Head of External Communications & Media (Hybrid)

US Foods, Inc.; Rosemont (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive plan

Long-term incentive plan

Health insurance

Job summary

US Foods, Inc. in Rosemont, IL is seeking a Director External Communications & Media Relations to shape and protect the company’s reputation through strategic media relations, crisis communication, and stakeholder engagement.

You will partner with the CEO and senior leaders to align messaging, manage agency relationships, and lead enterprise-wide communications initiatives in a hybrid work model with three onsite days per week.

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.

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.
• 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 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.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Strategic communication

Public affairs

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Writing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business or related field

Job description

US Foods, Inc. in Rosemont, IL is seeking a Director External Communications & Media Relations to shape and protect the company’s reputation through strategic media relations, crisis communication, and stakeholder engagement.

You will partner with the CEO and senior leaders to align messaging, manage agency relationships, and lead enterprise-wide communications initiatives in a hybrid work model with three onsite days per week.