Sr. Director, Global External Communications

Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc; United States; On-site; USD 225,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Profit-sharing

Paid sick time

Paid vacation

Personal and family care leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Driscoll's is seeking a Senior Director, Global External Communications to lead its worldwide corporate communications strategy, protect reputation, and advance business objectives across markets. You will oversee brand, storytelling, media relations, executive communications, and external engagement, partnering with Sustainability, Legal, Government Affairs and HR to align messaging.

Based at our corporate headquarters in Watsonville, CA, this role requires 12+ years in corporate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Business, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public affairs, reputation management, media relations, or a closely related discipline
• At least 5 years in a senior communications leadership role with enterprise, regional, or global scope
• Expert written, verbal, and presentation skills; advanced strategic communications planning and message development; advanced media relations and spokesperson capability; advanced measurement and insights; proficiency with communications and media-monitoring platforms
• Spanish proficiency highly desired
• Experience leading communications teams, managing PR agency partners, and directing complex cross-functional initiatives across matrixed, global, or highly visible business environments

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global corporate communications strategy aligned with Driscoll's values, business objectives and brand strategy, and focus on building trust
• Shape and maintain a consistent corporate narrative that reflects Driscoll's purpose, values, innovation, sustainability commitments, and leadership in the berry industry
• Strengthen and protect the company's corporate brand through proactive storytelling and strategic communications, positioning trust and reputation management as an ongoing enterprise capability
• Lead enterprise issues management and crisis communications planning and response, including proactive risk sensing, escalation guidance, and senior‑leadership counsel on matters that may affect corporate trust or reputation
• Coordinate with the Chief Marketing Officer and partner with Brand, Marketing, and Market Insights teams to ensure corporate, brand, and market‑facing communications efforts are aligned, mutually reinforcing, and informed by business and consumer context
• Measure and monitor reputation drivers, stakeholder sentiment, and emerging issues that may affect the company's brand and credibility
• Provide strategic communications counsel to executive leadership on high‑impact business matters and reputation risks
• Collaborate with Sustainability, Legal, Government Affairs, Food Safety, Operations, and business leaders to develop and communicate the company's priorities on matters affecting agriculture, labor, trade, food systems, water stewardship, sustainability, and other issues as needed. Develop messaging and assess reputational implications of policies and issues. Support functional experts to effectively engage stakeholders on these issues
• Partner with Government Affairs leaders to develop communication strategies supporting public policy priorities, regulatory engagement, and license‑to‑operate objectives in key markets
• Partner closely with communications leaders in regional business units to ensure consistent corporate messaging, coordinated stakeholder engagement, and effective reputation management across global markets
• Engage with industry associations, agricultural organizations, and strategic external stakeholders to shape and help implement communications strategies and campaigns that reflect Driscoll’s priorities
• Monitor external policy, regulatory, and industry media and content that may influence company operations or reputation
• Oversee global media relations and serve as a senior spokesperson when appropriate. Manage senior leaders’ global media opportunities and ensure leaders are prepared for media engagements and questions
• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists, editors, trade media, and industry thought leaders
• Lead external stakeholder engagement strategies to build trust and strengthen relationships with customers, growers, industry partners, community organizations, and influencers, ensuring engagement plans support enterprise reputation priorities and maintain narrative alignment across markets
• Oversee digital reputation strategies, social listening programs, and emerging‑channel engagement to identify opportunities and risks, support reputation governance, and inform senior leadership on emerging issues
• Develop executive visibility and thought leadership programs that elevate Driscoll's reputation and showcase company innovation and expertise on global issues

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Executive communications

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis communications

Cross-functional leadership

Measurement & insights

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications

Master’s degree

Tools

Media monitoring platforms

Job description

About the Opportunity

The Senior Director, Global External Communications leads Driscoll's global corporate communications strategy, protecting and enhancing the company's reputation while strengthening relationships with key external stakeholders. This role oversees corporate brand, enterprise storytelling, reputation management, media relations, executive communications, and external engagement efforts that advance Driscoll's business objectives, policy and stakeholder priorities and reinforce its position as the global market leader in fresh berries. As a trusted advisor to senior leadership, this individual develops integrated communication strategies that promote Driscoll's purpose, values, innovation, sustainability initiatives, grower partnerships, and business priorities across global markets. The role works closely with leaders across Sustainability, Government Affairs, Legal, HR, Commercial, and Operations to ensure consistent messaging and proactive stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global corporate communications strategy aligned with Driscoll's values, business objectives and brand strategy, and focus on building trust
• Shape and maintain a consistent corporate narrative that reflects Driscoll's purpose, values, innovation, sustainability commitments, and leadership in the berry industry
• Strengthen and protect the company's corporate brand through proactive storytelling and strategic communications, positioning trust and reputation management as an ongoing enterprise capability
• Lead enterprise issues management and crisis communications planning and response, including proactive risk sensing, escalation guidance, and senior‑leadership counsel on matters that may affect corporate trust or reputation
• Coordinate with the Chief Marketing Officer and partner with Brand, Marketing, and Market Insights teams to ensure corporate, brand, and market‑facing communications efforts are aligned, mutually reinforcing, and informed by business and consumer context
• Measure and monitor reputation drivers, stakeholder sentiment, and emerging issues that may affect the company's brand and credibility
• Provide strategic communications counsel to executive leadership on high‑impact business matters and reputation risks
• Collaborate with Sustainability, Legal, Government Affairs, Food Safety, Operations, and business leaders to develop and communicate the company's priorities on matters affecting agriculture, labor, trade, food systems, water stewardship, sustainability, and other issues as needed. Develop messaging and assess reputational implications of policies and issues. Support functional experts to effectively engage stakeholders on these issues
• Partner with Government Affairs leaders to develop communication strategies supporting public policy priorities, regulatory engagement, and license‑to‑operate objectives in key markets
• Partner closely with communications leaders in regional business units to ensure consistent corporate messaging, coordinated stakeholder engagement, and effective reputation management across global markets
• Engage with industry associations, agricultural organizations, and strategic external stakeholders to shape and help implement communications strategies and campaigns that reflect Driscoll’s priorities
• Monitor external policy, regulatory, and industry media and content that may influence company operations or reputation
• Oversee global media relations and serve as a senior spokesperson when appropriate. Manage senior leaders’ global media opportunities and ensure leaders are prepared for media engagements and questions
• Build and maintain relationships with key journalists, editors, trade media, and industry thought leaders
• Lead external stakeholder engagement strategies to build trust and strengthen relationships with customers, growers, industry partners, community organizations, and influencers, ensuring engagement plans support enterprise reputation priorities and maintain narrative alignment across markets
• Oversee digital reputation strategies, social listening programs, and emerging‑channel engagement to identify opportunities and risks, support reputation governance, and inform senior leadership on emerging issues
• Develop executive visibility and thought leadership programs that elevate Driscoll's reputation and showcase company innovation and expertise on global issues

Candidate Profile Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Business, or a related field. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public affairs, reputation management, media relations, or a closely related discipline
• At least 5 years in a senior communications leadership role with enterprise, regional, or global scope
• Expertise in corporate brand and reputation; issues and crisis communications; public affairs; global media relations; executive communications; external stakeholder engagement; thought leadership; organizational transformation communications; enterprise storytelling; senior leadership counsel; and cross‑functional stakeholder alignment
• Expert written, verbal, and presentation skills; advanced strategic communications planning and message development; advanced media relations and spokesperson capability; advanced measurement and insights; proficiency with communications and media‑monitoring platforms
• Spanish proficiency highly desired
• Experience leading communications teams, managing PR agency partners, and directing complex cross‑functional initiatives across matrixed, global, or highly visible business environments

Preferred (other) Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, Public Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field
• Experience in agriculture, food, consumer products, sustainability, or another highly visible and regulated global industry
• Demonstrated success advising C‑suite executives and managing sensitive, high‑impact reputation matters
• Experience operating across cultures, regions, and complex matrixed organizations
• Established relationships with business, consumer, trade, agriculture, or policy media
• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) or comparable professional credential

Location

***Please Note: Due to the highly collaborative nature of this position, the selected candidate will be located at our corporate headquarters in Watsonville, CA. Relocation assistance may be provided for highly qualified candidates, but remote work is not authorized.***

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range estimated for the Sr. Director Global External Communications: $225,000 to $260,000 USD.

Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week.

Other benefits include:

• 401(k) with employer match
• profit‑sharing participation
• paid sick time
• paid vacation
• paid personal and family care leave
• free Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Driscoll’s

Driscoll’s is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll’s is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world. Driscoll’s exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners. Driscoll’s is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries