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

US Foods, Inc.; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Employee stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Job summary

US Foods, Inc. seeks a Director of External Communications & Media Relations to shape and protect the company’s reputation through strategic external communications, media relations, and crisis management.

The role combines onsite and remote work in a hybrid model and partners with executive leadership to align messaging with business priorities. You will lead enterprise media strategy, manage agency relationships, and serve as a trusted advisor on communications to senior leaders in a large,

Qualifications

• 8+ years in corporate communications, media relations, or public affairs.
• Proven ability to lead enterprise media relations and crisis communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead external communications strategies across media channels.
• Serve as primary spokesperson and media advisor for the organization.
• Manage external PR agencies and crisis communication plans.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/PR/Journalism/Business

Tools

Public relations agencies

Job description

Director External Communications & Media Relations (Hybrid: Onsite and Remote)This site uses cookies to provide a better browsing experience for candidates, improve system performance, and support data analytics. By using this website, you Accept or Decline to the use of cookies. Learn more by reviewing our **Privacy and Security Policy****.**# US Foods Careers## Director External Communications & Media Relations (Hybrid: Onsite and Remote)Apply: Hybrid Worker: Rosemont IL: Full time: Posted Today: R283933ARE YOU A CURRENT US FOODS EMPLOYEE? PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORKDAY CAREER SITEJoin Our Community of Food People!The Director External Communications & Media Relations is responsible for promoting, shaping and protecting the organization’s reputation through strategic external communications including media relations, crisis communications, and community and stakeholder relations. This role leads enterprise-wide external communications strategies that enhance brand trust, mitigate reputational risk, and strengthen relationships with key external audiences, including media, and industry stakeholders.**This position has been segmented as Hybrid meaning there is a combination of three 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). **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 long-term-incentive plan. 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$125,000 - $195,000**\\*\\*\\*EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/****Age/Genetic Information****/Protected Veteran/Disability Status\\*\\*\\***