Communications Public Relations Job Descriptions Communications Public Relations Department The

Communications & Public Relations Job Descriptions



Communications & Public Relations



Department The Communications department's key objective is to promote and maintain General Motors' reputation and image to its key publics. The team handles all media enquiries relating to GM UK and its seven brands, Corvette, Cadillac, Saab, HUMMER, Vauxhall/Opel and Chevrolet. Additionally, the Communications department carries out a programme of activities to help promote awareness of the manufacturing plants and GM’s positive activity in Bedfordshire and Cheshire, and to address public policy issues impacting all aspects of GM’s business in the UK. The department is sub-divided into four areas: Corporate, Product, Consumer and Government Affairs, the undergraduate programme has vacancies in all of the above areas.



Job Descriptions Below are the job descriptions for the available roles. Certain Job descriptions have ‘Undergraduate Placement Reviews’ attached, which have been completed by 2007/2008 undergraduates.



Job Description – Corporate Affairs Co-ordinator

Title: Department: Location: Brands: Corporate Affairs Co-ordinator Communications Griffin House, Luton Multi-brand



The Department: Communications’ key objective is to promote and maintain GM UK’s reputation and image to its key publics. The team handles all media enquiries relating to GM UK and its seven brands, Corvette, Cadillac, Saab, HUMMER, Vauxhall/Opel and Chevrolet. Additionally, the Communications department carries out a programme of activities to help promote awareness of the manufacturing plants and GM’s positive activity in Bedfordshire and Cheshire, and to address public policy issues impacting all aspects of GM’s business in the UK. The department is divided into four areas: Product, Consumer, Internal and Public Policy and Community. The Role: Working across all GM brands, the Corporate Affairs Co-ordinator supports the work of the Internal Communications and Public Policy and Community teams. In this varied role, the successful candidate will be given the opportunity to make a real contribution, often through specific projects. A typical day can include event organisation, arranging a cross-functional lunch for the Chairman and Managing Director, writing a press release for the local paper and formulating an internal announcement for the company intranet page. Key Responsibilities:  Providing creative ideas and input for Internal Communications  Updating and writing articles for the company intranet  Organising internal communications activities at all GM UK sites, including internal product launches and event recruitment drives  Carrying out background research to support public policy activities  Assisting in the development and implementation of charity and lobbying activities  Researching for and writing press releases and GM Mirror articles  Producing the GM UK & I quarterly facts and figures  Building positive working relationships with internal contacts, journalists, politicians and opinion formers  Assisting with organising corporate events  Promoting GM as a top employer in the media  General administrative work, including dealing with telephone enquires and media monitoring Required Skills: Knowledge of/enthusiasm for global businesses allied to a strong interest in motor vehicles and the motor industry. A keen interest in media relations is an advantage. Good communication and organisation skills are required, along with the ability to write news releases/reports. Candidates should be highly motivated and able to work proactively, both individually, with minimal supervision and as part of a team. A full driving licence is essential. Must be computer literate. Preferred Area of Study: Business Studies/Public Relations



Undergraduate Placement Review Corporate Affairs Co-ordinator

Name: Year: University: Degree: Amelia Fletcher 2007 - 2008 Bournemouth University Marketing BA (Hons)



My role I am based in Communications, working for Internal Communications and Public Policy and Community. This dual-role means that there is always a new challenge, and each day is very busy. Time management and organisation are definitely important skills! When I am in the office, I am in charge of updating the company intranet, creating posters, compiling the quarterly company facts and figures and helping with the internal brand engagement programme, EXCITE. I also have a role in charity activity – co-ordinating events for employees to get involved in to raise money. I have spent time out of the office too, representing GM and its brands. This has meant adapting to different audiences, from the general public to politicians. As you will see from the job description, there is a lot of variation in this role, so it is never boring. Although there are key responsibilities, the job can be adapted to suit individual skills, so there are opportunities to really make the job your own. What have I gained from the placement? I have learned to adapt my working style to different situations, colleagues and audiences. My confidence has grown over the course of the year, and I have been forced to become more organised! Working across two areas has meant that I am very much more aware of the multiple functions of PR/Communications, which will help me in my final year at university and in my future career. Finally, I have gained a fantastic bunch of friends in my placement year – both other undergraduates and work colleagues. The social aspect of the year with GM means that your weekends will be as busy as your weekdays! Highlight of my placement year! Co-organising the Executive Conference 2008 took a lot of hard work, but seeing the event take place and the positive responses that came back afterwards made it all worthwhile. Event organisation was something completely new to me, so doing it well definitely made it one of my highlights.



Job Description – Product Affairs Assistant

Title: Department: Location: Brands: The Department:

The Communications department's key objective is to promote and maintain GeneraL Motors' reputation and image to its key publics. In addition to handling all media enquiries relating to General Motors (and GM subsidiaries Vauxhall, Saab and Chevrolet in the UK), the Communications department carries out a programme of activities to help promote awareness of GM and its brands. The department is sub-divided into four areas: Corporate, Product, Consumer and Government Affairs.



Product Affairs Assistant Communications Griffin House (Luton) Multi-brand



The Role:

The Product Affairs Assistant supports the work of the Product team .The placement student will gain an wide understanding of the department's activities and responsibilities and will be given the opportunity to make a real contribution to its work: often through specific projects.



Key Responsibilities:

        Respond to incoming telephone enquiries. General administrative work including media monitoring (and preparation of executive summaries). Research and write press releases and briefing papers. Assist in the ongoing development of GMUK’s relationships with motoring journalists. Assist colleagues as required; including event based work (UK and European). Manage GM brand media websites, maintaining accuracy, consistency and liaison with General Motors Europe/US for UK specific requirements. Assist in press fleet administration (specific responsibility for specification sheets) and liaison with suppliers and motoring media. Other duties as and when required



Required Skills:

Knowledge of and enthusiasm for global businesses. A strong interest in learning about and understanding the motor industry is essential. A keen interest in media relations is an advantage. A good command of the English language along with communication and organisation skills are essential, along with an ability to write news releases/reports. Candidates should be highly motivated and able to work on their own initiative, with a minimum of supervision, and as part of a team. A large proportion of the work will be project based. A full driving licence is essential. Must be computer literate.



Preferred Area of Study:

Business/Public Relations



Job Description – Consumer PR Assistant

Title: Department: Location: Brands: The Department:

Communications key objective is to promote and maintain the GM brands and carlines reputations and image to its key publics. Aside from handling all media enquiries relating to General Motors in the UK, the Communications Department carries out a programme of activities to launch new products, maintain their presence, and ensure the interests of GM are seen and heard. The department is divided into four areas: Business Affairs, Media & Motorsport, Consumer Public Relations and Government Affairs/Public Policy. Consumer Public relations is an area of focus for GM and deals with all the media outside of the traditional motoring sections and magazines.



Consumer PR Assistant Communications Griffin House (Luton) Multi-brand



The Role:

Vauxhall’s association with design & style and driving exhilaration are hot on the agenda of many press as a result of collaborations with fashion designers and trendsetters. It will be your role to help spread the word about these and look at novel ways that Vauxhall can express itself and create personalities for the different cars and commercial vehicles. This expertise now encases Chevrolet and Opel Ireland brands and the team is supported by a best-in-class agency network. This is a very varied role and for someone who has a passion for the media at large, it will prove a great insight into the world of consumer public relations. For example, it may involve arranging a car for a fashion shoot one day, delivering a vehicle to a high profile artist the next whilst simultaneously sorting out the branding for a major event and making sure that 50 press packs and press gifts all look like they originate from a company with a grand heritage in style and design! A creative but ordered mind is key. In addition to this hands on consumer PR role, the placement student will gain an understanding of the department's other activities and responsibilities and be given the opportunity to make a real contribution to its work.



Key Responsibilities:

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             



Coming up with creative ideas that will surprise people about GM and make them must-have cars

Sharing their ‘finger on the pulse’ knowledge of what appeals to young people Dealing with incoming telephone enquiries General administrative work Researching, writing and selling in news releases Co-ordination of the PR agency network. Maintaining the consumer PR fleet and arranging transport Assisting colleagues as required Liaising with other areas of the company to develop ideas, gather information to respond to media enquiries Assisting with photography sessions as necessary Assisting in developing/implementing launch programmes and special events Developing briefing documents as required To own ‘measurement’ of consumer PR activities including media monitoring Event organisation and attendance (some events will be outside of normal working hours) Other ad hoc duties as and when required



Required Skills:

Knowledge of/enthusiasm for the media at large and tons of drive and enthusiasm. Good communication and organisation skills are required. Candidates should be highly motivated and able to work on their own initiative with a minimum of supervision and as part of a team. A full driving licence is essential. Must be computer literate. The individuals will do a mixture of consumer and product work throughout their stay with the department.



Preferred Area of Study: Public Relations/Business



Job Description – Communications Assistant

Title: Department: Location: Brands: Communications Assistant Communications Ellesmere Port Multi-brand



The Communications department’s key objective is to promote and maintain General Motors (GM’s) reputation and image to its key publics both internal and external. Aside from handling enquiries relating to GM’s UK operations, including Vauxhall Motors, the Communications department is responsible for internal communications and carries out a programme of activities to help promote awareness of GM, its UK brands and their products. At Ellesmere Port the Communications team supports employee engagement with the plant’s mission: to become the best in GM Europe by working together. Key Responsibilities:          Involvement in writing publications for internal audiences Arranging photo shoots Arranging employee enthusiasm and awareness events. Managing a team who run plant visits and manufacturing events Community relations and charity donations Co-ordinate corporate visits for VIPs Dealing will employee enquires and incoming telephone enquiries General administrative work Ad-hoc projects



The placement student should hope to gain an understanding of the department’s activities and responsibilities with the aim of making a real contribution to the department’s work output and objectives. Required Skills:      Good writing skills Good communication and organisation skills are required, Candidates should be highly motivated and able to work on own initiative with a minimum of supervision and as part of a team. A full driving licence would be an advantage. Must be computer literate.



Preferred Area of Study: Business/Public Relations