Sr. Director, Communications, Popeyes US&C

3313 Restaurant Brands International US Services LLC; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global parental leave

Telemedicine and mental health support

Job summary

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) seeks a senior communications leader to serve as the primary advisor to the Popeyes President and ELT, shaping messages and strategic plans. The role oversees executive communications for high-profile moments and aligns earnings messaging with business strategy and brand positioning.

You will lead communications for franchisee and restaurant leaders across ~4,000 restaurants in the U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive communications experience, preferably within restaurant, retail, hospitality or consumer industries.
• Experience supporting senior executives and developing executive communications for high-visibility moments.
• Strong understanding of franchise business models and multi-unit operations preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and provide strategic communications counsel.
• Experience leading public relations, crisis communications, and reputation management initiatives.
• Proven success leading cross-functional projects in complex, fast-paced organizations.
• Strong people leadership experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Experience using data and audience insights to evaluate communications effectiveness and inform strategy.
• Passion for innovation and leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to improve communications and team effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary communications advisor to the Popeyes President and Executive Leadership Team, helping shape messaging, business priorities and strategic communications plans.
• Develop executive communications for high-profile moments, including franchisee and leadership meetings, earnings support, annual Convention, Town Halls, media interviews, speaking engagements, and organizational announcements.
• Partner closely with Investor Relations and senior leadership to align earnings messaging and executive scripts with broader business strategy and brand positioning.
• Provide communications counsel during sensitive business decisions, organizational changes, and complex stakeholder situations.
• Develop an integrated communications strategy across internal, franchisee, restaurant and external audiences.
• Translate complex business initiatives into clear, compelling communications that drive understanding, engagement and execution.
• Lead the communications strategy for Popeyes franchisee and restaurant leaders across approximately 4,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada.
• Oversee key franchisee communication channels including annual Convention, Franchise Board meetings, Roadshows, webcasts, newsletters, system updates, and operational communications.
• Partner with Operations, Marketing, Technology, Supply Chain, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to support successful business initiatives and drive franchisee engagement.
• Lead internal communications strategy to connect employees to business priorities, strengthen organizational culture, and reinforce the Popeyes vision.
• Develop executive communications, organizational announcements and employee engagement initiatives that build alignment across Restaurant Support Centers and field teams.
• Identify new communication channels and technologies that improve employee engagement and effectiveness.
• Lead corporate communications and public relations strategy in partnership with Marketing and external agency partners.
• Drive proactive storytelling, executive thought leadership, corporate announcements and reputation-building initiatives.
• Support major product launches, business announcements, and strategic initiatives through integrated communications planning.
• Lead communications planning and response for crisis situations and sensitive business issues.
• Partner with Legal, Operations, Human Resources, and executive leadership to provide timely communications guidance that protects the Popeyes brand and minimizes business risk.
• Maintain crisis communication plans, messaging frameworks, and response processes.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing communications team across franchisee communications, internal communications, and public relations.
• Manage external agency partners, budgets, and communications vendors to maximize effectiveness and return on investment.
• Establish communications KPIs, measure channel performance, and continuously improve communications based on audience insights and business outcomes.
• Champion innovation by leveraging AI and emerging technologies to improve content development, reporting, team efficiency, and communications effectiveness.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic counsel

Public relations

Crisis management

Written communication

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications

Job description

Ready to make your next big professional move? Join us on our journey to achieve our big dream of building the most loved restaurant brands in the world. Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with nearly $45 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 32,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES®, and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities. RBI is committed to growing the TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES® and FIREHOUSE SUBS® brands by leveraging their respective core values, employee and franchisee relationships, and long track records of community support. Each brand benefits from the global scale and shared best practices that come from ownership by Restaurant Brands International Inc.

Core Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership & Strategic Counsel

  Serve as the primary communications advisor to the Popeyes President and Executive Leadership Team, helping shape messaging, business priorities and strategic communications plans.

  Develop executive communications for high-profile moments, including franchisee and leadership meetings, earnings support, annual Convention, Town Halls, media interviews, speaking engagements, and organizational announcements.

  Partner closely with Investor Relations and senior leadership to align earnings messaging and executive scripts with broader business strategy and brand positioning.

  Provide communications counsel during sensitive business decisions, organizational changes, and complex stakeholder situations.

• Enterprise Communications Strategy
  • Develop and execute an integrated communications strategy across internal, franchisee, restaurant and external audiences.
  • Translate complex business initiatives into clear, compelling communications that drive understanding, engagement and execution.
  • Ensure consistent messaging across all communication channels while strengthening the Popeyes brand narrative.
  • Simplify complex information into clear, actionable messaging for diverse audiences.
• Franchisee & Restaurant Communications
  • Lead the communications strategy for Popeyes franchisee and restaurant leaders across approximately 4,000 restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada.
  • Oversee key franchisee communication channels including annual Convention, Franchise Board meetings, Roadshows, webcasts, newsletters, system updates, and operational communications.
  • Partner with Operations, Marketing, Technology, Supply Chain, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to support successful business initiatives and drive franchisee engagement.
• Internal Communications & Employee Engagement
  • Lead internal communications strategy to connect employees to business priorities, strengthen organizational culture, and reinforce the Popeyes vision.
  • Develop executive communications, organizational announcements and employee engagement initiatives that build alignment across Restaurant Support Centers and field teams.
  • Identify new communication channels and technologies that improve employee engagement and effectiveness.
• Public Relations & Brand Reputation
  • Lead corporate communications and public relations strategy in partnership with Marketing and external agency partners.
  • Drive proactive storytelling, executive thought leadership, corporate announcements and reputation-building initiatives.
  • Support major product launches, business announcements, and strategic initiatives through integrated communications planning.
• Crisis & Issues Management
  • Lead communications planning and response for crisis situations and sensitive business issues.
  • Partner with Legal, Operations, Human Resources, and executive leadership to provide timely communications guidance that protects the Popeyes brand and minimizes business risk.
  • Maintain crisis communication plans, messaging frameworks, and response processes.
• Team Leadership & Operational Excellence
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing communications team across franchisee communications, internal communications, and public relations.
  • Manage external agency partners, budgets, and communications vendors to maximize effectiveness and return on investment.
  • Establish communications KPIs, measure channel performance, and continuously improve communications based on audience insights and business outcomes.
  • Champion innovation by leveraging AI and emerging technologies to improve content development, reporting, team efficiency, and communications effectiveness.

Education And Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive communications experience, preferably within the restaurant, retail, hospitality or consumer industries.
• Experience supporting senior executives and developing executive communications for high-visibility business moments.
• Strong understanding of franchise business models and multi-unit operations preferred.
• Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and provide strategic communications counsel.
• Experience leading public relations, crisis communications, and reputation management initiatives.
• Proven success leading cross-functional projects in complex, fast-paced organizations.
• Strong people leadership experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Experience using data and audience insights to evaluate communications effectiveness and inform strategy.
• Passion for innovation and leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to improve communications and team effectiveness.

Benefits

• Benefits at all of our global offices are focused on physical, mental and financial wellness.
• We offer unique and progressive benefits, including a comprehensive global paid parental leave program that supports employees as they expand their families, free telemedicine and mental wellness support.

Restaurant Brands International and all of its affiliated companies (collectively, RBI) are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers that do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, provincial or federal laws, rules, or regulations. RBI's policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities upon request.

Looking for high impact work in a fast paced and ever changing environment? Then you have come to the right place. RBI is consistently looking for individuals with a passion to learn and desire to make change.