Director, External Communications

Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries around the world. Our business is aligned with three compelling megatrends – automation, the future of aviation and energy transition, with a portfolio of digital, connected technologies that help organizations solve the world’s toughest, most complex challenges.

Our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments leverage this portfolio to help make the world smarter, safer and more sustainable.

We are seeking qualified candidates for a Director of External Communications position that will spearhead Honeywell’s external communications programs in China to help drive business in this critical High Growth Region.

This senior leadership role is based in Shanghai and serves on Honeywell’s Communications Leadership Council. It reports to the Senior Director Communications, Europe and Global High Growth Regions, with a matrix reporting line to the President of Honeywell China.

The position will be responsible for positioning Honeywell with the media across China, working with communications colleagues in the United States and in other global growth regions to tell our story in a consistent and engaging way.

A curiosity about all things technology is a must, as is an ability to adapt to multiple vertical sectors. One day you might be showcasing Honeywell’s role in enabling Urban Air Mobility. The next you might be promoting how Honeywell supports the transition to renewable energy, or explaining how our technologies are building a path to industrial autonomy.

What we are looking for:

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a local external communications team to best position Honeywell’s brand in front of critical audiences in the region.

We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of delivering high impact media coverage with top business and general media in China. They will have deep experience working for a large, B2B multinational corporation, including tenure within industrial sectors relevant to Honeywell, such as manufacturing, energy, IT or aviation.

The successful candidate will have great press contacts that they can leverage to ensure Honeywell is a ‘go to’ source of comment for the country’s most important media on critical issues affecting China’s economy and its industries.

In this hands-on role, the successful candidate will be as comfortable delivering strategic counsel to leadership as they are directly engaging media and drafting and editing high quality copy.

The highest quality English and local language writing skills will be critical, as well as experience of managing and developing high performing communications talent.

Responsibilities include:

80Leading a local communications team in China, focused on business and executive communications that support growth.

80Serving as the strategic Communications counsel for our regional business leadership and supporting global executives’ communications initiatives when in-region.

80Positioning Honeywell with key audiences at critical events such as WEF Annual Meeting of New Champions and CIIE.

80Developing and leading a strategic comms plan for China that aligns with Honeywell’s global communications programs and the strategic plans of our businesses.

80Writing/editing high-quality editorial content for different audiences and platforms – from press releases and features to blogs and dynamic content.

80Working directly with media and closely with our PR agency partners to build positive relationships with our most important influencers.

80Regionalizing global messaging and communications materials to ensure they resonate with local audiences.

80Coaching and training Honeywell executives to interact with the media.

80Measuring and analyzing the effectiveness of external communications efforts to demonstrate functional impact to critical internal stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications

80At least 15 years’ communications experience, with a focus on high impact external communications/media relations and proven team leadership.

80Highest standards of written and spoken fluency in English.

80Experience in B2B industrial or technology sectors, working directly with top media contacts.

80Demonstrable understanding of external communications measurement and metrics to evaluate and articulate the impact of results.

80Prior media/journalism experience is strongly preferred.

80University degree, preferably in Journalism, Marketing Communications, or related field.

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Valued Attributes:02

80High quality writing skills - an understanding of AP style is strongly preferred.

80A highly structured approach to managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

80Ability to build rapport with a diverse global team and regional business leaders.

80Skilled at navigating complex internal structures, and quickly adjusting to processes and approval systems to maintain a fast pace of delivery.

80Ability to independently and proactively get projects done and tackle problems head on.

80Positive, high-energy attitude and willingness to embrace change to find new ways to achieve results.

80Ability to travel up to approximately 20% of time within China.

02As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to a diverse workforce.