External Communication Manager

Job description

The External Communication Manager shall establish the IKEA Brand as the preferred choice in home furnishing products and solutions that create a better everyday life for the many people, thereby reaching the IKEA business objectives by stimulating home furnishing interest in each local market, securing a strong brand and competitive position in each local market, driving traffic to the IKEA store and IKEA website by attracting new and more visitors to visit more often, and throughout their life stages

• Define the communication direction according to the company strategy and the annual communication plan based on each country’s 3 years plan, commercial priorities and market/consumer insights. This will be done in close co-operation with the country’s management team in order to reach the overall IKEA objectives in the market.
• Develop the media strategy and take responsibility for the effective and efficient use and measurement of all media to ensure the planning and buying of media are aligned with the strategy. This includes all media channels utilized on a yearly bases and for each campaign (owned, paid and earned).
• Produce clear communication briefs for all external agencies and secure a high quality of execution that will deliver clear, relevant and inspiring communication in order to reach the campaign objectives.
• Make sure that the creative execution in all external media is aligned with IKEA Brand values and the IKEA Brand visual and copy identity guidelines to secure that the results are consistent, relevant, engaging and unique.
• Lead the external communication team to create and implement communication that is unique, impactful, relevant and consistent.
• Follow up after execution of communication to analyze and report the performance periodically and secure the optimization of resources, adjusting the plans when necessary according to the business performance and needs.
• Manage all communication agencies relationships in alignment with the Marketing Director: lead creative, media, PR and social media in any activities related to briefings, feedback, scope of work, contracts, fees, setting objectives and agency reviews in order to secure the most efficient and effective outcome.
• Co-operate with all functions involved in the execution of the marketing and commercial plans and secure maximization of all communication opportunities, securing quality and consistent communication.

Qualification

• Post Graduate or Degree in Marketing with atleast 6-7 years of relevant experience
• Experience of creating and implementing fact-based strategic plans, setting budgets, and following up goals
• Proven ability to work with creative advertising/communication processes/agencies
• Experience in effective and efficient use and measurement of all media (paid, owned, and earned)
• Ability to communicate confidently and clearly in English
• Proven ability of having made a difference in positively influencing the business result