Communications Strategy Manager Jobs in Appleton, WI

THE COMPANY                                                                                  

Little Rapids Corporation (LRC) is a specialty paper manufacturer and converter of paper, film, cotton, and nonwoven materials. The company’s headquarters is in Green Bay and is privately held with annual sales of over $200 million and 450 employees at three Wisconsin locations. The business has two divisions that sell a wide variety of products in the healthcare, beauty, flexographic printing, and specialty paper markets. Rapids Green Bay supplies printed film, paper, and nonwovens. Rapids Shawano has three paper machines that manufacture tissue, machine glazed, and wet crepe paper.  Graham Professional manufactures and sells one-time use products into the healthcare and beauty markets through a network of national and regional distributors. 

With its family ownership dating back to 1947, the company is guided by a strong and positive culture. LRC’s purpose is remarkably simple: to bring together all their people’s talents and energies to create an outstanding organization that delivers true value to their customers. The four core values of the business are lived out by ownership and top leadership and serve as a guide to all interactions, behavior, expectations, and strategic initiatives. These values are:

• Care: Take Care of One Another & Always Be Transparent
• Act: Dream Big, Think Big, Act Big, Create Contagious Energy
• Learn: Improve Every Day while Being Humble
• Serve: Do Great Things & Be Easy to Work With

Position Summary:

This role serves as the enterprise owner of communications, public relations, brand execution, trade show marketing, and associate engagement for Little Rapids Corporation. The position leads company-wide internal and external communications strategy, executive and leadership messaging, public relations, media-related communications, trade show planning and execution, annual associate engagement survey, and creative standards across all business units and locations. The role partners with engagement teams to strengthen associate connection, drive consistent engagement messaging, support action planning communications, and advance our employer brand and associate value proposition. 

Objectives:

• Enterprise Communications, Public Relations, and Brand Leadership
  • Own and lead the enterprise communications strategy for Little Rapids Corporation across all business units, functions, and locations
  • Lead internal communications, executive and leadership messaging, organizational announcements, change communications, and associate-facing communication channels
  • Own public relations and external communications, including corporate messaging, media-related communications, reputation management support, and external brand visibility
  • Establish and uphold enterprise creative standards, brand governance, and content quality to ensure consistent, high-impact execution across all communication and marketing materials
  • Drive communication effectiveness, consistency, engagement, and alignment across the organization through measurable strategies and continuous improvement
  • Own communications and project coordination for the annual associate engagement survey, including survey launch messaging, participation communications, results-sharing support, and follow-up communication planning
  • Partner with engagement teams across company sites to align messaging, share best practices, support local engagement initiatives, and connect site-level feedback to enterprise communication priorities
• Marketing and Commercial Leadership
  • Lead the development and execution of customer-facing communications, sales enablement materials, campaigns, trade shows, events, and promotional initiatives that strengthen market presence and support growth
  • Own the development and oversight of marketing content across digital and print channels, including website content, brochures, presentations, case studies, and related collateral
  • Drive brand visibility and market impact through coordinated communications, marketing initiatives, and enterprise storytelling
  • Coordinate enterprise trade show strategy and execution, including planning, booth and display materials, messaging, promotional assets, pre- and post-show communications, logistics coordination, and alignment with commercial priorities
  • Lead communications and marketing performance measurement to evaluate effectiveness, guide decision-making, and improve results
• Enterprise Leadership and Execution
  • Lead cross-functional alignment with senior leaders and business partners to prioritize enterprise communication needs and drive execution of strategic initiatives
  • Manage enterprise communication priorities, vendors, agency partners, budgets, and timelines while maintaining quality, responsiveness, and strategic focus

Key Results:

• Lead an integrated enterprise communications function that advances alignment, engagement, culture, and organizational priorities across Little Rapids Corporation
• Own and strengthen the company’s internal and external voice, public relations approach, and brand presence across all channels and audiences
• Deliver high-quality, strategically aligned communication and marketing initiatives that support business growth, reputation, and associate engagement
• Lead annual associate engagement survey communications and site engagement team partnership to strengthen participation, understanding, follow-through, and associate connection across all locations
• Execute trade show and event marketing initiatives that enhance customer engagement, strengthen brand visibility, and support commercial objectives
• Establish measurable standards and performance indicators that improve communication effectiveness, brand consistency, and enterprise impact

Fundamental Actions:

• Actively participate in meetings, planning sessions, and training as required
• Work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail and follow-through
• Develop and monitor KPIs to measure communications and marketing success

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all of the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

Education, Certifications, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, business, or related field, or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years’ progressive experience in enterprise communications, corporate communications, public relations, marketing, or related roles
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide internal and external communications strategies, executive communications, public relations, and brand management
• Proven success driving creative standards, brand execution, and cross-functional communication initiatives within a complex organization
• Experience supporting associate engagement initiatives, engagement survey communications, action planning communication, or cross-site engagement team partnership preferred
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders, vendors, agency partners, projects, and deadlines with strategic oversight and strong execution
• Experience supporting or leading trade show planning, event marketing, promotional materials, vendor coordination, and cross-functional execution preferred

Key Competencies:

• Strategic leadership capability with the ability to influence, align, and drive execution across all levels of the organization
• Strong ownership mindset with a high level of accountability, initiative, and enterprise perspective
• Deep expertise in enterprise communications, executive messaging, public relations, and brand stewardship
• Ability to establish creative standards and ensure strong brand execution across communication and marketing channels
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills with strong executive presence and sound judgment
• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate organizational priorities into clear, compelling enterprise messaging
• Ability to translate associate feedback, engagement themes, and site-level input into clear communication strategies that build trust, participation, and follow-through
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and communications, brand, and marketing platforms
• Experience in B2B marketing and manufacturing environments preferred
• Ability to plan and execute trade show and event marketing activities that create a professional, consistent brand experience for customers and industry partners

 Physical Requirements:

The ability to work in a professional office and manufacturing environment as needed, including sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, operating standard office equipment, supporting trade show and event activities, and traveling between company locations or external event venues when required. This position is onsite at the LRC Graham location with travel to other LRC locations as needed, as well as other business travel may be required.  The ability to enter production or operational areas as needed while wearing required personal protective equipment and following all safety protocols.

 EOE including disability/veteran