Director, External & Financial Communications

Sunrise Senior Living; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 219,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

Life insurance

Disability plan

Retirement plan

Employee assistance program

Discount program

Paid time off

Sick time and holiday pay

myFlexPay

Job summary

Sunrise Senior Living in McLean, VA, is seeking a Director of External Communications to lead corporate communications, media relations, thought leadership, and reputation management.

This strategic leader will shape Sunrise’s market narrative, support growth, M&A, and investor communications, and partner with senior leadership on financial communications.

The role manages agencies, budgets, and analytics to measure ROI, with a strong emphasis on executive positioning and category leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive corporate communications, public relations, media relations, or strategic communications experience.
• Experience with financial and investor communications and communicating complex business and financial information.
• Strong storytelling, crisis management, and executive communications skills.
• Experience managing PR agencies, vendors, budgets, and programs.
• Ability to influence senior executives in a fast-paced corporate environment.

Responsibilities

• Support M&A, growth initiatives, and investor communications with strategic messaging.
• Develop and execute an integrated external communications strategy.
• Build corporate narratives and messaging differentiating Sunrise.
• Lead media relations, earned media, and executive positioning.
• Develop relationships with journalists, analysts, and influencers.
• Lead crisis and issues management in partnership with Legal and leadership.
• Collaborate with Finance on financial communications and announcements.
• Develop executive thought leadership and speaking opportunities.
• Manage PR agencies, vendors, budgets, and KPIs.
• Establish analytics to measure coverage, perception, and ROI.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Writing & editing

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications/PR

Tools

Cision

Meltwater

Job description

Director, External & Financial Communications

McLean, VA

Why Join Sunrise Senior Living

At Sunrise Senior Living, we believe meaningful work starts with purpose. Our team members are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of residents every day.

Sunrise Senior Living is seeking a Director of External Communications to lead corporate communications, media relations, thought leadership, and reputation management. This strategic leader will shape Sunrise’s market narrative, strengthen brand awareness, position executives as industry authorities, and support strategic growth, business development, M&A, and investor communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Support Development, Growth, Marketing Communications, and M&A initiatives with strategic messaging and external communications.
• Develop and execute an integrated external communications and corporate communications strategy aligned with business and growth objectives.
• Build compelling corporate narratives and messaging that differentiate Sunrise and establish category leadership.
• Lead media relations, public relations, earned media, thought leadership, and executive positioning across business, industry, and financial media.
• Build relationships with journalists, analysts, industry influencers, and key external stakeholders.
• Lead crisis communications, issues management, reputation management, and rapid-response strategies in partnership with Legal and executive leadership.
• Partner with Finance and senior leadership on financial and investor communications, acquisitions, corporate announcements, and market-moving initiatives.
• Develop executive thought leadership, including op-eds, speaking opportunities, media appearances, and industry recognition.
• Manage PR agencies, communications vendors, budgets, KPIs, and program performance.
• Establish communications analytics and reporting to measure media coverage, brand perception, stakeholder engagement, investor sentiment, and ROI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field required.
• 10+ years of progressive corporate communications, public relations, media relations, or strategic communications experience.
• Experience with financial and investor communications and communicating complex business and financial information.
• Demonstrated success developing external communications strategies and shaping corporate narratives.
• Strong experience with media relations, thought leadership, crisis communications, executive communications, and reputation management.
• Exceptional writing, editing, presentation, and executive communication skills.
• Experience managing PR agencies, vendors, budgets, and strategic communications programs.
• Strong analytical and business acumen with experience measuring communications effectiveness and ROI.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly visible corporate environment and influence senior executives.

Director, External & Financial Communications | Corporate Communications | Media Relations | PR

Pay Range: $175,013.33 - $218,766.66

Ready to take the next step and make a bigger impact than you ever imagined? As part of our team, you will help brighten the future for everyone at Sunrise and beyond. That is why we make it a priority to celebrate the unique ways you bring moments of togetherness and joy to everyone you serve. And when combined with the support, benefits, and growth opportunities we offer, the result is a career that PositivelyShines with everything you need to reach your goals at work and in your life.

We also offer benefits and other compensation that include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability Plans
• Retirement Savings Plans
• Employee Assistant Program / Discount Program
• Paid time off (PTO), sick time, and holiday pay
• myFlexPay offered to get paid within hours of a shift
• Tuition Reimbursement
• In addition to base compensation, Sunrise may offer discretionary and/or non-discretionary bonuses. The eligibility to receive such a bonus will depend on the employee’s position, plan/program offered by Sunrise at the time, and required performance pursuant to the plan/program.
• Some benefits have eligibility requirements

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sunrise Senior Living is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.