Communications Manager Germany & Northern Europe and Emerging International

Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Rooted in two centuries of family heritage, Beam Suntory has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company ... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Beam Suntory is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

What makes this a great opportunity?

A dual external and internal communications role supporting Beam Suntory’s business and operations across two of its International Business Units: Germany & Northern Europe and Emerging International. The role will be responsible for creating and implementing communications strategies across internal communications and employee engagement in these two BUs, as well as external engagement strategies to build and protect our corporate profile in key markets (primarily Germany), including proactive and reactive media relations, promoting executive visibility, and leading engagement with external bodies and events. 

This is a new position in the business, with a high degree of autonomy, ownership, and a broad range of responsibilities across a number of geographies. 

This role will be a member of the International Communications Team, reporting to the International Communications Director in London, with peers working across Spain & GTR, India, and the UK & Ireland. Continuous close partnership will also be required with other key stakeholder groups, including direct support for the G&NE and Emerging International MDs and their Leadership Teams, as well as brand teams, Public Affairs, and Suntory Holdings’ communications teams, among others. 

As part of a collaborative global communication function, this role may also extend to support with or lead broader communications projects which extend beyond G&NE and Emerging International. 

External

• Provide executive positioning support for the G&NE and Emerging International MDs, and occasionally their Leadership Teams and other relevant global spokespeople, including background conversations and on-record engagement with media, speaking opportunities, engagement with industry bodies, and on LinkedIn. 

• Germany is the primary focus of proactive external communications efforts for this role. For the other markets across G&NE and Emerging International, the expectation is that some reactive work may be required, in addition to a general awareness of external-facing opportunities, issues, and risks. 

Within Germany, this role will be expected to:

• Create and execute media strategies around key corporate announcements and seek evergreen opportunities to build our profile through proactive and reactive media relations, corporate social media strategies, and engagement with external events and organizations.

• Maintain close partnership with Public Affairs to liaise on key risks and opportunities facing our industry. Drive proactive and reactive external engagement to support their aims, in concert with International corp comms.

• Stay closely connected with the Germany Brand PR team to maintain high-level oversight of brand PR activity and unlock opportunities for corporate profile-raising linked to brand activity. 

• Act as point person on any internal or external reactive or crisis communications issues which may arise. 

• Manage German PR agency, who will support with the above responsibilities. 

Internal

• Set and execute internal corporate comms strategy to build engagement for employees across our G&NE and Emerging International BUs, with a primary focus on Germany and additional dedicated internal comms support to individual markets where required.  

• Ensure that global and International communications, including on key priorities like Proof Positive initiatives, are landing appropriately in your markets, overseeing translation and follow-ups where required.

• Assess and manage existing internal communications channels and communications coming from across the organization to support a premium, streamlined experience for employees to receive information and connect. Channels include Yammer, intranet, Town Halls, HR Newsletters. 

• Publicize successes and highlight individual and team achievements from across markets in our global internal comms platforms. 

• Build a strong internal network across our G&NE and Emerging International BUs to understand the business, employee engagement and key issues on the ground. 

Qualifications & Experience

• Fluent in German and English. Excellent writing skills in both languages. 
• Minimum 4 years of experience in communications, ideally corporate communications, either in-house or agency. 
• Experience in both internal and external communications preferred. 
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Excellent oral communication skills and ability to work with a variety of stakeholders, in person and remotely, including the senior management and executive level & also global stakeholders.
• Ability to work with confidential information. 
   

At Beam Suntory, people are our number one priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected. Beam Suntory is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant’s skills and experience.