Senior Manager, Business Communications (6-months fixed-term)

Due to an internal secondment, we’re on the hunt for a Senior Manager, Business Communications (6 months fixed term), to create communication strategies that support key business objectives and strategic projects across areas such as CX, Revenue, GTM, Partnerships and Ecosystem. You will deliver key projects from start to finish that proactively tell our story to customers, partners, media, and other stakeholders. This role reports into the Director, Customer & Partner Communications (Business Communications).

As part of the Global Communications team, you will work with global and regional stakeholders to identify core media and communication opportunities that will lift the profile of the Xero brand. This role also supports partner and customer events, such as Xerocon, with content. Your involvement may include supporting presentations, writing blogs, drafting media releases, working on an activation or campaign.

You’re highly creative and can effectively digest and communicate technical information in a simple and human way. You’re an excellent writer who can create a range of global communication materials supporting go-to-market campaigns, including press releases, blogs, FAQs and video scripts.  

You will work hand in hand with internal stakeholders to discover hidden story gems in the way our people and our products are making a difference in our customers’ lives. Another key focus will be surfacing topics for thought leadership and supporting a regular rhythm of content for pitching to global audiences. You’ll stay up to date with what’s new in Xero to identify PR opportunities and connect with customers about our innovations in a way that amplifies outreach and narratives. 

You will be adept at managing the communications on customer change projects, working with internal stakeholders to provide strategic advice as well as develop key messages and reactive and proactive communications.

To be successful, you’ll need to be able to enjoy working at a fast pace, be able to juggle multiple priorities and work to deadlines. You’re seasoned at stakeholder management, confident juggling multiple stakeholders and projects and providing communications advice. You’ll have no problem jumping between reactive and proactive communications.

Your role:

• Lead communications plans for initiatives that support our business strategy and grow our brand
• Effectively communicate strategic projects to ensure customers are informed in a timely manner, and making changes seamless and easy to understand
• For specific projects, develop messaging frameworks and global communication campaign assets including media releases, blogs, FAQs
• Announce new partners - prepare media releases / review partner media releases, liaise with their teams to manage messages, sign-offs and media outreach.
• Identify ways to nurture existing strategic partnerships through joint communications efforts
• Digest technical information to create easy to digest proactive and reactive communication assets for relevant audiences
• Create content for strategic customer events (such as Xerocon) that tell our story whether through managing a campaign launch, supporting presentations, media releases, blogs, Q&As and executive support 
• Work alongside the Business Communications team and global PR agency to identify opportunities to build our customer story
• Develop topics and content for thought leadership across key portfolios
• Effectively work with global stakeholders to deliver key strategic projects to deadlines and across time zones
• Strategically advise key senior leaders and stakeholders to protect our brand and mitigate risks

What you’ll need to succeed (critical competencies)

• Ability to deliver projects to deadline and to a high-quality
• Work at a fast pace, ability to manage competing priorities and respond to needs and issues as they develop
• Stakeholder management  — keeping everyone informed on status, progress & risks of projects in a timely manner
• Proven ability to deliver effective, measurable communication strategies & campaigns
• Proven ability to digest technical information and create easy to read communications
• Excellent critical thinking skills
• Detail oriented, organized 
• Strong ability to build and foster relationships
• An ability to cope with change in a fast paced dynamic environment experiencing growth and expansion

What you’ll need to succeed (experience)

• Experienced communications and public relations professional
• 8+ years of relevant comms and/ or PR experience
• A communication background in technology, and/or SaaS software will be viewed favorably as well as an understanding and experience of the small business and/or accounting industry
• Strong performance in creating strategic communications for different audiences
• BA/BS in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations preferred