Senior Manager, Communications

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Communications serves as a strategic communications partner to senior leaders, driving executive, employee, and enterprise communications that advance business priorities, support organizational change, and strengthen the company's reputation.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and trusted advisor with experience supporting executives, managing complex issues, leading cross-functional initiatives, and translating business strategy into clear, compelling communications. They combine strategic thinking with strong execution and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Executive & Corporate Communications

• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to senior leaders on business priorities, organizational changes, employee communications, and reputation-related matters.
• Draft executive communications including speeches, presentations, talking points, town hall content, employee messages, leadership announcements, and stakeholder communications.
• Develop communication strategies and messaging plans for enterprise initiatives, transformations, organizational changes, and business priorities.
• Partner with executive leadership, HR, Finance, Legal, Operations, Commercial, and other functions to align messaging and communication approaches.
• Ensure communications are clear, consistent, accurate, and aligned with company strategy and values.

Employee Engagement & Change Communications

• Develop communication plans and content that improve employee understanding, engagement, and alignment with company priorities.
• Lead communication support for organizational changes, business transformations, and strategic initiatives.
• Create manager communication tools, FAQs, campaigns, intranet content, newsletters, videos, and employee storytelling content.
• Support enterprise communication channels including intranet, digital signage, email communications, and leadership forums.

Reputation Management, Media & Crisis Communications

• Support crisis communications, issues management, and business continuity communications.
• Develop messaging and response materials for sensitive business issues and emerging risks.
• Support media relations activities, including preparation of statements, key messages, Q&A documents, and company spokesperson materials.
• Monitor external trends and stakeholder issues that could affect the company's reputation.
• Partner with Legal, HR, Operations, and leadership teams on communications related to workforce, operational, regulatory, and public affairs matters.

Strategic Projects & Corporate Initiatives

• Lead complex communications projects from strategy through execution.
• Support sustainability, corporate responsibility, culture, and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Coordinate communications support for leadership meetings, town halls, employee events, and executive forums.
• Manage agency and vendor relationships as needed.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science, Marketing, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in corporate communications, executive communications, public affairs, media relations, employee communications, agency communications, or related fields.
• Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and executive communications skills.
• Experience developing communication strategies for senior leaders and complex business initiatives.
• Experience managing sensitive issues, organizational change, or crisis communications.
• Strong stakeholder management and consulting skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, Teams, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Copilot.

Preferred

• Experience supporting CEOs, executive leadership teams, boards, or senior executives.
• Experience in media relations, issues management, crisis communications, public affairs, or government affairs.
• Experience supporting sustainability, ESG, public policy, or reputation-related communications.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide communication initiatives and change-management programs.

Success Profile

The successful candidate will be:

• A trusted advisor who can influence and counsel leaders at all levels.
• An exceptional writer capable of adapting voice and messaging for executives, employees, media, and external stakeholders.
• Calm and confident during periods of ambiguity, change, or crisis.
• Strategic enough to shape communication approaches and hands-on enough to execute them.
• Skilled at managing sensitive issues with sound judgment and discretion.
• Comfortable working across executive communications, employee communications, media relations, change communications, and reputation management.

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $126,400 - $210,600 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact [email protected].

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen