Director, External Communications (Finance)

Innovate to solve the world's most important challenges

This position is intended to convey to the new, independent company, to be named Solstice Advanced Materials when the separation occurs. This is expected to occur in late 2025 or early 2026.

At Advanced Materials, we are committed to offering the highest value-add specialty solutions in the advanced materials sector. Our goal is to solve our customers' most complex challenges through a robust and innovative product portfolio and by doing so, deliver exceptional value to our stakeholders. We have identified actionable strategies to grow by expanding into new products and markets and through strategic acquisitions, while keeping our top operating margins.

Joining our team means becoming part of an organization which leverages its long-standing reputation to capture growth trends by investing in innovation and manufacturing enhancements and maintaining deep customer relationships.

We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that values contributions and supports professional development. With a focus on innovation and sustainability, the team is dedicated to delivering value and making a meaningful impact in advancing our customers' success. Let's make that impact together.

In October 2024 Honeywell announced the spin-off of our Advanced Materials business to become a stand-alone publicly traded company, independent of Honeywell. Our intention is that this role, dedicated to the Advanced Materials business, will be a part of this future transaction when the separation occurs.

As a Director of External Communications, you will design and drive a comprehensive media relations program in support of the new Solstice Advanced Materials business, as well as work closely with our Government Relations team capacity. This role will be based in Morris Plains, NJ.

This key role for the Solstice Advanced Materials external communications team and is responsible for all external positioning supporting Advanced Materials as a technology leader enabling the energy transition across global markets. In this position you will:

• Drive top tier industry and business news coverage in support of new product introductions, key initiatives, and integrated marketing communications campaigns.
• Provide expert reputation management counsel.
• Lead communications at the local, regional, and national levels aimed at promoting and protecting Advanced Material's interests and the Solstice brand in those jurisdictions.

We are seeking a candidate who can serve as a trusted advisor for senior executives in mission-critical moments and is a purpose-driven storyteller with strong judgement and a calm demeanor to manage multiple concurrent high-profile projects. The individual in this role works closely with the Solstice Advanced Materials CEO to achieve differentiated positioning across all external channels - from social, to owned, to earned.

The ideal candidate will have outstanding written and verbal communications skills, with a thorough understanding of digital and social communications channels and how to leverage them. This individual will need to meet the needs of a varied set of stakeholders and be comfortable in a dynamic environment with rapidly shifting priorities and some level of ambiguity.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Develop global media programs that are strongly linked to business strategy and performance requirements.
• Develop and execute public relations strategies to drive top-tier media coverage and visibility to further the company's reputation.
• Develop thought leadership programs and narratives aligned with the overall Solstice Advanced Materials positioning and trending news topics/issues.
• Direct, align and manage PR agency work, measuring success through key performance indicators across a variety of channels, including top-tier media and premier speaking forums.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key reporters/media and manage media inquiries and interview requests.
• Partner on message development and provide media training and coaching as appropriate for key executive spokespeople.
• Lead communications planning, message development and PR plan execution for issues, crises, M&A and other strategic transactions, managing reputational risk.
• Partner with the Solstice Advanced Materials Marketing team to increase brand awareness and support integrated campaigns.
• Work with appropriate businesses, functions, and government relations on crisis and issues management.
• Oversee media measurement and monitoring to stay abreast of the industry and sustainability landscape; evolve public relations strategies based on data and insights.
• Oversee and develop content for press releases, bylined articles, key messages, media statements, Q&A documents, and briefings.
• Lead, coach and develop public relations team.
• Ability to travel 10 - 15% of the time.

Qualifications:

• At least 15 years of demonstrated successful experience in developing, implementing, and measuring communications and public relations plans and programs.
• 5+ years' experience in managing people.

Success Factors:

• A bachelor's degree in a related field such as journalism or communications.
• Proven track record of results in external relations (particularly in earned media), change communications and issues/crisis communications.
• Experience developing relationships with reporters/media, pitching news stories/ideas, managing media inquiries and serving as a media spokesperson.
• Strong (AP style) writing skills, with ability to develop clear, concise messages that align closely with corporate messaging.
• Excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to present effectively to senior management.
• The ability to think strategically, provide communications counsel, and assist in developing plans to drive results.
• Ability to identify issues proactively and execute actions to eliminate or minimize their potential impact.
• Excellent project management and the ability to simultaneously prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to provide communications guidance and work effectively across businesses and corporate functions.
• Strong business acumen and partnering, consulting and influencing skills with the ability to build and navigate relationships at all levels of the organization, particularly at the executive level.
• Advanced understanding of business processes and vernacular.
• Advanced understanding of the complex legislative, regulatory, and political environment related to energy, energy transition, and sustainability issues.
• Prior experience working in a large, complex international company with diverse products portfolio desired.

Additional Information

• JOB ID: req490697
• Category: Communications
• Relocation Tier:
• Security Clearance: No Clearance
• Aviation Authority (FAA for US): No
• Band: 04
• Referral Bonus: 0
• Requisition Type: Standard Requisition
• US Citizenship:
• FLSA Statement:
• FLSA CODE: Exempt

Honeywell is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality, sex, religion, or veteran status.