
- A gross monthly salary based on WTW grade-E and in line with your experience and qualifications.
- 8% holiday allowance.
- 30 paid holidays for full-time employment.
- An excellent pension scheme (PME) and travel allowance.
- Bonus scheme.
- A pleasant and informal working environment, in which we work together to achieve the best result for our customers in a pleasant atmosphere.
- Opportunity to learn and grow within a truly international team.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
communications strategycrisis communicationsmedia relationssocial media strategycontent developmentcommunications metricsnarrative developmentstakeholder trainingglobal corporate communicationspublic relations
Soft Skills
interpersonal skillsdiplomacyexecutive partnershipleadership visibilitystrategic counselwritten communicationverbal communicationengagementcollaborationcontinuous improvement
Certifications
professional qualification in communicationstraining in crisis communicationsmedia relations certificationpublic relations certificationcommunications management certificationleadership trainingglobal communications certificationdigital marketing certificationsocial media management certificationstrategic communications certification