Director of People & Culture Comms & Engagement

What we are looking for

Position Description:

This position reports to the SVP People & Culture (P&C) Volvo Group North America (VGNA) and contributes to the realization of the Volvo Group People & Culture strategy. In this dual-function role, you will take the lead in HR Communications efforts such as content creation and writing for the P&C (HR) Community, sharing information across all parts of the People and Culture Community, as well as driving the VGNA employee engagement agenda.

In the HR Communications aspects of this role, you will deliver on the Employer Branding strategy for the Volvo Group in the United States and contribute to further strengthening our position as an attractive employer. You will drive the Employee Value Proposition (EVP) by authoring US P&C based communications. You will work to enhance the employee experience of all employees utilizing attractive and informative messaging that supports all core P&C employee services. You drive change management, communication planning, implementation, and follow-up for strategic P&C projects, policies, and initiatives based on the decisions of the People and Culture Country Committee (PC3).

In the Employee Engagement aspects of this role, you are responsible for driving the Volvo Group North America strategy in alignment with the PC3, Volvo Group P&C, and Country Management Team. You help set the strategy, define, and implement relevant metrics, and actively communicate progress to relevant audiences. You effectively drive the VGNA Employee Engagement agenda, partnering and collaborating with other Volvo US colleagues. This position will support the Group Trucks North America (GTNA) Culture Ambassador working group. The scope of responsibility is for all Volvo Group Companies in the United States.

The success of this role is dependent on frequent and productive collaboration with each Head of People and Culture (Human Resources) in the US, their respective team members and communications leads. This position is located in the Volvo Group North America Headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina US.

What you will do

Key responsibilities:

HR Communications

• Manages all HR communications across the Volvo Group US-based entities for HR professionals and employees.
• Member of the US People & Culture Country Committee (PC3)
• Proactively suggests and creates content for a wide variety of HR initiatives, employee benefits, policy and benefit changes, and general HR information important to employees and HR. Produces presentation decks, distribution lists, news alerts, HR planning calendar, monthly HR communication plans, and is the point of contact for HR communications in Volvo Group in the US. Develops written communications as special needs require (e.g., employee data-privacy notices, etc.)
• Builds and activates communication tools, processes and ways of working to connect colleagues working in all parts of HR in the US.
• Continuously develops & maintains the US HR Community on SharePoint and is the country infomaster for HR Information for the HR Community and US employees.
• Plans and manages employer branding initiatives and events as required by the HR community, in collaboration with other key stakeholders.
• Drives communication planning, implementation and follow-up for strategic HR projects and initiatives within Group HR.
• Plans and executes US HR events, meetings and education/workshops.
• Ensure that all suppliers and vendors for employee benefits design collateral according to Volvo Group guidelines and rules.
• Keeps a calendar of HR events and employee impacts over the year to ensure all communications to employees in the areas of benefits, payroll, and similar are appropriately timed, do not overlap and do not overwhelm HR and employee audiences.

Employee Engagement

• Craft and co-anchor, with the VGNA Head for Inclusion, the employee engagement strategy and tactical plans for VGNA business units, including measurement of success of strategic initiatives.
• Provide input and oversee VGNA Employee Engagement Survey process, helping drive participation rates, results analysis and reporting, and action planning across US business units.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to optimize the VGNA Employment Brand and all communications (written, digital, video, etc.) designed to optimize the company’s reputation in the employment marketplace.
• Identify and act as key liaison w/ external organizations & events, including determining event sponsorships, benchmark participation, and other partnering that supports giving VGNA employment branding objectives.
• Design, develop and deliver organizational events – in partnership with the Corp Communications team and the Inclusion Head for P&C – that foster employee engagement, as measured by improved scores on annual company surveys of employee satisfaction.

Who are you?

To be successful in this role you have superior written, verbal, and digital communication skills, and the ability to create compelling messages engaging and informing employees in a proactive manner. You partner with all areas of P&C and understand the entire body of knowledge and how it is connected, with special depth and passion for employee engagement. You have several years’ experience in HR and have working knowledge of Employer Branding and Employee Value Propositions. You possess the perfect mix of a service-oriented mindset, passion for people and speed and quality in your responses. You are a team player with great networking skills and the ability to inspire others on all levels of the organization. You dare to think new and challenge old ways of working to reach objectives. In addition, you need to have a growth mindset as well as high integrity & strong ethics.

Educational Qualifications and Experience:

Required:

• BS/BA Degree in Communications, Business Management, Human Resources or related field (Masters degree in relevant discipline strongly preferred)
• 7+ years of related exp in a highly matrixed organization; experience managing teams, including recent experience managing employee programs, w/ strong demonstrated acumen in engagement concepts and proven/demonstrated track record leading initiatives and programs
• Experience drafting, implementing and managing integrated, strategic communication plans
• Experience managing highly confidential and time sensitive deadline driven projects
• Knowledge and experience of Employer Branding, including activities, messaging and content creation towards a broad scope of audiences – from professionals to students
• Knowledge and experience with emerging digital offerings, new communication software tools etc.
• Proven change management experience on HR projects and initiatives impacting employees and managers
• Project management and event management experience required.
• HR Certification from SHRM or HRCI preferred, but not mandatory requirement

Critical Competencies:

• Excellent skills in English (written/verbal)
• Executive presence, relationship-building, learning aptitude, advanced discernment and decision-making skill
• Strong acumen of inclusion and belonging concepts and practices with proven and demonstrated track record of leading and facilitating related initiatives and programs
• Knowledge of and ability to develop internal communications channels, including intranet, Teams, Microsoft O365, digital information, etc.
• Ability to identify and analyze business and audience needs to deliver messages via the most appropriate mix of channels.
• Proficiency in digital communication and digital channel development
• Hands-on approach, capable of quickly switching between strategic thinking and operational creating.
• Excellent people and teamwork skills. Strong capacity to build networks in a multicultural, global environment and to influence others to make things happen.

Ready for the next move?