Sr. Manager, Customer & Supplier Communications

Avantor; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 122,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor in Washington, DC is seeking a Sr. Manager, Customer & Supplier Communications to define and execute audience-specific communications strategy across multiple regions and business segments, supporting growth and protecting the company’s brands.

You will establish governance, best practices, and operating rhythms with senior leaders to enable sales through traditional and digital channels. You will shape strategic narrative, messaging, channel governance, and measurement.

Job description

The Sr. Manager, Customer & Supplier Communications is responsible for defining and executing audience-specific communications strategy across multiple business segments and regions to support business objectives, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and help build and protect the company's brands. This role will establish and enhance communications best practices, operating rhythms, and governance within the assigned audience scope while partnering with business leaders to enable sales growth through traditional and digital communications channels.

The Sr. Manager will shape communications direction for the assigned audience beyond program execution, including strategy development, senior leadership positioning, storytelling, message consistency, channel governance, quality control, and measurement. The role will support transformation, culture, commercial, and change initiatives with measurable communications outcomes across relevant functions or business units, while aligning with enterprise communications standards and broader organizational priorities.

The role will report to the Head of VWR Communications and serve as the primary communications leader for the assigned audience, with accountability for communications strategy and outcomes across multiple regions and stakeholder groups within that scope.

How you will thrive and create an impact

• Advise and support senior leaders on audience-specific communications strategy, strategic messaging, channels, delivery approach, and execution of key initiatives across multiple regions;
• Develop and implement communications strategies, plans, governance, and cadence aligned to business objectives for the assigned audience, business segments, and regional stakeholder groups;
• Drive the strategic narrative using best practices, audience insights, and the right communications channels to reach targeted associate, customer, supplier, or commercial stakeholder segments and facilitate leadership engagement as needed;
• Ensure consistency and continuity of messaging, standards, approvals, and program support across the assigned audience and key stakeholders;
• Optimize and maintain communications platforms, tools, and operating frameworks to advance new ways to tell the organization's story, strengthen engagement, and support culture or commercial change within the assigned scope;
• Align outreach with strategic business and functional goals, lead the evolution or expansion of existing communications programs, and shape communications direction beyond day‑to‑day program execution;
• Drive two‑way dialogue and engagement to amplify key messages and understanding of our brand;
• Plan, manage, and communicate change, transformation, culture, or commercial initiatives in a fast‑changing, highly dynamic environment with measurable communications impact;
• Align with Corporate External and Internal Communication strategies, policies, standards, and tactics that effectively communicate Avantor’s culture, vision, and goals in support of growth initiatives;
• Provide proactive counsel to key internal stakeholders on communications strategies and programs that advance commercial, customer, supplier, associate, or business objectives within the assigned audience scope;
• Collaborate with functional team members, corporate and business communications partners, and regional stakeholders to develop integrated programming as needed;
• Define, drive, and refine KPIs, metrics, and reporting mechanisms to measure communications outcomes, assess program performance, and enable continuous improvement;
• Support issues/crisis communications as needed;
• Oversee agency partners when appropriate;
• Lead and ensure appropriate communications processes, governance, and approval standards are followed, including final approvals from subject matter experts, project owners, compliance, and legal partners;
• Measure, track, and analyze overall program effectiveness to determine ROI, prioritize resources, and improve communications outcomes across the assigned audience and regional scope;
• Other duties as assigned

Other duties as assigned

What we're looking for

8+ years of communications, journalism, corporate communications, or related agency experience with a successful track record defining and executing communications strategy, programs, and campaigns across regional or multi‑segment audiences

Experience working in matrix organizations with exposure to business operations, senior stakeholder management, and cross‑regional collaboration

Experience and comfort in a buildingmode, navigating complexity and ambiguity.

Ability to work across in a variety of capacities, flexing where appropriate

Position requires a 360‑degree strategic communications perspective, business acumen, understanding of relevant corporate functions, audience‑specific insight, and a focus on measurable performance.

Strong ability to build productive relationships, influence senior leaders, and lead through interactions with stakeholders across functions, business segments, and regions.

Good understanding of change management practices, change communications techniques, communications governance, and operating frameworks.

Proven track record of strong writing, editing, presentation and speaking skills required

Experience working with life science, technology or science‑related company is preferred

Global or multi‑region communications experience preferred

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life‑changing science.

The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.

We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

Pay Transparency

The expected pre‑tax pay for this position is

$122,000.00 - $196,075.00

Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

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3rd Party Non‑Solicitation Policy

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.