Director External Communications & Media Relations (Hybrid: Onsite and Remote)

[ARE YOU A CURRENT US FOODS EMPLOYEE? PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORKDAY CAREER SITE](https://www.myworkday.com/usfoods/d/task/2998$47185.htmld) Join Our Community of Food People! The Director External Communications & Media Relations is responsible for promoting, shaping and protecting the organization’s reputation through strategic external communications including media relations, crisis communications, and community and stakeholder relations.

This role leads enterprise-wide external communications strategies that enhance brand trust, mitigate reputational risk, and strengthen relationships with key external audiences, including media, and industry stakeholders. **This position has been segmented as Hybrid meaning there is a combination of three onsite days per week and the rest remote. Responsibilities:** * Partner with CEO, executive and senior leadership and cross functional teams to align external communication strategies with enterprise goals and business priorities. * Develop integrated communication plans that support business goals, operational initiatives, and brand positioning. * Ensure alignment between corporate messaging, media engagement, and community outreach. * Lead the development and execution of enterprise media relations strategy to proactively shape external narratives.

Execute media interviews with executives and senior leaders, including print, online and broadcast. * Execute media interviews with executives and senior leaders, including print, online and broadcast. * Execute media relations events centered around key financial and strategy announcements and strategic company investments. * Develop proactive storytelling strategies that elevate brand visibility and reinforce corporate priorities. * Serve as a primary spokesperson and media advisor for the organization. * Build and maintain strong relationships with key media targets. * Oversee media monitoring, messaging consistency, and reputation tracking across channels. * Lead and direct external public relations agency and related budget. * Lead issues management external communication strategies, including early identification, assessment, and mitigation of reputational risks. * Develop and execute crisis communication plans in collaboration with senior leadership and legal teams. * Provide rapid response communications support during emerging issues and high-impact events. * Ensure consistent, clear, and timely communication across internal and external stakeholders during crisis situations. * Support externally facing community affairs strategies for driving media awareness. * Oversee external public relations agency. * Foster a culture of accountability, agility, and proactive communication. * Build capabilities in storytelling, stakeholder engagement, crisis response, and strategic communications. * Lead and participate in senior-level cross functional teams. * Other duties assigned by manager. Supervision: * 1-3 direct reports including specialist and/or manager level(s). Relationships: * Internal: Partners closely with CEO, executive leaders; Sr. leadership teams; Legal, HR, Operations, Investor Relations and Marketing. * External: Partners closely with media outlets, communication agencies, nonprofit partners and external stakeholders, as well as external public relations agency. Minimum Qualifications: * 8 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, media relations or public affairs. * Proven experience leading media relations and crisis communications at a regional or enterprise level. * Excellent written and oral communication skills. * Strong track record of managing complex issues and reputational risk in a large, matrixed organization. * Expertise in managing external public relations or communications agencies. * Experience counseling and engaging with executive leadership and serving as a trusted communications advisor. Education: * Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business or related field, or equivalent related work experience. Preferred Qualifications: * Experience in regulated, industrial, logistics, food, or consumer-facing industries. * Experience managing national media relationships and high-visibility corporate narratives. * Background in issues-heavy environments (e.g., supply chain, labor relations, operations, safety, or regulatory contexts).

This role will also receive an annual incentive plan bonus and long-term-incentive plan. Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance.

To review available benefits, please click here: [https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html](https://na…).

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between $125,000 - $195,000 **\*\*\*EOE – Race/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/**Age/Genetic Information**/Protected Veteran/Disability Status\*\*\***