Senior Manager, Communications - Technology

As a leading industrial distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom, We Keep The World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. With 2023 sales of $16.5 billion, we’re dedicated to providing value for customers, fostering an engaging culture for team members and driving strong financial results.Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a 2024 Glassdoor Best Place to Work and a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry over our next 100 years.Position DetailsAs a Senior Manager, Communications, you will lead the development of strategic internal and leader communications, company communications programs, and support external communications as needed for one of Grainger's key business functions.You will manage audiences and partners simultaneously, while working collaboratively with leaders and team members in different positions from Executive leadership to the company's non-exempt team member base and support the highest priority and most complex communications for the function. You will report to Director, Communications and be expected to work in either Lake Forest or our Chicago, IL office 3 times per week.You Will• Lead strategic planning, messaging and coordination of both functional communications and highly complex communication needs.• Lead work and projects including: message development for key priorities and initiatives, creation and support of engagement strategies, large meeting leader communications support, company strategy deployment, and translating and tailoring relevant corporate content for distinct audience needs.• Provide communications support to Functional Sr. Leadership. Support external communications efforts with leaders as needed.• Foster open, honest, transparent communications between senior leaders, mid-level managers and non-exempt team members in ways that enhance engagement and service to customers.• Create relevant strategic communication playbooks and templates to help leaders communicate with their teams and better scale communications resources to areas of greatest impact.• Measure and assess the effectiveness of communications activities and improve communications channels. Use data to make decisions on future communications.• Provide strategic oversight and direction to teams managing operational, deployment and change communications.• Be an ambassador who builds relationships externally that promote the Grainger reputation with important partners and create broader awareness of Grainger's strategy and local presence.• Handle sensitive or proprietary company information.• Show up as a business leader beyond the role of communicator.• See effects across communications and raise reputational risks.You Have• 7+ years of experience providing strategic communications counsel for large, complex projects and change initiatives by understanding the needs of different audiences.• Experience across multiple dimensions of communications, and a willingness to experiment with new ways to communicate.• A track record of building relationships across all levels of the organization.• Experience working in a matrixed environment and across multiple facilities and regions, and leading large-scale change communications projects.• Experience with both executive and field roles.• Experience with external communications.Rewards And BenefitsWith benefits starting day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs. Check out the highlights below and review all our benefits at GraingerTotalRewards.com.• Medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance plans and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing• Paid time off (PTO) and 6 company holidays per year• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no match required• Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education and tools• Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parentsWe are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment. With this in mind, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.