Job Description
This is a senior strategic communications role with direct accountability for helping lead the business of the function. The Manager, Strategic Communications & Business Planning will serve as a trusted partner to the Vice President, Brand & Product Communications, operating across strategic planning, executive support, narrative development, organizational alignment and decision support.
At its core, this is not an administrative chief of staff role. It is a high-judgment communications and strategy position for someone who can move seamlessly between shaping the work, sharpening the thinking, and driving the operating rhythm behind it. The right person will help ensure that the organization is focused on the right priorities, that major pieces of work are grounded in strategic insight, and that the output of the function reflects a consistently high standard of clarity, rigor and business relevance.
This role requires a strong communications operator with real strategic depth. They must be able to work across brands, products, corporate priorities, issues, events, leadership moments and internal touchpoints, while partnering closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to turn complex inputs into clear recommendations, persuasive narratives and well-structured decisions. Recent GM Level 8 expectations emphasize expert-level judgment, strong business acumen, cross-functional problem-solving, broad visibility, and the ability to adapt communication style to persuade across the organization.
You will also help set the quality bar for the function. They will work with leaders across the team to ensure strategies, presentations, briefing materials, narratives, updates and leadership documents are not simply well written, but well argued, insight-led and aligned to business priorities. That expectation is consistent with how GM has framed recent Level 8 communications roles: strategic insight, influence across senior stakeholders, exceptional writing, strong business acumen and the ability to align communications with enterprise strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Communications Planning
Lead the development of high-impact strategic communicationsplansin support of the Vice President and the broader Brand & Product Communications function. Translatebusiness priorities, organizational shifts, product plans, brand moments and leadershipobjectivesinto clear narratives, communicationsstrategiesand decision-ready materials.
Drive the development of executive-level presentations, talking points, briefing documents, strategic memos, organizationalupdatesand internal narratives. Ensure each piece of work is clear on theobjective, grounded in insight, relevant to theaudienceand aligned with the broader business context.
Partner with communications leaders across the function to sharpen the strategic quality of their work. Push for stronger thinking, strongerstructureand stronger recommendations. Help teams move from activity-driven updates to insight-led communications that clarify what matters, why itmattersand what should happen next.
Ensure major documents and presentations developed across the organizationreflecta high, consistent standard of strategic rigor, writing quality and executive readiness.
Business Planning and Chief of Staff Support
Act as a strategic partner to the Vice President on planning,prioritizationand execution across the function. Help manage the business byidentifyingwhat requires attention, where decisions are needed, what is offtrackand where tighter alignment isrequired.
Support the operating rhythm of the organization, including leadership meetings, planning cycles, priority setting, follow-upand accountability. Turn broad direction into clear actions,owners,and timelines. Surface issues early, pressure-testassumptions,and help keep work moving.
Develop andmaintainan integrated view of the work across the organization so the Vice President has clear visibility into priorities, interdependencies, risks, keydecisionsand resourcing needs.
Help shape and manage leadership communications, internal engagement moments and organizational messaging in close partnership with functional leads and relevant cross-functional partners. Internal examples elsewhere at GM already describe VP-level support as a blend of strategic messaging, engagement planning, internal editorialcoordinationand integration of internal and external communications.
Cross-Functional Leadership and Influence
Work fluidly across communications, marketing, product, brand, experiences, operations, HR,financeand executive stakeholders. Build credibility quickly, synthesize diverseinputsand create alignment across groups with different priorities.
Serve as a connective tissue role across the business, helping ensure communications plans and leadership materials are informed by the right inputs and reflect the full context of the work.
Influence without formal authority. Bring judgment,discretionand confidence in high-stakes, high-visibility situations. Know when to drive, when to challenge, when toescalateand when to simplify.
Insight, Judgment and Quality Control
Bring strong strategic instincts to ambiguous and fast-moving work. Distill complexity into clear choices and practical recommendations. Recognize weak logic, vaguepositioningand underdeveloped narratives, and improve them quickly.
Ensure communications and business planning work is supported by sound analysis, relevantcontextand clear implications. The role should not simply collect information. It should interpret it, improveitand turn it into direction.
Help leaders across the function raise the standard on writing, structure,preparationand executive readiness. Recent organizational direction in Brand & Product Communications has also emphasized building broader communications roles and creating more expansive contributions across brand,productand business priorities.
Required Experience:
12 or more years of experience across strategic communications, executive communications, business planning, chief of staff work, corporate strategy, brandstrategyor related fields.
Meaningful experience supporting a senior leader in a role thatrequiredjudgment, discretion,prioritizationand strong cross-functional influence.
A strongtrack recorddeveloping high-quality strategic materials for senior executives, including presentations, narratives, briefing documents, talking points,recommendationsand organizational communications.
Demonstrated success working across a complex matrixed organization and influencing senior stakeholders across multiple functions.
Proven ability to move between strategy and execution. This person must be equally comfortable shaping the narrative, pressure-testing thesubstanceand helping drive the follow-through.
Functional Capabilities
Exceptional writer and editor with the ability to make complex material clear,conciseand persuasive.
Strong strategic thinker with the ability toidentifythe signal in the noise, clarify the central issue and frame actionable recommendations.
Excellent business judgment and organizational instincts. Ability to understand the broader context around a decision, not just the communications dimension.
High levelof executive presence,maturityand discretion. Comfortable operating in sensitive situations and handling confidential information.
Strong operating discipline. Able to manage multiple workstreams,maintainmomentum acrossprioritiesand bring structure to ambiguity.
Ability to challenge constructively, give directfeedbackand improve the quality of work across a team.
Preferred Background
Experience in automotive, mobility, consumer brand, corporate affairs, public affairs, marketingcommunicationsor another fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
Experience in a role thatcombinedstrategic communication
