External Affairs Advisor

LyondellBasell; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

LyondellBasell, a leader in the chemical industry, is seeking a communications professional in Houston, Texas. This role focuses on engaging community stakeholders, managing communications during events and crises, and developing content that aligns with corporate messaging.

Qualified candidates will have at least 6 years of experience in public relations or communications, demonstrate excellent writing capabilities, and possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in communications, public relations, or external affairs.
• Experience in the petrochemical or manufacturing industry is preferred.
• Superior mastery of the English language in written form is required.

Responsibilities

• Execute stakeholder engagement and communications plans.
• Maintain relationships with key local stakeholders.
• Provide strategic counsel on social investments.
• Support local media engagement and logistics for interviews.
• Monitor emerging local issues and provide updates.
• Draft communication materials for issues and incidents.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Presentation skills

Writing capabilities

Collaboration skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations or related field

Job description

LyondellBasell is a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. With a nearly 70-year legacy that includes a Nobel Prize in Chemistry and our proprietary MoReTec recycling technology, LYB is enabling a more sustainable future for generations to come. LYB develops high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. LYB places high priority on diversity, equity and inclusion and is Advancing Good with an emphasis on our planet, the communities where we operate and our future workforce. We’re addressing the global challenges of ending plastic waste, taking climate action, and supporting a thriving society, while generating value for our customers, investors, and society.

Come Join an Inclusive Team

This role will be stationed at one of our Eastern Harris County plants.

A Day in the Life

• Support External Affairs coverage for assigned sites by executing stakeholder engagement and communications plans for events, issues and crisis situations.
• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders, Community Advisory Panels (CAPs), local government entities, NGOs and partners.
• Provide strategic counsel to site leadership on social investment priorities, aligning community investments with business objectives, local needs and the company’s corporate citizenship framework.
• Support local media engagement by routing inquiries, preparing background materials, and coordinating logistics for interviews or site visits as needed.
• Monitor emerging local issues and stakeholder feedback, escalating themes and recommending updates to engagement plans.
• Support issues and incident communications by drafting materials (FAQs, holding statements, leader briefs) and coordinating updates through established processes.
• Create audience-focused content and messaging for external channels, translating complex topics into clear, compelling narratives.
• Partner with Communications colleagues and the in-house design team to produce high-quality visuals and written stories aligned with corporate messaging and brand standards.
• Surface manufacturing stories and gather supporting content for Internal Communications to develop and publish for enterprise audiences.
• Create and maintain communications toolkits and resources, including key messages, presentations, FAQs, briefing materials and training content.
• Track KPIs to measure impact, benchmark progress and identify opportunities to improve engagement and channel performance.
• Contribute new ideas, tools and innovative approaches to strengthen team effectiveness and elevate communications outcomes.
• Represent the company at various community and business events with integrity and professionalism.
• Perform additional duties, as assigned.

You Bring This Value

• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent writing capabilities with command of AP style.
• Proven ability to prioritize work, manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Strong collaboration and listening skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and levels.
• Solution oriented, pragmatic approach to problem solving and project execution.
• Sound judgment and discretion, including the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
• Proactive self-starter with strong ownership mindset and commitment to continuous improvement and high performance.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and the ability to build trust and credibility with diverse audiences.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations or related field.

Work Experience

• Minimum of 6 or more years of relevant working experience as a communications professional in external affairs or public relations.
• Prior experience working in the petrochemical, manufacturing or related industry preferred.
• Knowledge of the Incident Command System (or similar) structure preferred.

Languages

• Superior mastery of the English language, particularly in written form, is a must. Spanish fluency a plus.

Competencies

• Build Partnerships
• Deliver Results
• Drive Innovation
• Grow Capabilities
• Promote Inclusion
• Motivational Fit
• Technical Skills

LyondellBasell is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The US EEO is the Law poster is available here. LYB is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation related to LYB’s recruiting process, please email us at [e-mail]. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. LyondellBasell does not accept or retain unsolicited résumés or phone calls and/or respond to them or to any third party representing job seekers. Privacy Statement: For information regarding how LyondellBasell processes your personal data, please read our Privacy Statement.