Mgr, Policy Comm & 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 that 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!

Job Purpose

Government and Industry Relations (GIR) Division

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.

Manager Responsibilities

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.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and execute a robust policy communications strategy for internal and external stakeholders. This should include communicating the value and impact of policy initiatives internally and enhancing Honda’s traditional advocacy efforts with state and federal policymakers through effective communications and advertising campaigns
• Design and lead an effective and active Honda grassroots program across the company, including developing and implementing an effective communications strategy for 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
• Build and maintain relationships with key state and federal policymakers and other strategic partners, including community leaders and advocacy groups
• Lead creative production of annual Honda in America economic impact report and manage Honda in America social strategy
• Working with CSR and corporate communications to develop and execute strategy to aligns CSR activities with policy objectives and advocacy efforts

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• BA/BS Degree in Business, Political Science, or similar degree
• MBA is a plus
• Congressional staff and trade association experience a plus
• 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
• Effective communication skills on government policy-related matters
• Familiarity with government processes and 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 a plus
• Strong project management skills
• Strategic thinking
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint & Access), and corporate reporting systems including common industry reports

Workstyle

Hybrid

Benefits and Total Rewards

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
• Lifestyle Bonus

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.

Learn more here