Director, External Communications

Cushing Terrell • Boise, ID

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director, External Communications leads Cushing Terrell's external communications function and shapes how the firm tells its story to the outside world. This role sets strategy for public relations, media relations, executive communications, and crisis communications, and builds and leads the team that brings that strategy to life. The Director guides the team, approving strategic direction and high-visibility deliverables while delegating day-to-day creative and content decisions. The role manages the firm's public relations consultant, coaches executives and subject matter experts ahead of interviews and speaking engagements, and advises leadership on major announcements, organizational changes, and sensitive situations such as mergers and acquisitions. The Director also shapes the firm's industry positioning through rankings, awards, and speaking engagements, and partners with the Internal Communications Manager and Vertical Market Marketing Managers so Cushing Terrell speaks with one consistent voice, internally and externally.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field
• 12+ years of experience in external communications, marketing, or a related field, including experience managing or leading a team, with strong mentoring and team development skills
• Proven ability to develop and lead a firm-wide external communications strategy and align cross-functional teams and firm leadership around shared messaging and goals
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the firm with media and high-profile stakeholders
• Experience providing media training and communications coaching to executives or subject matter experts
• Sound judgment in crisis, reputation, and issues management, including strong command of brand voice and visual identity standards and the ability to make final brand decisions
• Budget planning, forecasting, and financial management experience, including managing vendor and agency relationships

Nice To Haves

• Strategic understanding of industry positioning, including rankings, awards, and speaking engagement strategy
• Familiarity with digital marketing, content, social media strategy, and performance measurement

Responsibilities

• Lead, hire, and develop the external communications team, setting staffing structure, mentoring team members, and delegating day-to-day creative and content decisions while approving strategic direction and high-visibility deliverables.
• Develop and own the firm's external communications strategy, building it with team input and securing leadership sign-off for firm-wide alignment.
• Direct public relations and media relations, including the firm's public relations consultant relationship and oversight of all vendors and agencies supporting external communications.
• Own executive communications, crisis communications, and messaging for high-level firm initiatives and sensitive situations such as mergers and acquisitions, and counsel leadership on the external implications of major announcements, organizational changes, and high-profile client or project matters.
• Lead proactive reputation and issues management by monitoring external perception and sentiment, industry trends, and emerging communications technologies, including AI-powered tools, and turning insights into implemented improvements.
• Prepare executives and subject matter experts for interviews, speaking engagements, and press interactions through media training and communications coaching.
• Shape the firm's industry positioning and thought leadership by setting strategy for rankings, awards, and speaking engagements, and serve as the final decision-maker on brand voice and visual identity across external channels.
• Manage the external communications budget and report on performance and spend to leadership, while partnering with the Internal Communications Manager and Vertical Market Marketing Managers to align messaging across service sectors and support business development.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package
• Work opportunities in a variety of locations and markets
• Company culture that celebrates all the unique viewpoints and personalities that make up our talented team
• Annual performance bonus

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director