PR & Communications Lead SouthWest

Job Summary:

The PR & Communication Lead is responsible for designing and implementing the Regional Communications Plan, in support of business growth and reputation management, aligned with the West COE, across products, services, solutions, and corporate strategy to support business growth. This role operates in alignment with the West Marketing and Communications team, supporting corporate strategy as well as our products, services, and solutions portfolio.

This role will lead local public affairs network activities across the region.

This role will be Member of the South Region Leadership Team.

- Main focus:

Build Bridgestone South Region’s corporate reputation by positioning the business as a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions and leveraging its products, solutions, manufacturing capabilities, and retail footprint.

- Work closely with the West Communications team.

- Support crisis communications in line with the Global Crisis Communications Playbook .

- Support the achievement of brand awareness and reputation objectives.

- Develop and implement the internal communications strategy for the South Region.

- Ensure communications are fully integrated with the business strategy and regional priorities.

- Represent Public Affairs at regional and local trade associations to support Bridgestone’s strategy with key stakeholders.

- Provide strategic communications counsel to regional leadership and support executive visibility initiatives as required.

Responsibilities:

- External communication & Public affairs

- Shape the external communications strategy to strengthen the reputation of Bridgestone South Region, its brands, and its products among key external stakeholders.

- Identify key stakeholders, including media, influencers, industry bodies, and local institutions, and determine the most effective channels to engage each audience.

- Maintain and expand the journalists’ network, while increasing reach among new and broader media outlets.

- Define key corporate and product messages and translate them into relevant, engaging stories distributed through the most effective targeted channels, such as digital platforms, press releases, and events, to strengthen stakeholder sentiment across the region.

- Define PR strategies for pivotal product launches.

- Implement local adaptations of core communications plans for corporate and product brands.

- Organize targeted media events to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones with priority media and stakeholders.

- Leverage local assets with stakeholders, including the European Testing (EUPG) and R&D Center (TCE) to host journalist visits and create strong working relationship with TCE to support EU-wide storytelling and opportunities

- Support the Bari plant in developing and executing its external communications strategy.

- Coordinate PR agencies supporting other regional markets, including Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania, in alignment with the regional team to deliver objectives and support plans across the region.

- Partner with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Sales, HR, Legal, and Public Affairs, to ensure message consistency and coordinated stakeholder engagement.

- Regularly update the Southern Europe cluster and West COE on the PR calendar, best practices, and activity reports.

- Act as a Bridgestone representative and spokesperson in the Italian trade association Assogomma, support the development of effective lobbying programs, and build strong relationships with local institutions and trade associations.

- Internal communication

- Define an engaging internal communications strategy, including clear channel prioritization based on the needs of different internal stakeholders.

- Execute the internal communications strategy in line with West guidelines.

- Ensure a steady drumbeat of relevant communications that reinforce the company’s strategy, culture, and transformation priorities.

- Support leadership communications for key internal milestones, organizational changes, and employee engagement initiatives, including the development of messaging aligned with West and global narratives

- Drive activities associated with BSSOR town halls and teammate engagements.

- Crisis communication management & risk mitigation

- Manage the communications aspects of potential issues and crises, in line with the Global Crisis Communications Playbook, ensuring that any impact on the company, its products, and its people is minimized.

- Prepare proactive communications briefings and regional assets (hot topics, statements, Q&As, etc.) required for strategic business actions with public-facing impact.

- Develop scenario-based messaging and ensure readiness materials are in place for sensitive or high-risk situations.

- Reporting & metrics

- Regularly update media activity calendars, best practices and PR campaign trackers.

- Implement regional media monitoring to identify potential issues, track market trends, and analyse the impact of media and communications activities.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.

· Minimum of 6-8 years of related work experience in public/corporate affairs, communications, public relations.

· Multilingual capabilities required with fluency in English. Italian native

· Highly effective communications skills (verbal, listening, and written).

· Proficiency in Microsoft Teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Demonstrated experience in communications, client service, problem-solving, decision-making and project management skills.

· ‘Outside-in’ mindset and proven ability to write content in a clear, concise, compelling way in the face of challenging deadlines.

· Experience in media, crisis and issues management.

· Can-do, self-starter attitude and a sense of urgency in a rapidly changing environment.

· Possesses the skills required to operate as a trusted advisor to the business, work on sensitive matters, and maintain confidentiality.

· Excellent influencing and negotiation skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with a cross-functional team of both internal teammates and external agency partners.

· Exceptional interpersonal, verbal and presentation skills when communicating with audiences at all levels.

· Results-oriented with the ability to work independently, as well as be a strong team player in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

· Superior attention to detail.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Adobe Acrobat

Other Details:

• Travel: As needed;

The salary range is based on gender-neutral criteria: applicable CCNL requirements, responsibilities, working conditions and market benchmarks for the role and location. Final compensation will be determined based on gender-neutral criteria: experience, skills, and internal equity.

SALARY RANGES € 33.872 - 71.000