Communications Manager

(Reference code: 00047X) Status: Full Time, Employee Location: Northbrook, IL 60062 Job Category: Editorial/Writing Career Level:Manager (Manager/Supervisor of Staff) Education Level: Bachelor's Degree Job Description: The Allstate Corporation is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. A Fortune 100 company, with $156 billion in assets, Allstate sells 13 major lines of insurance, including auto, property, life and commercial. Allstate also offers retirement and investment products and banking services. Allstate is widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan. Allstate was founded in 1931 and became a publicly traded company in 1993.Infrastructure Services (IS) consists of approximately 1,000 employees who work in five primary divisions: Client Interface, Infrastructure Design and Planning, Infrastructure Deployment, Availability Management, Infrastructure Operations Management, and Continuity Management. IS employees support and maintain the applications, workstations, systems, servers and network that enable Allstate to run its business on a “24/7” basis 365 days a year. The infrastructure that IS builds, manages, monitors and maintains consists of a domestic and international telecommunications network; four server computing platforms, including the second largest AS/400 installation in the world; and almost 100,000 desktops.   This infrastructure supports the business applications used by 13,000 agents and 16 million insured households, as well as the work requirements of 40,000 employees.  Through the role we play in making the company’s business applications available and reliable to its internal users and the ultimate customer, we play a key role in helping Allstate execute its “Better, Bigger, Broader” business strategy.   The scope of this job is The communications manager will report directly to the AVP of Infrastructure Services.  This individual must be able to work with minimal supervision, in a team environment while communicating well to a diverse set of colleagues.  The communications manager will be responsible for developing and delivering communication strategies/tactics/messages to the Infrastructure Services organization in support of our goals.  The successful candidate must have:  excellent oral and exceptional writing skills; the ability to develop and implement communication strategies; a demonstrable understanding of the communications role in cultural change; communication consulting; relationship building expertise. The individual will be responsible for: Creation and execution of Infrastructure Services communication plan. Assist senior department leadership with direct communication, including memos, speeches, speaking points and leadership notes. Write and edit Infrastructure Services related articles for the intranet site. Plan and execute Infrastructure Services “Beginning of Year Kickoff” meetings designed to support our goals/priorities/principles. Partner with leaders by attending leadership meetings.The skills required are 1. Advanced - Strong desire for creativity and innovation; strong leadership abilities.  Proven ability to remain effective in a rapidly changing environment.  2. Advanced -Excellent communication skills (oral, written and presentation), organizational and collaboration skills.  Expert knowledge of PowerPoint.  3. Advanced — Relationship Building Expertise and the ability to work with senior leaders. Experience Required: A minimum of 3-5 years working in a Fortune 500 company as a Communications Manager. Computer Proficiency: MS Suite of Products Education: BS/BA degree:  preferredMajor preference: Communications, Journalism