Director, Brand & Corporate Communications

Shake Shack; New York (NY); On-site; USD 170,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly Pay and Performance bonuses

Shake Shack Meal Discounts

Exclusive corporate discounts

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Employer Paid Life and Disability

401k Plan with Company Match

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Access to Employee Assistance Program

Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits

Flexible Spending and Dependent Care

Job summary

Shake Shack is seeking a Director of Brand & Corporate Communications to develop and oversee integrated consumer PR and corporate communications strategies that build brand love and drive cultural relevance. The ideal candidate is a creative and strategic communications professional who can turn business priorities into compelling stories while leading a high-performing team.

With responsibilities ranging from consumer PR to corporate storytelling, you will play a key role in shaping Shake

Qualifications

• Track record of developing and executing integrated brand and corporate communications strategies.
• Experience leading, managing and developing a team.
• Strong analytical skills to inform strategy and measure communications impact.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead consumer PR strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with media.
• Oversee corporate storytelling across earned, owned and executive channels.
• Manage communications budgets and agency scopes.
• Lead and mentor a team of communications professionals.

Skills

Brand storytelling

Media relations

Strategic communication

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business

Job description

Our secret to leading the way in hospitality? We put our people first!

At Shake Shack, our mission is to Stand For Something Good in all that we do. From our teams to our neighborhoods, we're committed to always doing the right thing. As one of the fastest-growing hospitality brands, we're all about crafting unforgettable experiences for our guests. We offer endless learningopportunitiesandthe chance to make a lasting impact on our business, restaurants, and communities. As a member of the #ShackFam, you’ll have access to hands-on mentorship, training, and growth potential, all in a fun and inclusive environment.

Join us and Be a Part of Something Good.

Job Summary

Shake Shack is looking for a Director, Brand & Corporate Communications to help shape, share, and protect the story of one of the most loved brands in hospitality. This leader will develop and oversee integrated consumer PR and corporate communications strategies that build brand love, drive cultural
relevance, strengthen reputation, and bring Shake Shack’s purpose, food, people, and guest experiences to life. From crave-worthy menu launches and earned media moments to executive visibility, corporate storytelling, reputation management, and issues response, this role sits at the center of how Shake Shack shows up in the world.

The ideal candidate is a creative, strategic, culture-obsessed communications pro who knows how to turn business priorities into compelling stories, build strong relationships with media and external partners, and lead a high-performing team with clarity, energy, and care. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for a
modern communications leader who loves great storytelling, moves fast, thinks big, sweats the details, and wants to help write the next chapter of Shake Shack’s brand story.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

Brand Communications

• Develop and lead consumer PR strategies that build brand love, cultural relevance, and earned media momentum for Shake Shack’s food, guest experience, campaigns, collaborations, partnerships and brand moments.

• Turn menu news, business priorities, guest insights, and brand initiatives into compelling stories that feel fresh and unmistakably Shake Shack.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with lifestyle, food, culture, business and trade media, creating proactive storytelling opportunities that keep Shake Shack part of the conversation.

• Partner closely with Brand Marketing, Culinary, Digital, Tech, Social, Operations, Development and agency partners to develop integrated communications plans that support national campaigns, partnerships and market-level priorities.

• Oversee press materials, messaging, media outreach, seeding, events, and measurement to ensure consumer communications are creative, strategic, on-brand, and built to drive impact.

Corporate Communications

• Develop and execute corporate communications strategies that strengthen Shake Shack’s reputation and clearly connect the company’s purpose, performance, people and growth story for key audiences.

• Lead corporate storytelling across earned, owned and executive channels, including company announcements, leadership visibility, milestones, thought leadership, and business priority communications.

• Serve as a trusted communications partner to senior leaders, helping craft clear, confident messaging for internal and external moments.

• Support issues management and reputation response by developing messaging, scenario plans, media guidance and stakeholder communications that protect trust in the brand.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of communications professionals, creating a culture of collaboration, curiosity, accountability and growth while helping each team member do the best work of their career.

• Set clear goals, priorities and success measures for the communications team, providing ongoing coaching and feedback that helps the team focus on the highest-impact work and continue building new skills.

• Act as a connector across the business, bringing together Brand Marketing, Culinary, Digital, Social, Operations, Development, Legal, Finance, People Resources and senior leaders to deliver communications that are integrated and timely.

• Lead and inspire agency partners, freelancers and external collaborators, ensuring teams are aligned on strategy, expectations, timelines and Shake Shack’s creative and communications standards.

Budget & Financial Management

• Partner with the Chief Communications Officer and Finance team to manage communications budgets, agency scopes and resource planning in a way that supports business priorities and maximizes impact.

Related Experience

• Track record of developing and executing integrated brand and corporate communications strategies that align with business priorities, build brand love, strengthen reputation and drive earned media impact, preferably in the restaurant or hospitality space.

• Experience in leading, managing and developing a team, with the ability to inspire and drive results.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use media insights, sentiment, message pull-through, reputation signals and campaign performance data to inform strategy and measure communications impact.

• Deep understanding of brand storytelling and reputation management, with the ability to protect and evolve Shake Shack’s voice across consumer, corporate, executive and issues-related communications.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to senior leadership and external partners.

Education or Certificate Details

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business or a related field

Supervisory Experience:

7-9 years

Work Experience:

10+ years

Benefits at Shake Shack:

A work environment where you can come as you are, share your ideas, have fun and work collaboratively:

• Weekly Pay and Performance bonuses

• Shake Shack Meal Discounts

• Exclusive corporate discounts for travel, electronics, wellness, leisure activities and more

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance*

• Employer Paid Life and Disability Insurance*

• 401k Plan with Company Match*

• Paid Time Off*

• Paid Parental Leave*

• Access to Employee Assistance Program on Day 1

• Pre-Tax Commuter and Parking Benefits

• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts*

• Development and Growth Opportunities

*Eligibility criteria applies

Pay Range - $170,487.50 - $228,362.50

About Us

Beginning as a hot dog cart in New York City’s Madison Square Park, Shake Shack was created by Danny Meyer, Founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group and best-selling author of Setting the Table. Shack Fans lined up daily, making the cart a resounding success, and donating all proceeds back to the park beautification efforts. A permanent stand was eventually built… and the rest is Shack history! With our roots in fine dining and giving back to the community, we are committed to high quality food served with a high level of hospitality. Our team members enjoy a positive work environment that is deeply committed to the philosophy that we "Stand for Something Good."

Shake Shack is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability (mental and physical), sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital, military and veteran status.