Director, External Communications

Champion Petfoods Europe•Louisville, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Champion Petfoods is expanding and seeking a Director, External Communications to join their rapidly growing company. Champion Petfoods is an award-winning pet food maker with over 35 years of trust, known for its ORIJEN® and ACANA® brands, and is a key player in the global premium pet food industry. This role is for individuals passionate about personal and professional growth who want to contribute to the company's continued success. The Director of External Communications will serve as a strategic communications partner, responsible for shaping and executing the external communications strategy to build and protect the corporate reputation and drive brand equity. The primary mission is to proactively build the reputation of Champion Petfoods and its brands through strategic media relations, brand PR, thought leadership, and digital communications, while also supporting issues and crisis management. The position involves providing expert recommendations and leading the execution of external positioning and messaging to support the company's growth agenda.

Requirements

Proven success in developing and executing both corporate reputation campaigns and consumer-facing brand PR programs.
Experience in reputation management, including supporting the communications response for complex issues and crises.
Demonstrated experience managing a corporate digital presence, including content strategy for websites and execution of social media platforms like LinkedIn.
Experience developing thought leadership platforms for a range of spokespeople, including senior executives and technical subject matter experts.
Deep experience in media relations and strategic agency management.
Experience working within a corporate public affairs framework, supporting policy monitoring and stakeholder engagement strategies.
Exceptional storytelling, writing, and editing skills with the proven ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling external narratives.
Strong executive presence and a demonstrated ability to advise, influence, and build trusted partnerships with senior leaders.
Strategic Mindset
Manages Ambiguity
Builds Networks
Organizational Savvy
Communicates Effectively
Drives Results
Manages Complexity
Grow Brands/Category through Brand PR
Build & Protect Corporate Reputation
Issue & Crisis Management
Storytelling
Media Relations
Public Policy & Government Affairs
Stakeholder Management and Advocacy
Agency Management
Digital Fluency

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a related field
8-10+ years of progressive experience in a combination of corporate communications, brand public relations, and public affairs, preferably within a large, global and complex organization.
Industry experience in CPG, manufacturing

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a multi-year external communications strategy that supports business objectives, builds brand equity, and protects corporate reputation.
Serve as the subject matter expert on external communications, providing strategic recommendations.
Develop and oversee the company’s media monitoring and measurement approach.
Develop and maintain a library of foundational external communications assets, including core messaging and reactive statements.
Build the corporate reputation of Champion Petfoods externally as a global leader in natural, science-based nutrition.
Develop Corporate PR campaigns and proactive media opportunities that can be scaled globally.
Lead the development of the "backyard awareness strategy" by creating external communications opportunities to build a positive reputation in local communities.
Oversee the corporate digital presence, including owning the execution of the LinkedIn strategy and guiding content and strategy for the corporate website.
Collaborate with Mars Public Affairs and One Mars Corporate Affairs teams as needed.
Develop and execute integrated brand PR campaigns for ORIJEN™ and ACANA™.
Lead PR agency partners to deliver creative and effective brand PR campaigns.
Collaborate with advocacy, brand, integrated agency teams, and Marketing peers to deliver a 360-degree approach to communications.
Develop and execute a thought leadership platform leveraging internal experts and the Executive Leadership Team.
Prepare, coach, and staff leaders and subject matter experts for external-facing engagements.
Support Champion’s issues and crisis management process by providing communications counsel, developing messaging, crisis trainings, and executing response tactics.
Collaborate with relevant teams to ensure communications preparedness for potential issues.
Develop a process and execute issues monitoring.