Job Description

Director Corporate Communications & Public Relations

Position Summary

The Director of Corporate Communications & Public Relations leads the development and execution of Daikin U.S. Corporation's (DUS) corporate communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement, events and investor relations strategies. This role is responsible for building, shaping and protecting Daikin's corporate reputation in the United States, ensuring consistent and compelling messaging across all external and internal audiences. Reporting to the President, the Director manages a team of four and works cross-functionally across Daikin U.S. departments (Advocacy, Market Research) and U.S. business units (Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Daikin Applied Americas, AAF International, Daikin America), as well as with Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) global headquarters. The Director also manages relationships with external partners, including the company's PR agency, media organizations, and partner organizations (ex. Climate Week NYC). The Director must be able to effectively navigate a complex, highly matrixed organization, building trust with stakeholders across the organization while adapting to a combination of U.S. and Japanese business cultures.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Corporate Communications & PR Strategy
• Develop and execute DUS's corporate communications and public relations strategy, defining clear objectives that align with business objectives, Daikin's global brand, and key technology and sustainability narratives.
• Serve as the company's primary spokesperson for business and technology media; manage all official messaging and media relations.
• Oversee crisis communications protocols, issues management, and rapid-response processes; serve as team lead on all crisis events, working closely with counsel.
• Lead the production of corporate content, including press releases, executive remarks, keynote speeches, annual Business and Innovation Report, Q&A documents, fact sheets, and multimedia assets (video, photography, written content).
• Develop strategy for DUS's participation in conferences, industry events, and speaking engagements, aligning them with broader PR objectives.
• Develop sophisticated media monitoring reporting process and report key trends and insights to DUS colleagues and business units.
• Oversee the strategy and execution for all social media communications, including paid LinkedIn content plan and DUS website
• Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Coordination
• Act as the communications liaison between DUS and Daikin's North American business units (Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Daikin Applied Americas, AAF International, Daikin Industries) to ensure consistent messaging and coordinated external communications.
• Coordinate closely with DUS internal functions, including Advocacy and Market Research, to align communications with policy, regulatory, and market intelligence priorities.
• Manage the relationship with Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) global headquarters, ensuring DUS communications strategy is aligned with global corporate direction.
• Navigate effectively across American and Japanese business cultures.
• Manage external agency and vendor relationships, including the PR agency, media partners, and organizational partnerships.
• Investor Relations
• Support the development and execution of DUS's investor relations communications, including preparation of materials for investor conferences and other financial events (Daikin is not publicly traded in the U.S. but it is a priority to communicate to U.S. investors).
• Work closely with U.S. business units and global HQ to author and oversee investor-facing content, including scripts, key messages, Q&A documents, and presentation support materials.
• Act as a company spokesperson for corporate media as needed.
• Team Leadership
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of four direct reports; set team objectives and provide regular performance feedback.
• Manage department budgets effectively and efficiently.
• Corporate Events
• Provide oversight of all corporate events, including DUS-hosted advocacy and stakeholder meetings, investor and partner events, and internal employee events.
• Review content developed by employees for external use, including presentations, articles, and advertisements.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, media relations, executive communications, and/or stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing a communications team.
• Proven track record of working cross-functionally with diverse stakeholders, including senior executives, business unit leaders, and external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling narratives for executive, investor, media, and public audiences.
• Strong project leadership skills; able to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience serving as a company spokesperson and managing media relationships.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage ambiguity, and solve problems creatively.

Preferred

• Investor relations experience in a U.S. corporate environment, including preparation of materials for earnings events, investor conferences, and shareholder communications.
• Experience working within a large, complex multinational organization, ideally with a non-U.S. parent company.
• Familiarity with the HVAC, energy, building technology, or industrial manufacturing sectors.
• Experience navigating cross-cultural business environments, particularly U.S.–Japan.
• Proficiency in Japanese language is a plus but not required.

Core Competencies

• Adaptability — Manages competing demands and frequent change; remains calm and focused under pressure.
• Strategic Thinking — Develops communications strategies aligned with business and organizational goals; adapts approach as conditions change.
• Business Acumen — Understands business implications of decisions; demonstrates knowledge of market, competition, and regulatory landscape.
• Leadership — Inspires and motivates team members; builds trust and fosters a culture of accountability and professional development.
• Collaboration — Works effectively across functions, business units, and cultures; builds productive relationships at all levels.
• Analytical Judgment — Collects and synthesizes data to inform strategy; balances intuition with evidence.
• Communication — Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively for diverse audiences; skilled presenter and media spokesperson.
• Project Management — Plans, executes, and delivers projects on time and within scope; effectively manages resources, risks, and stakeholder expectations while adapting to changing priorities.
• Delegation — Gives authority to work independently; sets expectations and monitors delegated activities.
• Managing People — Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement. Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities. Makes self-available to staff. Provides regular performance feedback.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Standard office environment. Must be able to perform essential responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. Required to work in the office 4-5 days per week. Travel required 20–30% of the time, including domestic travel and occasional international travel.

Salary Range: $181,940.00 - $273,180.00

The Company provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of a person's race, color, religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), creed, national origin (including language use restrictions), citizenship, uniform service member or veteran status, ancestry, disability, physical or mental disability (including HIV/AIDS), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for protected leave, marital status, sex, pregnancy, age (over 40), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company will comply with all federal and state regulations and statutes pertaining to individuals with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer

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