Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs

About Grainger:
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 Details:
You will lead a world-class communications and Public Affairs function to support our purpose, aspiration, strategy, and culture. This includes all internal and external communications, media relations, employee and executive communications, employer branding and Public Affairs programs. Internal communications to include CEO, Grainger Leadership team (GLT) support and all company level communications. You will be the principal advisor to the CEO and the GLT regarding the impact of corporate decisions on internal and external constituents. This also includes the executives and Grainger's influence on shaping our culture and leading reputation management programs. You will also work with the Vice President of Investor Relations on ensuring consistent messaging to the investor community.
You will report to the Chief Legal Officer and be a member of the Corporate Affairs(Law; Ethics & Compliance; ESG; Security and Loss Prevention; Environmental, Health & Safety; and Communications) Leadership Team.
You Will:

• Communicate with the executive team, providing expertise and relaying feedback and perceptions to the CEO, CFO, GLT, senior management and the Board of Directors.
• Lead a team of experienced communications professionals in supporting all CEO, GLT and company-related communications and initiatives across a globally distributed and diverse workforce.
• Provide communications expertise to business-critical projects, including enterprise crisis response, ESG report, and workplace safety.
• Lead team on execution of communication strategy to guide our performance and ensure an engaged, aligned workforce of brand advocates.
• Maintain direct ownership for oversight of our brand standards.
• Oversee our intranet page and corporate information on Grainger's external website as well as other appropriate channels.
• Lead the planning and management of, and participate in, media interviews, conferences, the national sales and service meeting, the annual leadership meeting and investor related meetings including any planned investor days and the annual shareholder's meeting.
• Lead any crisis related response including maintaining a crisis preparedness plan.
• Develop a group of outside advisors/PR experts if outside support is needed.
• Lead a global communications team in developing thoughtful communications programs that advance our goals.
• Reinforce existing communications strengths and further establish a creative, proactive messaging platform. Collaborate with the Vice-President of Investor Relations to ensure consistent messaging with all partners and minimize rework/redundancy.
• Manage function's budget.

You Have:

• Minimum of 15 years combined experience in the communications discipline with experience advising CEO's and their leadership teams and overseeing integrated Public Affairs, including internal and external communications.
• Verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills with strong writing and editorial abilities, and a record of success in creating value by conveying our strategy, initiatives and results to broad and diverse audiences.
• Be an influential advisor and counselor within the organization with senior leadership, and willing to assert an informed, candid point of view. Often need to reinforce the team member's view and may involve providing critical feedback to leadership.
• Experience influencing and engaging external partners (experts, influencers, media, government)
• Executive presence and interpersonal communications skills, as well as the ability to speak confidently in front of large audiences and answer difficult and complex questions in the moment.
• Experience leading through major business transformations, including M&A, divestitures and other corporate restructurings.
• Remain educated on relevant professional, industry, regulatory and corporate governance news and trends.
• Bachelor's degree required; preferably with MBA or equivalent experience.

DEI Statement:
We 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.
#LI-LS1
#LI-Onsite