Director of Communications & Change Management

Director of Communications & Change Management City: Chicago State/Province: IL Country: United States Division: Corporate Job ID: 13967 Since 1952, Lawson Products has worked hard to make our customers' jobs easier by improving their operational efficiency, productivity and overall performance. As a leader in the MRO industry, we partner with customers to make sure they have the right maintenance and repair parts on hand when needed. Weu2019re looking for a Director of Corporate Communications & Change Management, responsible for developing and executing a corporate communications strategy that is designed to enhance Lawsonu2019s brand with external stakeholders, drive engagement with employees and accelerate the adoption of strategic business initiatives. Areas of responsibility include communications, media relations, special events, public affairs, strategic communications, corporate communications, oversight of marketing communications and branding and executive positioning. We offer a competitive benefits package that includes vision, dental, medical and retirement benefits, as well as a paid holiday and PTO package. Responsibilities: u2022 Plans and implements Lawsonu2019s corporate communication strategy, incorporating messaging that drives our culture and business strategy. u2022 Develops and executes internal communication programs to deliver communications objectives throughout the organization. u2022 Assesses, develops and implements change management strategies and plans that prepare the organization by anticipating and minimizing employee resistance and business disruption. u2022 Collaborates with senior leaders, HR and other stakeholders to reinforce Lawsonu2019s culture and brand. Ensure corporate strategy, corporate milestones and organizational changes are communicated internally. u2022 Develops and delivers external communication plans that align with Lawsonu2019s corporate strategy, working closely with senior leadership to ensure the planning and execution of communications are timely, accurate and effective. u2022 Develops and manages content for external stakeholders on key company milestones and other announcements, including press releases, Q&Au2019s and corporate presentations. u2022 Manages and directs the media relations partnership with Lawsonu2019s external communications firm to assist with strategic communications projects. u2022 Develops content for website and social media. Partners with HR on initiatives such as Total Rewards, engagement surveys and wellness surveys. u2022 Collaborates with IT on the utilization and continuous improvement of communication technologies such as the companyu2019s intranet. u2022 Oversees content of all marketing and sales media. Partners with the product management, marketing and sales teams to ensure company publications, marketing materials, websites and client/community engagement communications all build and protect corporate brand name and image. u2022 Directs Lawsonu2019s brand and reputation, ensuring Lawson is viewed favorably by the public and its employees. u2022 Monitors Lawsonu2019s branding strategy, programs and initiatives to ensure all brand touch points and messaging are in keeping with brand values and corporate guidelines as detailed in Lawsonu2019s Style Guide. Participates in the rollout of new brand positioning, providing input, guidance and oversight of the messaging and positioning to internal stakeholders (e.g. sales, marketing, product and legal). Works collaboratively with sales and product management/marketing with regard to brand communication-related initiatives. Facilitates idea exchange. u2022 Supervises all aspects of the corporate communications team, including budgets, staff, contractors and vendors, workflow and dissemination of information to Lawson employees. u2022 Provides business solutions, stakeholder analysis and communication strategy that enhance business outcomes and accelerate the adoption of strategic business initiatives, focusing on the people-aspect of change. u2022 Defines appropriate approaches and delivers change management practices and processes to the organization, demonstrating the value of a structured process for change management. u2022 Facilitates stakeholder analysis, utilizing tools and creating processes to measure and report on communication effectiveness. u2022 Identifies potential resistance areas of affected audiences, creating mitigation plans and activities to reduce project risks. u2022 Facilitates change-planning sessions with project subject matter experts, leaders and managers to define the change management process for project initiatives. u2022 Other duties as assigned. Qualifications & Requirements: u2022 Bacheloru2019s degree or higher in a writing discipline, such as English, journalism, communications or a related field, with 10 years of progressive experience in a similar corporate communications position or an equivalent combination of experience, education and training. u2022 Demonstrated leadership roles in previous positions desirable, with previous team management and supervision experience. u2022 Exceptional verbal, written and presentation skills, including excellent proofreading and copy editing skills. u2022 Strong experience working with domestic media and a track record of building relationships with external stakeholders and media consultants. u2022 Strong experience with the people-aspect of change management, familiar with stakeholder analysis and communication strategy, which accelerate the adoption of business initiatives and mitigates employee resistance. u2022 Experience writing across of variety of platforms. u2022 Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate and work well with others in a professional office environment. u2022 Strong expertise of Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as experience with a content management system. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite products including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and other publishing software is preferred. u2022 Strong project management skills, including strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines. Demonstrated leadership in executing large projects in a fast moving culture. u2022 Proven ability to demonstrate executive presence and partner across various functional areas and levels. Our salary range for this role is $157,800 - $189,320 including a full benefits package. Lawson Products is an Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Created: 2026-01-07