Director, External Communications

Champion Petfoods•St. Louis, MO

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 at Champion Petfoods serves as a strategic communications partner, reporting to the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs. The position is responsible for shaping and executing the external communications strategy to enhance corporate reputation and brand equity. The primary mission is to proactively build the reputation of Champion Petfoods and its brands (ORIJEN™ and ACANA™) through strategic media relations, brand PR, thought leadership, and digital communications. The role also involves supporting issues and crisis management, providing expert recommendations, and leading the execution of external positioning and messaging to support business growth. This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days in-person, based in Boulder, Nashville, St. Louis, or New York.

Requirements

Proven success in developing and executing both corporate reputation campaigns and consumer-facing brand PR programs.
Experience in reputation management, including supporting 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.
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.

Nice To Haves

Mars Leadership Competencies: Strategic Mindset, Manages Ambiguity, Builds Networks, Organizational Savvy, Communicates Effectively, Drives Results, Manages Complexity.
Functional Competencies & Technical Skills: 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.

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, offering strategic recommendations to inform, engage, and drive growth.
Develop and oversee media monitoring and measurement approaches, establishing best practices.
Create and maintain foundational external communications assets, including core messaging and reactive statements.
Build the corporate reputation of Champion Petfoods as a global leader in natural, science-based nutrition.
Develop Corporate PR campaigns and proactive media opportunities to build awareness in the pet care industry, business community, and among pet lovers.
Lead the development of the 'backyard awareness strategy' to foster a positive reputation in local communities.
Oversee the corporate digital presence, ensuring consistency and compelling external narratives, including managing the LinkedIn strategy and guiding content for the corporate website.
Collaborate with Mars Public Affairs and One Mars Corporate Affairs teams for proactive/reactive communications and government affairs.
Develop and execute integrated brand PR campaigns for ORIJEN™ and ACANA™ in collaboration with brand teams.
Lead PR agency partners to deliver creative and effective brand PR campaigns within strategy, budget, and measurement goals.
Collaborate with advocacy, brand, integrated agency teams, and Marketing peers for a 360-degree communications approach.
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 engagements.
Support issues and crisis management by providing communications counsel, developing messaging, conducting crisis trainings, and executing response tactics.
Collaborate with relevant teams to ensure communications preparedness for potential issues.
Develop and execute issues monitoring processes.