Head of External Communications & Reputation

Cushing Terrell; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cushing Terrell is seeking a Director of External Communications in Boise, ID to lead the firm’s external messaging and public relations strategy. You will guide a team, manage the PR consultant, and counsel leadership on major announcements and crises.

You’ll partner with internal comms and market managers to maintain a single voice across channels, while shaping industry position and ensuring brand consistency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
• 12+ years of external communications experience, including team leadership.
• Ability to develop firm-wide external communications strategy and align leaders around messaging.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills for media and stakeholders.
• Experience providing media training and coaching to executives.
• Sound judgment in crisis, reputation, and issues management with brand voice control.
• Budget planning, forecasting, and vendor/agency management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, hire, and develop the external communications team and delegate day-to-day decisions.
• Develop and own the external communications strategy with leadership sign-off.
• Direct PR and media relations and manage outside vendors and agencies.
• Own executive communications, crisis messaging, and sensitive announcements.
• Lead reputation and issues management using industry trends and new technologies.
• Prepare executives for interviews and media engagements through coaching.
• Shape industry positioning with rankings, awards, and speaking engagements; final brand decisions.
• Manage the external communications budget and align messaging with other teams for business development.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Executive communications

Crisis communications

Team leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field

Job description

Cushing Terrell is seeking a Director of External Communications in Boise, ID to lead the firm’s external messaging and public relations strategy. You will guide a team, manage the PR consultant, and counsel leadership on major announcements and crises.

You’ll partner with internal comms and market managers to maintain a single voice across channels, while shaping industry position and ensuring brand consistency.