Job Summary
The Senior Director of North America Communications is a strategic leader responsible for developing and executing comprehensive internal and external communications strategies that advance business priorities, strengthen brand reputation, and drive engagement across the organization. This role partners closely with business leadership and collaborates across the broader GPC enterprise to ensure alignment, consistency, and impact in messaging.
The Senior Director oversees corporate communications, public relations, crisis communications, executive communications, internal communications, and organic social media strategy (non-product focused). The role also leads a digital communications team supporting the NAPA Connect platform, ensuring effective content strategy, adoption, and user engagement across digital channels.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute an integrated communications strategy aligned with business and GPC enterprise objectives.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on messaging, positioning, and reputation management.
- Ensure consistent messaging across internal, external, and digital audiences.
- Align divisional communications efforts with GPC corporate communications strategy and brand standards.
- Lead development and execution of internal communications strategies that inform, engage, and inspire employees.
- Partner with HR, Operations, Supply Chain, and Technology teams to support change management, business updates, and organizational initiatives.
- Oversee messaging for enterprise initiatives, business transformations, and cultural programs.
- Develop content for leadership communications, town halls, enterprise updates, and employee engagement campaigns.
- Drive engagement and adoption of internal platforms, including NAPA Connect.
- Develop executive messaging, presentations, talking points, and strategic narratives for senior leaders.
- Provide communications counsel to executives to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with corporate strategy.
- Support executive visibility initiatives internally and externally.
- Prepare leaders for media engagements, public appearances, and internal forums.
- Lead external communications strategy, including media relations, thought leadership, corporate storytelling, and reputation management.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with media and industry stakeholders.
- Develop proactive PR campaigns to support business initiatives, innovation, community engagement, and brand positioning (non-product focused).
- Manage agency relationships as applicable.
- Ensure external messaging aligns with GPC corporate positioning and brand standards.
- Lead organic social media strategy focused on corporate reputation, employer brand, culture, community engagement, and thought leadership.
- Oversee content governance and messaging consistency across social channels.
- Partner with Marketing to ensure clear delineation between corporate communications and product/promotional content.
- Monitor social sentiment and support issues management and crisis response as needed.
- Leverage analytics to measure engagement, reach, and reputation impact.
- Develop and maintain crisis communications plans and protocols.
- Serve as a key advisor during crisis situations, ensuring timely, accurate, and consistent communications.
- Partner with Legal, HR, Operations, and GPC Corporate Communications on sensitive or high-risk issues.
- Lead post-incident communications analysis and continuous improvement planning.
- Lead a digital communications team responsible for content strategy and governance for the NAPA Connect platform.
- Ensure NAPA Connect supports business objectives through relevant, timely, and engaging content.
- Drive adoption and usage through targeted campaigns and stakeholder alignment.
- Establish content standards, governance models, and performance metrics.
- Utilize analytics to continuously improve digital engagement and communication effectiveness.
- Act as a strategic partner to business leaders, ensuring communications initiatives directly support operational and commercial objectives.
- Collaborate closely with GPC Corporate Communications to align messaging, share best practices, and support enterprise-wide initiatives.
- Foster strong cross-functional relationships across Marketing, HR, Legal, IT, and Operations.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or related field.
- 12+ years of progressive communications experience, including senior leadership roles.
- Proven experience in corporate communications, media relations, executive communications, crisis management, and social media strategy.
- Experience leading digital communications teams and managing enterprise platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and counsel senior executives.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and strategic communication skills.
Preferred Attributes:
- Experience in a multi-location, franchise, retail, or distribution environment.
- Experience within a publicly traded company or large enterprise organization.
- Familiarity with enterprise digital platforms similar to NAPA Connect.
Leadership
- Embodies the following values: serve, perform, influence, respect, innovate, team.
- Effectively communicates by motivating and inspiring others through clear and proactive communication.
- Delivers results and drives customer success by committing and focusing on outcomes to deliver results and making the customer the center of decisions.
- Makes balanced decisions and thinks strategically by being a forward thinker.
- Develops high-performing teams by providing inclusive leadership, attracting, and developing world-class talent, providing ongoing feedback, and building trust across the organization.
Physical Demands / Working Environment
- Comfortable working in an office setting.
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