External Communications Specialist - Sargent & Lundy
Chicago, IL
About the Job
Description
For more than 130 years, Sargent & Lundy has been a global leader in engineering and design for the power industry. We’re looking for an experienced and energetic External Communications Specialist to join our team!
As part of the Corporate Communications team, you will play a crucial role executing Sargent & Lundy’s external communications strategies to enhance our brand reputation and engage our audiences effectively. Your main duties will include creating informative content for stakeholders across multiple external communications channels.
You’ll need the creativity and passion for writing and proofreading engaging copy and developing corresponding visual elements. You should be a strategic thinker who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with the ability to manage multiple projects independently and proactively. Duties will be diverse and multi-faceted, so you must be organized and attentive to detail. The role requires interaction with senior leadership, therefore excellent professional skills are vital. The ability to communicate effectively in written and oral communications is a must.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develop effective external communications for website, social media, marketing, and trade media initiatives that align with our business objectives and enhance our brand image.
- Provide advanced writing and editing support with an emphasis on AP Style (although we have an affinity for the Oxford comma).
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure messaging is current, accurate, and consistent with core values and brand strategy.
- Create graphics and visuals to support content.
- Manage images and other digital assets for external corporate communications initiatives.
- Provide ongoing creative and technical support for external channels to enhance user experience.
- Leverage analytics and reports to determine effectiveness, seek continual improvements of communication initiatives, and manage regular reporting.
- Support crisis communications planning and response activities.
- Stay up to date and informed on external communications tools, strategies, and best practices.
- Support the corporate communications team with other tasks as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, or similar.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in a similar role in a corporate environment or agency setting.
- Must have excellent technical, business, editing, and creative writing skills (writing samples will be requested from top candidates).
- Experience in website content development.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple projects with varying deadlines and priorities under pressure and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Confident social skills and ability to interact with all levels of management and vendor partners.
- Strong time management and organizational skills with a keen attention to detail.
- A resourceful problem solver with a solution-based approach to customer service.
- Basic creative design experience.
- Experience in photo editing software is a plus.
Desired Systems/Software Experience
- GA 4 (Google Analytics)
- WordPress
- Canva
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Office 365
Sargent & Lundy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by law.
Award Winning Compensation & Benefits
At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Health & WellnessFinancial BenefitsWork-Life Balance
- Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
- Life & Accident Insurance
- Disability Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Back-Up Daycare
- FSA & HSA
- 401(k)
- Pre-Tax Commuter Account
- Merit Scholarship Program
- Employee Discount Program
- Corporate Charitable Giving Program
- Tuition Assistance
- First Professional Licensure Bonus
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Bereavement Leave
- Flexible Work Arrangements
Awards & Recognition