The External Senior Communications Manager – Media & Digital is a strategic and execution‑focused communications leader responsible for shaping and delivering high‑impact external storytelling that strengthens reputation, drives brand familiarity, and supports business growth.
This role blends earned media excellence with a strong digital mindset—supporting a modern, newsroom‑driven approach to communications across traditional media, owned channels, and emerging digital platforms. The ideal candidate brings deep media relations experience, intellectual curiosity about digital technology, and a passion for translating complex topics (innovation, sustainability, digital solutions, transformation) into compelling, credible narratives.
What You Will Do:
Media Relations & Earned Media
- Develop and execute proactive media strategies aligned to enterprise priorities, business campaigns, and innovation launches.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with tier‑one, trade, and emerging digital media across relevant beats (business, technology, innovation).
- Lead media outreach, story pitching, press materials, interviews, and spokesperson preparation.
- Monitor media coverage, issues, and external trends; provide insight‑driven recommendations to leaders.
Digital‑First Storytelling
- Contribute to a digital‑newsroom approach to external communications, ensuring stories are designed for relevance, reach, and engagement across channels.
- Partner closely with content, social, and digital teams to translate earned media moments into owned and shared content.
- Apply knowledge of digital platforms, analytics, and audience behavior to continuously optimize storytelling and channel mix.
Technology, Innovation & Transformation Communications
- Support communications for digital technology, innovation, and transformation initiatives, helping make complex concepts clear, credible, and human.
- Stay informed on digital trends, platforms, and tools that influence media, reputation, and stakeholder engagement.
- Bring forward new ideas for how technology can improve storytelling, measurement, and distribution.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as a trusted communications partner to internal stakeholders across business, marketing, digital and executive teams.
- Work seamlessly with agency partners to extend capacity, expertise, and reach.
What Success Looks Like:
- Clear, compelling stories that elevate reputation and support business priorities.
- Strong media relationships that consistently result in credible coverage.
- Digital‑savvy communications that reach the right audiences, in the right channels, at the right time.
- Trusted partnership with internal stakeholders and communications leadership.
Position Details:
- This is a hybrid role based out of Naperville, IL or St. Paul, MN.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Journalism, or a related field
- 10 years of professional experience
- 7 years of experience in agency communications, external communications, media relations, or related. Experience in journalism is highly regarded
- Proven track record securing high‑quality earned media and managing complex media relationships
- Strong writing, storytelling, and message development skills across formats and audiences
- Experience working in a fast‑paced, matrixed, global organization
- Immigration sponsorship not available for this role
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience communicating about digital technology, innovation, or transformation topics
- Demonstrated curiosity and working knowledge of digital platforms, analytics, and evolving media landscapes
- Experience integrating earned media with owned and social channels
- Background in B2B, industrial, technology, or purpose‑driven organizations
Annual or Hourly Compensation Range
Benefits
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits.
If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.
Potential Customer Requirements Notice
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
- Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster if eligible, unless a religious or medical accommodation is requested by the applicant and approved by Ecolab.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.
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