Director of Communications

Director of Communications

As Head of Communications, you will serve as the enterprise's lead communications strategist and build the communications function at The W.W. Williams Company. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and partnering closely with the Executive Leadership Team, you will foster a high-performance team culture. You will shape and execute communication strategies that enhance and protect the reputation of the company and effectively engage a range of stakeholders, including employees across our branch network, customers, OEM and channel partners, and the broader industry.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing and executing the W.W. Williams communications strategy across internal and external channels, aligned with company strategy and goals, and building and scaling the communications function for a growing national branch network.
• Partnering with the Executive Leadership Team and their teams, and with support functions including sales, service operations, marketing, finance, human resources, and legal.
• Providing strategic thinking and direction to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and senior leaders in planning and executing all communication programs, including messaging that supports board reporting.
• Leading and developing external communications, including strategic plans that enhance the company's reputation and showcase the depth of W.W. Williams' service capabilities to customers, partners, and industry media.
• Connecting our people to our purpose by bringing the company strategy to life across the branch network, communicating key initiatives, and elevating the employee experience through internal communications and recruiting efforts.
• Building communication strategies that drive engagement in support of major strategic, financial, people, and customer initiatives and change communications.
• Drafting and securing approval for key messages delivered to branch, regional, business unit, and functional audiences, covering change management, business strategy, and growth.
• Providing hands-on support for leadership communications, coaching senior leaders, creating communication plans, and publishing content across channels (intranet, email, digital signage, field communications), including town halls, branch meetings, and other events.
• Using employee feedback, metrics, and insights to spot trends and address changes in engagement, with particular attention to frontline technician and branch populations.
• Collaborating with expert spokespeople on high-profile external placements, including bylined articles, trade press, industry podcasts, and speaking opportunities.
• Monitoring market and industry trends that impact or influence communication programs.
• Leading the company's reputational risk and crisis communications strategy, protecting its reputation through proactive, approved messaging across safety, operational, workforce, and customer matters.
• Creating a metrics-driven reporting framework that demonstrates accountability and shows progress against the communications strategy in a format digestible for the Executive Leadership Team and board.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in Communications, Journalism, Business, Marketing, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in corporate or strategic communications, preferably in an industrial, service, distribution, or otherwise operationally complex business. Must have both internal and external communications expertise.
• Strategic thinker who can translate complex concepts into actionable, understandable plans, programs, and materials.
• Relevant media and industry relationships, and/or the demonstrated ability to build the right relationships quickly.
• Ability to engage and manage multiple stakeholders, build strong relationships and networks, and effectively drive, convince, and influence others.
• Passion for strengthening organizational culture and productivity, and building community within a geographically distributed, frontline-heavy workforce.
• Ability to multitask, working on multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision and under tight deadlines.
• Excellent project management skills and strong executive presence.

Critical Experiences

• Proven track record of building, managing, and coaching high-performing teams.
• Experience leading organizational change and communication projects, preferably in a fast-moving, multi-site or matrixed organization.
• Previous experience developing internal communication plans to support our people, champion our brand, and activate employee engagement through tools that inform and inspire, ideally across distributed field and branch locations.
• Previous experience developing innovative external communication plans that proactively help grow and defend a market-leading brand.
• Experience working on highly sensitive business issues and crisis communications.
• Demonstrated experience developing executive-level communications and channel strategies.
• Experience in a high-growth environment preferred; experience in industrial services, equipment, transportation, or power generation is a plus.
• Experience operating with the interplay of communications and legal, HR, finance, and leadership for effective stakeholder management.

Employee Rewards and Benefits:

• 8 Paid Holidays & 1 Paid Wellness Day
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k with a Company Match
• Company Paid Training
• Growth & Leadership Opportunities

About the Company:

W.W. Williams was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1912. Today The W.W. Williams Companies have a broad portfolio of businesses located throughout the U.S. and Mexico. The W.W. Williams Companies include CT Power and Guaranteed Truck Service. W.W. Williams offers a full range of industry-leading products, while providing technical/mechanical service and repair, remanufacturing and warehouse/supply chain management solutions to a varied customer base. Our products and services include diesel engines, transmissions, heavy duty truck repair, transport refrigeration, power generation and third-party supply chain logistics services. Our customers include on-highway truck fleets, off-highway equipment users, data centers, hospitals, Department of Defense OEMs, vehicle OEMs, U.S. Military and boat owners to name a few.

What began as a small family-owned business has evolved into one of the nation's most diversified solutions provider. We are relentlessly dedicated to helping our customers achieve maximum up time. From single trucking to cranes to fleet management to power generators to military and commercial packaging - consider it done.

We are Genuine. Honest. Passionate. That's not a slogan, it's a mantra. Everyone who wears the W.W. Williams name - from service technicians to advisors to business executives - is committed to getting the job done right, the first time around. Our people are our greatest assets; we support our team with access to world class training and development opportunities. It's this level of investment and care that matters to customers, giving you peace of mind that your fleet is in the right hands.

W.W. Williams is one of the nation's largest sales and service networks of industrial power products. With multiple locations across the US and Mexico, we are dedicated to providing highly professional service and strong relationships with our customers.

Join us for a career where you'll grow both personally and professionally in a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.

Competitive wages and benefits. AAP/EPE/M/F/Vets/Disabled, DFWP.