Mgr I- External Comms

How does it feel to work on a team driven to make a big impact? Empowering.

BAE Systems is seeking a strategic Communications Manager to join our team in Sterling Heights, Michigan. In this pivotal role, you will lead external communications to position our product portfolio as the premier provider of ground vehicle combat capabilities for the U.S. military and allied nations, directly supporting business growth and diversification. You will be responsible for crafting compelling market narratives that bridge the gap between technical achievement and stakeholder priorities to advance our strategic objectives.

As a trusted advisor to business, product, and functional leaders, you will shape market positioning, direct integrated campaigns, and elevate thought leadership across multiple communication channels. We are looking for an accomplished communicator with a proven track record of translating complex technologies into impactful narratives that deliver measurable results.

Collaborating closely with the Product Communications Lead, you will oversee high-impact campaigns and budgets, mentor cross-functional teams, and provide strategic guidance on initiatives critical to the company's reputation and long-term success.

Work Arrangement: This role is hybrid-friendly for candidates in the Sterling Heights area, offering a balance of remote flexibility and in-office collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Growth, Strategy, and Market Positioning
  • Develop and implement long-term product communications strategies that drive growth, diversification, and clear differentiation in competitive markets.
  • Shape market positioning and lead communications efforts aligned with major business objectives.
  • Independently set strategy and provide updates to leadership, managing plans, budgets, and resources to achieve goals.
• Integrated Campaigns and Channel Execution
  • Design and execute integrated campaigns to boost awareness, engagement, and business outcomes across earned, owned, and paid channels.
  • Amplify product stories by uniting media relations, social media, digital content, and events into cohesive narratives.
  • Oversee high-priority campaigns, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with business goals.
  • Manage significant campaign budgets, linking expenditures to measurable results.
• Thought Leadership and Future Capability Storytelling
  • Drive thought leadership by positioning executives and technical experts as authoritative voices on emerging defense capabilities.
  • Simplify complex product and technical information into narratives that engage and inform external audiences.
  • Develop future-focused storytelling to highlight innovation and reinforce confidence in the company's long-term vision.
  • Stay current with communication trends and tools, integrating innovative techniques to enhance outcomes and sharing best practices across the team.
• Customer and Audience Targeting
  • Develop customer and audience targeting strategies to deliver impactful messages to key decision-makers through the most effective channels.
  • Advise business, product, and functional leaders on positioning, messaging, media, and visibility strategies.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product, business development, government relations, and engineering, to align communications with customer and market goals.
• Media Relations and Reputation Management
  • Develop and execute media strategies, build relationships with reporters, and manage proactive media relations to enhance visibility.
  • Act as a spokesperson and advisor on strategic product, program, and organizational initiatives.
  • Manage reactive communications and crisis situations, delivering clear, strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Industry Events and Trade Shows
  • Plan and oversee communications for customer engagements, capability demonstrations, industry events, and trade shows.
  • Lead event narratives and coach senior leaders to ensure impactful messaging and consistent representation.
• Leadership, Mentorship, and Measurement
  • Lead high-impact campaigns and influence others to achieve key organizational objectives.
  • Mentor and coach team members at all levels, including senior leaders, to enhance communication effectiveness.
  • Champion the communications function by defining its strategic role and aligning efforts with workforce needs.
  • Use performance metrics to refine strategies and demonstrate business value.
  • Contribute to talent acquisition by defining skills and attributes for building a strong team.

 

Typically a Bachelor's Degree and 8 years work experience or equivalent experience

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, or English, and eight years of relevant experience, or the overall equivalent.
• Extensive knowledge of AP Style and corporate journalism.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Attentive to detail with solid editing skills.
• Experience building relationships with diverse and geographically dispersed teams and stakeholders.
• Media relations experience at the local, specialized trade, and/or national level, and experience in one or more of the following: strategy, digital/social media, marketing.
• Ability to drive positive engagement from a diversified and widespread workforce.
• Leadership experience as either a direct people manager or project team lead.

• Master’s Degree.
• Defense industry, military, manufacturing industry, or automotive industry experience.

BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.