Sr Director, External Communications

Astfe; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 208,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

RWE Americas seeks a Senior Director of External Communications to lead the external affairs strategy in the U.S. The role guides messaging, media engagement, and crisis planning, reporting to senior executives and mentoring a team of ~3. Must be able to work in the U.S. and travel as needed.

The position requires a strategic, senior communications professional with a proven track record in coordinating with global teams and influencing public perception of a large energy organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Advertising, Marketing or related field.
• 10+ years in internal communications, public relations, or corporate communications.
• Experience leading large teams and high-profile campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead external communications strategy for the Americas.
• Oversee media relations and crisis management.
• Counsel senior executives on external communications.

Skills

External communications

Media relations

Crisis management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Public affairs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Journalism/Marketing

Job description

RWE Americas is seeking a strategic and dynamicSenior Director of External Communications to lead the development and implementation of the corporate communications external affairs strategy in the U.S. This role will be responsible for shaping and executing communication strategies that enhance and protect RWEA’s reputation, engage key audiences, and support business objectives. The individual will serve as a strategic advisor and expert external counselor to senior executives and leadership across the organization. In this role, you will manage external communications, lead media relations and public affairs, and lead crisis management. The position will also work closely with parent company representatives (RWE AG), headquartered in Essen, Germany. This role is responsible for leading and developing a team of approximately 3 direct reports. The ideal candidate is a seasoned, strategic communicator with a track record of problem-solving and big-picture thinking, able to develop and lead a team while exercising excellent judgment.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead, plan, and execute RWE’s external communications strategy in the Americas, in coordination with global headquarters
• Develop and drive an integrated communications strategy in partnership with internal communications, stakeholder engagement, and Government Affairs to ensure unified messaging and coordinated execution
• Advance the RWE Americas narrative through proactive storytelling, content development, and strategic management of a coordinated editorial calendar
• Lead the creation and implementation of a comprehensive media strategy, collaborating closely with global and corporate functions to maximize reach and impact
• Strengthen and protect RWE’s reputation by overseeing crisis communications readiness, including updated crisis plans, heatmap tracking, response procedures, and measurement frameworks
• Build and drive a structured and measurable executive communications program for the U.S. leadership - shaping a compelling leadership narrative and counseling leadership on strategic, high-impact visibility opportunities
• Approve and direct the development of highimpact communications materials, including strategic plans, media materials, briefing documents, executive messaging, and planning frameworks, to support enterprise initiatives
• Partner closely with Government Affairs to track and monitor key policy, legislative, and political developments, ensuring timely, accurate, and strategic communications leadership for priority issues and stakeholders
• Lead, mentor, and develop a highperforming communications team, supporting career growth and building deep expertise aligned with organizational needs
• Oversee multi-channel storytelling and content strategy—including media, digital platforms, and social media—to effectively position RWE and its leadership with targeted audiences
• Cultivate strong relationships with media and serve as a spokesperson on key issues and announcements, representing the company with clarity and authority
• Define and oversee enterprise-wide measurement frameworks and KPIs to evaluate the effectiveness of external communications strategies, ensuring insights and performance data drive continuous improvement and resource optimization
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and evolving media landscapes—introducing innovative approaches across traditional, digital, event-based, and social platforms to elevate RWEA’s external visibility and impact
• Serve as a senior advisor to executives on highstakes internal and external engagements, ensuring message alignment, leader preparedness, and strategic use of executive voices around key corporate and project milestones
• Counsel and coordinate with project communications in partnership with GA, Stakeholder Engagement – ensuring timely and tailored execution with enterprise priorities
• Lead and oversee realtime media monitoring and insights, ensuring the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams receive timely, accurate updates on companyspecific and industry developments that inform external communications strategy

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Advertising, Marketing, or a related field
• Minimum 10 years of experience in internal communications, public relations, or corporate communications; 5 years in a leadership role of a large corporate organization
• Proven track record of managing high-impact teams and successful execution of high-profile campaigns and media relations
• Background in the renewable energy or broader energy sector preferred
• Proven ability to shape longterm external communications strategies that advance business and reputation goals
• Exceptional judgment and skill in advising senior leaders during highstakes issues and moments
• Deep expertise in leading multichannel media relations, storytelling, and thoughtleadership programs
• Advanced ability to manage crises, navigate sensitive issues, and drive coordinated rapidresponse communications
• Demonstrated success building, managing, and developing highperforming communications teams
• Strong capability to use analytics, insights, and KPIs to measure impact and optimize communications strategies
• Exceptional crossfunctional collaboration skills, and highly effective at influencing outcomes and building relationships
• This position is an office-based role with some travel (~20%) and visits to other RWEA offices and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Washington, D.C. is $208,000-$270,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US‑based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125‑year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas‑powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.