Director, Corporate Communications

International Dairy Queen, Inc.•Bloomington, MN

12h•$163,728 - $204,737•Hybrid

About The Position

We have an exciting opportunity open for a Director of Corporate Communications based out of our corporate headquarters in Bloomington, MN. The Director of Corporate Communications leads ADQ’s enterprise-wide communications strategy, including public relations, employee communications, franchisee communications, fan relations, and crisis-management communications. This role develops and executes communication strategies that support business priorities, protect and enhance the Company’s reputation, ensure consistent messaging across audiences, and strengthen engagement with employees, franchisees, fans, media, and other stakeholders. The Director serves as a strategic communications advisor to executive leadership, oversees communications team members and outside PR resources, and ensures effective messaging, processes, and responses are in place for key initiatives, sensitive issues, media inquiries, customer feedback, and other high-impact matters.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, English, Mass Communication, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Must have a minimum of 8-10 years of prior corporate communications, association or agency experience including several years in a leadership role.
Management experience required.
Superior communication/writing and editing skills with an understanding of how to tailor messages to different audiences clearly, quickly and proficiently.
Exceptional editing and proofreading skills.
Demonstrates an understanding and proven track record of strategic communication planning, message development and execution.
Creative/strategic thinker who can quickly develop innovative story ideas for an audience across a wide variety of business units.
Strong planning and organizing skills, with the ability to prioritize and plan work activities, create repeatable internal processes to ensure deadlines are met, use time efficiently, plan for additional resources, organize or schedule other people and their tasks and develop realistic action plans.
Excellent relationship building skills with the ability to connect with a variety of both internal and external clients.
Strong ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects and requests simultaneously, within an intense, deadline-driven environment.
You must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree a plus.
Experience providing strategic communication counsel to company senior management is preferred.
Experience in a corporate communications leadership role in a franchisee-based organization is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the company’s Public Relations function, serving as the primary point of contact for media outlets and other external parties making inquiries on behalf of the brand.
Develop and execute a proactive public relations strategy that supports the company’s business objectives, protects and enhances brand reputation, and reinforces the company’s position as a leading QSR brand.
Monitor external trends, media coverage, stakeholder sentiment, and emerging issues that may affect the company’s reputation, and recommend proactive communications strategies as appropriate.
Shape and steward the company’s public persona, voice, and messaging across all external-facing communications, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment with ADQ’s Mission, Vision and Values.
Manage relationships with outside public relations agencies, consultants, vendors, and other communications resources, ensuring high-quality execution, strategic alignment, and effective use of resources.
Partner closely with executive leadership to develop company positions on key business, reputational, regulatory, social, and industry issues, including inquiries or campaigns from NGOs and other advocacy organizations and other sensitive or high-profile matters.
Provides strategic oversight and direction to the Manager responsible for Employee Communications.
Oversees the development, positioning, and execution of key internal communications for ADQ employees, ensuring messages are clear, timely, engaging, and aligned with the Company’s strategic priorities, brand, and Mission, Vision, and Values.
Supports executive leadership as a communications advisor and strategist, providing counsel on high-impact internal messaging, strategic initiatives, leadership communications, and employee engagement.
Provides strategic oversight and direction to the Manager responsible for Franchisee Communications.
Oversees and contributes to the development of franchisee communication programs that strengthen the partnership between ADQ and its franchisees.
Ensures franchisee communications build engagement around the Company’s Mission, Vision, Values, business priorities, and initiatives that support franchisee profitability.
Provides strategic oversight and direction to the Senior Manager responsible for the Fan Relations function.
Ensures appropriate people, resources, processes, and escalation protocols are in place to respond effectively to customer concerns, feedback, and inquiries across relevant channels.
Oversees cross-functional coordination, response strategies, and metrics to identify customer feedback trends, support satisfactory resolution of issues, and recommend improvements to the function.
Manages crisis-management related media relations for the Company.
Develops crisis and issues management plans, corrects inaccuracies, anticipates and manages crisis communications.
Acts as corporate spokesperson when required.
Leads communications function on DQ Recall Team.
Directly manages two Communication Managers and a Senior Manager – Fan Relations and oversees their team members’ performance.
Continuously coaches and advises assigned team members in the execution of their responsibilities.
Hires competent, high performing staff with skills that are relevant to the needs of the business. Conducts onboarding and training for new staff
Establishes clear direction and performance expectations, monitors progress and results on an ongoing basis.
Recognizes contributions on an ongoing basis; celebrates individual and team accomplishments.
Creates focus on the right priorities, eliminates roadblocks, and provides solutions to day-to-day problems for staff.
Plays a leadership role in planning content for special events including ADQ’s franchisee convention and quarterly ADQ employee meetings.