Director External Communication & Media Relations (Hybrid: Onsite and Remote Work)

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This position has been segmented as Hybrid meaning there is a combination of 3 onsite days per week and the rest remote.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with CEO, executive and senior leadership and cross functional teams to align external communication strategies with enterprise goals and business priorities.

• Develop integrated communication plans that support business goals, operational initiatives, and brand positioning.

• Ensure alignment between corporate messaging, media engagement, and community outreach.

• Lead the development and execution of enterprise media relations strategy to proactively shape external narratives. Execute media interviews with executives and senior leaders, including print, online and broadcast.

• Execute media interviews with executives and senior leaders, including print, online and broadcast.

• Execute media relations events centered around key financial and strategy announcements and strategic company investments.

• Develop proactive storytelling strategies that elevate brand visibility and reinforce corporate priorities.

• Serve as a primary spokesperson and media advisor for the organization.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key media targets.

• Oversee media monitoring, messaging consistency, and reputation tracking across channels.

• Lead and direct external public relations agency and related budget.

• Lead issues management external communication strategies, including early identification, assessment, and mitigation of reputational risks.

• Develop and execute crisis communication plans in collaboration with senior leadership and legal teams.

• Provide rapid response communications support during emerging issues and high-impact events.

• Ensure consistent, clear, and timely communication across internal and external stakeholders during crisis situations.

• Support externally facing community affairs strategies for driving media awareness.

• Oversee external public relations agency.

• Foster a culture of accountability, agility, and proactive communication.

• Build capabilities in storytelling, stakeholder engagement, crisis response, and strategic communications.

• Lead and participate in senior-level cross functional teams.

• Other duties assigned by manager.

Supervision:

• 1-3 direct reports including specialist and/or manager level(s) via agency partners.

Relationships:

• Internal: Partners closely with CEO, executive leaders; Sr. leadership teams; Legal, HR, Operations, Investor Relations and Marketing.

• External: Partners closely with media outlets, communication agencies, nonprofit partners and external stakeholders, as well as external public relations agency.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 8 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, media relations or public affairs.

• Proven experience leading media relations and crisis communications at a regional or enterprise level.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Strong track record of managing complex issues and reputational risk in a large, matrixed organization.

• Expertise in managing external public relations or communications agencies.

• Experience counseling and engaging with executive leadership and serving as a trusted communications advisor.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business or related field, or equivalent related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in regulated, industrial, logistics, food, or consumer-facing industries.

• Experience managing national media relationships and high-visibility corporate narratives.

• Background in issues-heavy environments (e.g., supply chain, labor relations, operations, safety, or regulatory contexts).

This role will also receive an annual incentive plan bonus and a RSU package.

​Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html.

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds).  The expected base rate for this role is between

***EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Age/Genetic Information/Protected Veteran/Disability Status***