Corporate Communications Manager- External Relations & Strategic Engagement

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!

Daikin Applied is seeking a Corporate Communications Manager - External Relations & Strategic Engagement to help shape and strengthen the company's external reputation. This role focuses on media relations, leadership visibility, thought leadership, and industry engagement.

You'll work closely with the Director of Corporate Communications, the broader marketing and communications organization, and crossfunctional teams across the organization to elevate Daikin Applied's voice in the market.

Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Plymouth, MN, Hybrid

What you will do:

Strategic External Communications & Leadership Visibility

• Partner with Communications and PR teams to execute Daikin Applied's external communications strategy
• Develop narratives that reflect company priorities, market positioning, and leadership perspectives
• Help prepare leadership for media interviews, industry and investor events, customer meetings, and panel discussions, including talking points, background briefs, and message guidance
• Represent Corporate Communications in crossfunctional conversations tied to initiatives with external visibility
• Coordinate with Employee Communications when internal alignment or sequencing is needed

Public Relations & Media Relations

• Lead daytoday media relations: write press releases, pitch stories, manage interviews, and drive followup
• Build strong relationships with trade, business, and industry reporters
• Identify proactive PR opportunities tied to innovation, customer impact, sustainability, and business momentum
• Collaborate with PR partners and crossfunctional communications teams to maintain consistent, highquality media engagement
• Prepare leadership for media conversations through message refinement, Q&A support, and prep discussions
• Track media coverage, sentiment, message pullthrough, and share of voice
• Support reactive communications and issuerelated response with sound judgment and speed

Thought Leadership & Industry Presence

• Build thoughtleadership platforms for senior leaders, including bylines, opeds, keynote remarks, and industry commentary
• Manage speaking engagements, conference submissions, award entries, and recognition programs
• Translate technical or engineering content into clear, compelling external narratives
• Ensure message consistency across earned, owned, and leadership communication channels

Field, Channel & Partner Communications (ExternalFacing)

• Oversee communications for reps, distributors, and channel partners that reinforce Daikin Applied's strategy and product value
• Work closely with Marketing partners to ensure alignment across field channels
• Coordinate with Employee Communications when employeeenablement content is needed
• Support communications tied to product launches, commercialization milestones, and channelfocused initiatives

External Affairs, Policy & Community Engagement

• Support communications planning for legislative visits, facility tours, and government or community engagement
• Develop briefing materials, talking points, and messaging for leadership participation in policy or stakeholder events
• Partner with Government Affairs to ensure accuracy and alignment

Measurement, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Define KPIs across media relations, external storytelling, and thought leadership
• Report on coverage trends, sentiment, and campaign impact
• Conduct postcampaign evaluations and recommend improvements
• Coordinate with Internal Communications only when initiatives span both internal and external audiences

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop direct reports, setting clear priorities and supporting strong execution
• Remove roadblocks and build team capability
• Foster a collaborative communications culture aligned to business goals

What's in it for you:

• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field
• 8-10 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, or media relations
• Strong portfolio of externalfacing writing
• Experience managing agencies or direct reports
• Demonstrated ability to create PR strategies and measure performance
• Comfortable working in complex, matrixed environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in B2B, manufacturing, industrial, HVAC, or technology sectors
• Background in leadership visibility or thought leadership
• Exposure to public affairs, policy, or stakeholder communications
• Strong judgment and ability to navigate sensitive issues

You'll serve as a strategic partner to the Director of Corporate Communications and help shape how Daikin Applied shows up to customers, partners, media, policymakers, and the broader industry. This role blends strategy with hands on execution, offers high visibility, and provides significant autonomy, supported by internal partners and an external PR agency.

Benefits:

• Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage
• Short term and long-term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $90,000 - $148,00K + up to 15% bonus in MN. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.