Communications & Community Engagement Manager

GKN Aerospace; Garden Grove (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, CA, is seeking a Communications & Community Engagement Manager to develop and execute strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and community relations initiatives that support business objectives and strengthen the company’s reputation.

You will serve as the primary representative for the Garden Grove site, building relationships with local communities, government agencies, schools, media, and industry groups, while aligning messages with branding and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years in communications or related discipline.
• Experience developing and executing successful communications programs.
• Strong media relations and reputation management principles.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop internal and external communications aligned with objectives.
• Create content for leadership, employees, press, newsletters, website, and social media.
• Manage media relations and respond to inquiries from journalists and publications.
• Support leadership with messaging, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Ensure branding and key messaging alignment with corporate standards.
• Monitor media trends, sentiment, and provide insights to leadership.
• Assist with crisis communications planning and response during critical events.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Media relations

Content development

Public affairs

Event coordination

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Social media tools

Digital platforms

Job description

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Summary

The Communications & Community Engagement Manager is responsible for developing and executing strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and community relations initiatives that strengthen GKN Aerospace's reputation, support business objectives, and reinforce the company's position as a trusted aerospace industry partner.

Serving as the primary communications and community engagement representative for the Garden Grove site, this role will build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including local communities, educational institutions, government agencies, industry associations, media organizations, and non-profit partners. The successful candidate will ensure consistent messaging, effective stakeholder engagement, and positive community impact while supporting GKN Aerospace's commitment to innovation, workforce development, and operational excellence.

(This role will be based in Orange County, CA)

Responsibilities

Communications

• Develop and deliver strategic internal and external communications that support site and corporate objectives.
• Create compelling content for a variety of audiences and communication channels, including leadership communications, employee communications, press releases, newsletters, website content, and social media platforms.
• Manage media relations activities and serve as a key point of contact for journalists, industry publications, and external communication inquiries.
• Support site leadership by developing presentations, messaging, briefing materials, and communication strategies.
• Ensure alignment with GKN Aerospace branding, corporate communications standards, and key messaging.
• Monitor media coverage, public sentiment, and industry trends, providing insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Support crisis communication planning, preparedness activities, and communication execution during operational disruptions or business critical events.

Government and Stakeholder Relations Support

• Support engagement initiatives with local, state, and federal government stakeholders in partnership with the Global Corporate Affairs team.
• Monitor community, regulatory, and industry developments that may impact business operations, reputation, or growth opportunities.
• Assist leadership in stakeholder engagement planning related to business expansion, environmental initiatives, workforce development and operational activities.
• Collaborate cross functionally with regulatory, legal, public affairs, and corporate communications teams to ensure coordinated stakeholder engagement efforts.

Community Engagement

• Develop and implement community engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with local communities and key external stakeholders.
• Represent GKN Aerospace at community events, public meetings, industry forums, educational partnerships, and stakeholder engagements.
• Identify and implement opportunities to enhance the company's visibility, reputation, and community presence.
• Manage community investment programs, sponsorships, charitable contributions, and employee volunteer initiatives.
• Coordinate participation in regional economic development programs, workforce development initiatives, and civic partnerships.
• Establish and track community engagement metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and impact.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Site Leadership Team
• Human Resources
• Operations and Manufacturing Teams
• Engineering and Technical Functions
• Corporate Communications
• Government Affairs
• EHS and Regulatory Teams

External

• Community Organizations and Civic Leaders
• Local, State, and Federal Government Agencies
• Media Representatives and Industry Publications
• Educational Institutions and Workforce Development Organizations
• Local Business Groups and Chambers of Commerce
• Non-profit Organizations
• Industry Associations and Aerospace Partners

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in communications, public affairs, community engagement, corporate affairs, public relations, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing successful communications and stakeholder engagement programs.
• Strong understanding of media relations, content development, and reputation management principles.
• Experience supporting public affairs, government relations, or community engagement initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong project management, organizational, and event coordination capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, digital communications platforms, and social media management tools.
• Must qualify as a U.S. Person as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the aerospace, defense, aviation, manufacturing, engineering, or technology sectors.
• Knowledge of the California regulatory, political, and community engagement environment.
• Experience with crisis communications, issues management, and executive communications.
• Familiarity with workforce development, STEM education partnerships, and community investment programs.
• Experience working in a highly regulated or global business environment.

Compensation Data

Annual Salary: $150,000.00

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.