Executive and External Communications Manager

Job Summary:

The Executive and External Communications Manager will elevate and strengthen the external presence, thought leadership, and influence of Lockton's senior leaders. This role focuses on crafting executive messaging, securing and supporting speaking engagements, building thought leadership platforms, developing and executing external communications strategies, and ensuring leaders are consistently represented with clarity, credibility, and alignment to Lockton's strategic priorities.

This is a hands-on role for a strong writer, editor, and strategic adviser who is comfortable working closely with executives, translating complex business themes into compelling, audience-ready communications, and managing external partners to extend reach and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Positioning & Visibility

• Strengthen the external presence of key executives through clear, differentiated, and authentic messaging rooted in enterprise strategy.
• Develop executive narratives, mission statements, and leadership points of view.
• Ensure consistency of tone, messaging, and strategic themes across all executive-facing materials and platforms.

Executive Thought Leadership & Messaging

• Develop high-quality executive communications, including speeches, talking points, op-eds, commentary, and other authored content.
• Translate industry insights, business priorities, and leadership perspectives into compelling, audience-appropriate messages.
• Provide ghostwriting support for a range of executive materials and channels.
• Partner with the broader Corporate Communications team to maintain alignment around enterprise messaging and narrative priorities.

External Communications & Earned Media

• Support the development and execution of Lockton's external communications strategy as it relates to executive visibility and thought leadership.
• Work closely with, and help manage, external communications and public relations agencies to advance executive positioning and enterprise priorities.
• Secure and support earned media opportunities, including interviews, contributed content, commentary, and profile placements.
• Partner with Corporate Social and related teams to develop amplification plans for earned media placements, ensuring reach and engagement across owned and shared channels.
• Track and report on earned media coverage, executive visibility, and external communications impact.

Speaking Engagements & Events

• Identify, evaluate, and recommend speaking opportunities, conferences, industry events, and forums aligned to executive expertise and Lockton's strategic goals.
• Manage submissions, abstracts, speaker bios, and related materials.
• Maintain a comprehensive, forward-looking calendar of engagements and opportunities.
• Support preparation for executive participation, including talking points, Q&A documents, keynote scripts, and presentation materials.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Social, Marketing, Brand, Events, and Corporate Communications teams to ensure executive visibility and external communications efforts are coordinated and amplified across channels.
• Engage with conference organizers, industry associations, media contacts, and external partners to facilitate executive participation and coverage.
• Support earned media and external storytelling opportunities tied to executive visibility, thought leadership, and enterprise priorities.

Operational Excellence

• Track and measure executive visibility and external communications efforts, including speaking impact, earned media performance, audience reach, and content performance.
• Maintain organized systems for approvals, messaging documents, media materials, event calendars, and content archives.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, follow-through, and professionalism in all executive-facing and externally visible work.

Qualifications

• 4-7 years of experience in communications, executive communications, external communications, public relations, or related fields.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to tailor tone and voice for senior leaders.
• Experience developing executive messaging, authored content, or thought-leadership materials.
• Familiarity with identifying or managing speaking opportunities, panels, or visibility platforms.
• Experience supporting earned media initiatives or working with external communications or PR agencies.
• Comfortable working directly with senior leaders in a corporate or professional services environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in professional services, financial services, insurance, or B2B industries.
• Prior experience supporting C-suite or senior executive communications.
• Understanding of executive reputation management and brand governance.
• Exposure to integrated earned, owned, and social media amplification strategies.

Personal Attributes

• Polished, discreet, and a trusted partner to executives.
• Proactive, strategic thinker who identifies opportunities before they arise.
• Confident communicator with sound judgment.
• Detail-oriented and effective in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative, low-ego team player.

Why This Role Matters

Lockton's growth and market leadership depend on the credibility, visibility, and influence of its executives. This role ensures that leadership presence is built intentionally and amplified externally-strengthening reputation, relevance, and trust in the moments that matter most.

Requirements:

• 4-7 years of experience in communications, executive communications, external communications, public relations, or related fields.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to tailor tone and voice for senior leaders.
• Experience developing executive messaging, authored content, or thought-leadership materials.
• Familiarity with identifying or managing speaking opportunities, panels, or visibility platforms.
• Experience supporting earned media initiatives or working with external communications or PR agencies.
• Comfortable working directly with senior leaders in a corporate or professional services environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in professional services, financial services, insurance, or B2B industries.
• Prior experience supporting C-suite or senior executive communications.
• Understanding of executive reputation management and brand governance.
• Exposure to integrated earned, owned, and social media amplification strategies.

Personal Attributes

• Polished, discreet, and a trusted partner to executives.
• Proactive, strategic thinker who identifies opportunities before they arise.
• Confident communicator with sound judgment.
• Detail-oriented and effective in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative, low-ego team player.

Why This Role Matters

Lockton's growth and market leadership depend on the credibility, visibility, and influence of its executives. This role ensures that leadership presence is built intentionally and amplified externally-strengthening reputation, relevance, and trust in the moments that matter most.

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