Lead, Corporate Communications & Reputation Management

Kraft Heinz; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 141,500 - 176,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) plan

Flexible work arrangements

Paid time off

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago is seeking a Lead, Corporate Communications & Reputation Management to protect and enhance the company’s reputation through strategic communications across corporate brand, financial performance, crisis and issues management, and digital channels.

This hybrid role requires advising senior leaders, identifying reputation risks, and ensuring consistent storytelling for investors, regulators, customers, and employees. The position is based at the Aon Center in Chicago.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive communications experience, agency and in-house corporate communications experience preferred.
• Experience managing corporate financial communications with Investor Relations.
• Experience supporting corporate crisis communications and cross-functional response teams.
• Ability to distill complex strategies into clear narratives with reputational risk insight.

Responsibilities

• Support corporate brand and reputation strategy aligned with company purpose and growth.
• Translate complex financial information into clear narratives for diverse audiences.
• Support crisis preparedness tools, playbooks, and real-time response efforts.
• Develop industry issues communications with Government Affairs and experts.

Skills

Corporate communications

Crisis management

Investor relations collaboration

Storytelling

Reputation management

Tools

AI monitoring tools

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Lead, Corporate Communications & Reputation Management is responsible for protecting and enhancing the reputation of Kraft Heinz through strategic communications across corporate brand, financial performance, crisis and issues management, industry advocacy, and digital reputation. This role helps build confidence among key audiences and protects the business from external pressures and reputational threats. This is a Hybrid position 3 days/week in office in Chicago, IL (AON Center)

Reporting to the Director of Corporate Communications & Reputation Management, this role serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, proactively identifying reputation risks and opportunities and ensuring consistent, compelling storytelling across all stakeholder audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Brand & Reputation Strategy

• Support corporate narrative development, ensuring alignment with company purpose, business strategy, growth ambitions, and values.
• Measure and report on reputation performance through media, stakeholder, and digital sentiment metrics.

Financial & Business Performance Communications

• Support communications surrounding earnings announcements, investor events, business updates, organizational changes, and major strategic initiatives.
• Translate complex financial and operational information into clear, compelling narratives for non-financial audiences.

Crisis & Issues Management

• Support reputation risk assessment and monitoring efforts across business, regulatory, operational, and consumer-facing issues.
• Maintain and evolve crisis preparedness tools and infrastructure, including playbooks and response protocols, training and simulations, and technology/AI tools for monitoring, message testing, and risk detection.
• Support real-time crisis response, partnering with Zone communications teams as well as Legal, Government Affairs, Food Safety, Quality, HR, and Operations.

Industry Issues & Public Affairs Communications

• Develop communications strategies around industry issues impacting Kraft Heinz’s reputation and license to operate.
• Collaborate with Government Affairs and subject matter experts to proactively shape stakeholder understanding of key industry topics.

Digital Reputation & Channel Strategy

• Oversee digital reputation strategy and lead the evolution of corporate owned and social channels.
• Leverage social listening and AI-powered intelligence tools to track digital reputation, competitive landscape, and reputational risks.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive communications experience, agency and in-house corporate communications experience preferred
• Experience managing corporate financial communications, including working with internal partners such as Investor Relations
• Experience supporting corporate crisis communications, including serving on cross-functional response teams preferred
• Ability to quickly assess complex situations and make sound decisions
• Strong instinct for what is – and isn’t – a story, with a clear understanding of reputational risk vs. opportunity
• Balances short-term needs with long-term brand and corporate narrative
• Confident, credible advisor to senior leaders; able to challenge constructively and influence decisions
• Ability to distill complex business strategies into clear, compelling narratives

New Hire Base Salary Range

$141,500.00 - $176,900.00

Bonus

This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing

We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well‑being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

Benefits

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Chicago/Aon Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.