Job Description

Join a diverse and dynamic team that makes and delivers the most valuable services in the world: electricity and natural gas. At Consumers Energy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our employees work around the clock to provide service to our customers in honor of our history and to fulfill our promise to Michigan - Count on Us! Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

Job Description:

The Director of Brand Strategy will oversee the execution of our company brand communications program. The ideal candidate is someone who embodies optimism, creativity, innovation and caring. The ideal candidate understands both the art (creative development), science (data and analytics) and the delivery (tactics) of great brand storytelling. In addition, the person is passionate about being a part of our renewable energy transformation and is talented at crossing the finish line together with numerous internal and external stakeholders. This person is part of the Corporate Communications leadership team partnering on a daily basis with the companys Marketing team.

Roles & Responsibilities:

* Lead the development, implementation and execution of all brand-related initiatives and activities.
* Lead and coach a team of brand communications professionals.
* Collaborate with the marketing and customer experience teams to develop and align go-to market brand and product communications.
* Co-lead a companywide brand governance process.
* Utilize creative vision and data-backed research and analytics to support new brand strategies, messages and materials.
* Develop communication strategies and architecture for different residential and business segments, prioritizing message points.
* Study data and analytics from internal and external research partners to support and/or adjust our customer messages and decision-making.
* Evaluate and report out on measurable weekly and monthly brand health goals and metrics.
* Support and develop brand paid media/advertising budget.
* Analyze market trends and benchmark world-class consumer retailers, bringing in and deploying brand best practices.
* Lead and manage internal and external stakeholders including marketing & customer experience partners, agency of record, other agencies and consultants.
* Bring proactivity and leadership to a growing and evolving Fortune 500 brand.
* Work closely with product marketing team, customer experience, and web team to ensure brand messages are supporting retail strategy, seamlessly working in tandem to both inspire and educate consumers about new products.
* Edit and evaluate copy, creative and advertising materials for brand consistency and continuity.

Required Qualifications:

* Bachelors Degree
* At least 10 years of brand marketing experience.
* At least 7 years of supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Passion for data.
* Strong understanding of digital media.
* Deep agency experience or equivalent experience with strategy, market research and media planning and buying preferred.
* Proven experience in launching and successfully sustaining a consumer brand.
* Strong leadership acumen and ability to influence cross-functional and cross-departmental teams.
* Unique ability to see big picture and all of the finer details. (i.e. Ability to develop big ideas into specific action plans.)
* Results oriented.
* Innovative mindset
* Strong presentation skills.
* Excellent writing and editing skills.
* Understands principles of public relations and product marketing.
* Proficiency in managing budgets.

Overview

The General Management Job Family is utilized throughout the Company. This job family includes all levels of supervision from first level supervisor of nonexempt employees to Company Officers. Under general supervision, performs full-performance

professional work planning, organizing, and directing the operation of a business function. Responsible for management, budget, services, staffing, and all other business activities required to fulfill the goals and objectives of the organizational unit. Has latitude to vary methods and procedures within parameters to achieve desired results. Performs related duties as required.

Nature of Work

At the lowest level in this job family, the work performed may tend to be moderately complex in nature where the work responsibilities can be proficiently performed after a moderate period of time. At the highest levels in this job family the work performed will tend to be of a very complex nature involving knowledge of various functional/specialized disciplines where the work responsibilities can only be proficiently performed after a relatively long experience-related time and often requires a specialized or advanced degree. The work environment often includes dealing with risk and limiting exposure.

Leadership, management, facilitation and interaction with senior management will be markedly increased at the mid - highest levels of this job family while the need for direction and supervision will be markedly decreased. While problem solving and analysis will likely be required at all levels, recommendation and implementation becomes the norm at the highest levels and will often have a major bearing on the Companys business. In addition, skills such as the ability to think on your feet, composure under fire and effective communication across all levels of the organization and with outside stakeholders become more finely honed at the higher levels.

Essential Functions

General management jobs provide or supervise/manage/direct the planning, business analysis, budget preparations and analysis, negotiations, transactions, customer services and auditing of a wide variety of business functions and processes of specific operating and support areas throughout the company. Duties and who this individual reports to will fluctuate between projects, departments and offices. Lead business analysis and support for the plans, reports, impacts, contracts, schedules, estimates, data collection, observations, and field investigations. Provide business analysis and support services with accuracy, on time and under budget. Use computer assisted applications software and equipment to prepare business analysis support documents. Understand and follow Company established standard procedures for file structure and standard procedures for projects. Become familiar with business and department and Company plans and related material and be able to utilize the information appropriately. May be involved in client contact and communication. Utilize effective communication skills to answer inquiries from coworkers, clients, or the public. Public involvement may include producing reports, graphics, presentations, and other visual material as well as occasional speaking or meeting with stakeholders. Attend internal and external meetings. Provide business analysis and support services in a legal and ethical manner. Regular attendance is expected.

Hours and Travel

Meet travel requirements of the position. Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee must lift and move up to twenty pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.