IBM Hiring for External Relations Manager for IBM Systems at Research Triangle Park, NC

Introduction
At IBM, work is more than a job – it’s a calling: To build. To design. To code. To consult. To think along with clients and sell. To make markets. To invent. To collaborate. Not just to do something better, but to attempt things you’ve never thought possible. Are you ready to lead in this new era of technology and solve some of the world’s most challenging problems? If so, lets talk.

Your Role and Responsibilities
Preferred New York or Austin TX, or remote work from anywhere in the US

We are looking for an external relations professional to lead earned media for IBM Storage and IBM Power brands within the IBM Infrastructure organization.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for leading and managing all external relations activity for IBM’s Storage and Power systems businesses across hybrid cloud and AI, and be a key member of the team responsible for telling the story of how our infrastructure, software, cloud and support services form the backbone of IBM’s Infrastructure business.

You will have the opportunity to take a leadership role in positioning IBM as a leader in semiconductor innovation, as well as serve as a liaison to IBM Research and our manufacturing partner to drive earned media stories. As part of this role, you will be responsible for driving messaging and strategy, positioning, competitive assessments, media relations, pitching, spokesperson prep and management, press conferences and leveraging your strong writing skills to aid in asset development to support all the above. You will also have the opportunity to mentor junior team members and manage the relationship with our agency partners.
As part of the team, you will play a critical role in identifying stories across key topics including hybrid cloud, AI, security, supply chain and more, ultimately helping to drive product awareness, preference and purchase for various audiences including the C-Suite, developers, IT decision makers, and line of business managers through earned media outcomes.
You will also work closely with marketing, product management, IBM Research and more to uncover and tell stories about how our technology helps global business— from running large SAP, Oracle and EPIC application environments, booking flights and manufacturing automotive parts, to storing important data for disaster recovery and preventing ransomware attacks.
To succeed in this role, you are able to understand and synthesize deep technical topics and product areas, willing to get in the weeds to simplify the message, collaborative and think outside of the box to identify creative ways to tell the story.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead execution of communications plans associated with driving awareness and share of voice for IBM Infrastructure in technical trade press, with a focus on IBM Storage and Power systems role in hybrid cloud and AI. This includes leading product announcements, thought leadership, message development, proactive storytelling, positioning, competitive assessments, media relations, pitching, spokesperson prep and management, press conferences, asset development, and elevating client stories from start to completion.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to IBM Infrastructure leadership by having a deep understanding of the IBM business strategy and how it applies to the team’s key focus areas to help build proactive ideas that will garner media attention
• Build and nurture strategic relationships with journalists to drive proactive opportunities for IBM underpinned by consistent messaging and strong storytelling
• Translate complex technical concepts into compelling, fact-based narratives for business and industry vertical media. Produce well written, simple press materials including press releases, blog posts, FAQs, and more.
• Leverage metrics and best practices across teams to make data-driven recommendations
• Collaborate with the broader IBM communications teams to execute plans and drive results; ability to be a team player, strategic and critical thinker, ability to be an organized project planner working across our hybrid cloud and AI and quantum and innovation campaigns.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• At least seven years of experience in public relations or communications in the enterprise technology sector
• Strong verbal and written communications skills along with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling, fact-based narratives for business and industry vertical media with minimal supervision.
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor to the business, and proactively bring new ideas to the table to drive key business outcomes
• Ability to think proactively and execute on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• Strong storytelling and research skills – someone who has experience with technical and product management leaders to identify and build storylines that position IBM as a leader in the hybrid cloud, AI and semiconductor spaces, and translate deeply technical information into consumable storylines
• Ability to work cross-functionally with other external relations professionals, as well as internal communications professionals, analyst relations professionals, product marketing, product management and engineering, legal and corporate communications to execute high impact communications campaigns.
• Deep experience in the enterprise technology sector

IBM Corporate Headquarters (CHQ) team represents a variety of functions such as marketing, finance, legal, operations, HR, and more, all working together to solve some of the world’s most complex problems, help our clients achieve success and build collaborative work environments for IBMers.

This job requires you to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status with supporting documentation, where legally permissible.

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

This job requires you to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status with supporting documentation, where legally permissible.

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 50 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being

– Financial programs such as 401(k), the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs

• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.