Manager, Policy Communications and Grassroots Advocacy

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals.

At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company which serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

About this Position:

The Government and Industry Relations (GIR) Division serves as a conduit to the government to ensure Honda’s voice is heard in our nation’s capital and in state legislatures. Key responsibilities include shaping state and federal policies that impact Honda’s business in the U.S. Seeking opportunities to support and advocate for social policies that are consistent with Honda’s fundamental beliefs, while strengthening relationships with diverse political organizations. This is a business-critical function as the government is currently shaping policy surrounding new and emerging connected, automated, shared, and electrified technologies.

The Manager will work closely with our internal clients throughout the company to effectively communicate information on policies under consideration, determine their impact on the company and develop policy positions and materials to support advocacy efforts. This role will shape and implement advocacy strategies to promote Honda’s best interests to policymakers in State and Federal government and policy influencers. Policy communications will also be promoted with various industry trade associates for amplification and to gain support for our positions. The Manager will also build strategic relationships and interact with the Washington, DC, and state government media in connection with public policy issues and work closely with GIR and NACC leadership to represent Honda with press enquires.

The Manager will build and manage a Honda grassroots program to engage associates, leadership, and business partners, including dealers and suppliers. This role will serve as the key conduit to this important audience and engage these grassroots partners on important policy matters impacting the business. This includes the drafting of communications and advocacy materials that distils complex policy matters into concise and digestible material for Honda’s grassroots audience, and the activation of Honda grassroots, when necessary, by using digital advocacy tools. This work will require close coordination with GIR, corporate communications, and other company leaders on public policy issues impacting Honda’s business interests. The Manager will lead creative production of the annual Honda in America brochure, maintain the Honda in America website, and drive weekly messaging via the Honda in America social media channels.

The Manager will work closely with the Corporate Social Responsibility and corporate communications to develop and enhance strategic policy-related partnerships and amplify and communicate about Honda’s CSR-related activities with policymakers and policy influencers. This activity will support traditional advocacy efforts and enhance Honda’s reputation among policymakers. The Manager will also represent Honda’s media interests with key external Washington, DC-based strategic partners (Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Congressional Black Caucus, etc.).

The Manager will manage all policy-related communication activities and develop and execute advertising campaigns within the Washington, DC region to support traditional advocacy efforts and enhance Honda’s reputation among policymakers and policy influencers. This critical reputational initiative will require the Manager to manage Honda external contractors and interface with key external partners toward crafting ongoing communications that emphasize Honda’s value to America.

Finally, this role will collaborate with Honda’s workforce partnerships department, to educate key external stakeholders, including Universities, Colleges, Technical Schools, and High Schools, on the opportunities in the industries Honda does business in. This work will support Honda’s needs to build and develop the future workforce.

Responsibilities include:

• Effectively communicate and work closely with internal clients and external stakeholders on policy issues to determine impact on the business and effectively establish company positions on policies and develop effective advocacy strategy
• Develop and manage a robust comprehensive Honda grassroots program across the company and including key business stakeholders and advocates, such as dealers and suppliers
• Develop and communicate policies with Honda grassroots network using digital advocacy tools and working with Field Operations and NAP
• Manage communications activities on policy issues pertinent to the business and implement inside-the-beltway advertising campaigns to support traditional advocacy
• Lead creative production of annual Honda in America economic impact report and manage Honda in America website and social channels
• Working with CSR and corporate communications to develop and execute strategy to aligns CSR activities with policy objectives and advocacy efforts

Who we are seeking:

Required Work Experience:

• Knowledge of Honda operations in the United States and North America. Understand corporate structure, including Field Operations and Dealer Network experience
• 15 years of experience in a policy or communications -related role requiring strong analytical, communications, people, organizational, and project management skills
• Ability to motivate and develop direct and indirect reports

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Political Science, or similar degree
• MBA is a plus
• Congressional staff and trade association experience a plus

Desired skills:

• Effective communication skills on policy issues
• Must have strong presentation skills both formal and informal settings. Ability to effectively communicate impact of government policy internally, from top level executive management to process associates. Ability to influence decision makers within the organization and groups in which interactions occur.
• Knowledge of non-traditional advocacy tools, including grassroots tools
• Knowledge of auto industry is a plus
• Strategic thinking
• Relationship-building
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access), and corporate reporting systems including common industry reports

Additional Position Factors:

• Workstyle: Hybrid (40% Remote)
• Travel: 5%

At Honda, you will play a key role in our journey to become a company that society wants to exist now, and in the future. Your endless curiosity will drive innovation and your courageous spirit will challenge the status quo. We believe having a workforce made up of diverse thinkers and innovators makes us a better Honda. Respect for each other and respect for diversity each and every day drives our associates to contribute at the highest level and work effectively in a team environment. We make the dream of mobility a reality with our innovative and high-quality products. Together, we Bring the Future to our customers, associates, and communities. We are Honda!

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards:

• Competitive Base Salary
• Annual Bonus
• Representative Lease Car Program (No Cost – Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, sick time, personal days
• 401K Plan with company match additional contribution

Career Growth:

• Advancement opportunities
• Career mobility
• Education reimbursement for continued learning
• Training and Development programs

Additional Offerings:

• Wellbeing program
• Community service and engagement programs
• Product programs
• Free drinks onsite

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor. #LI-YF1

Learn more here