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

Smart Foodservice Stores; Rosemont (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Long-term disability

Employee stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Job summary

Smart Foodservice Stores in Rosemont, IL is seeking a Director External Communications & Media Relations to lead external communications strategies, media relations, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement. You will align messaging with enterprise goals and protect the organization’s reputation across public audiences.

This hybrid role includes coordinating with the CEO and executive leadership, managing an agency and budget, and guiding rapid response during crises.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in corporate communications, media relations or public affairs.
• Experience leading media relations and crisis communications at enterprise level.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage reputational risk in a large matrixed org.
• Experience with external PR agencies and executive counseling.

Responsibilities

• Partner with CEO and leadership to align external comms with goals.
• Develop plans supporting business goals and brand positioning.
• Ensure alignment of corporate messaging with media and community outreach.
• Lead media relations strategy and execute interviews with executives.
• Oversee media monitoring, messaging across channels and agency budgets.
• Develop crisis communication plans and rapid response support.

Skills

Corporate communications

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Stakeholder relations

Public affairs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business

Job description

Join 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).

Compensation & Incentives:

This role will also receive an annual incentive plan bonus and long-term-incentive plan.

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.

Benefits:

• health insurance
• pre-tax spending accounts
• retirement benefits
• paid time off
• short-term disability
• long-term disability
• employee stock purchase plan
• life insurance

***EOE - Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Ide