Director, External Corporate Communications

Signature Aviation•United States,

About The Position

Signature Aviation is seeking a strategic, hands-on communications leader to build and lead a modern external communications newsroom. The Director will set a proactive editorial agenda, uncover compelling stories across the business, and bring them to life through earned media, corporate social channels, executive visibility, and thought leadership. The role connects Signature’s strategy, investments, people, and industry leadership to issues important to customers, airports, communities, and other stakeholders. This leader will build a high-performing team and help protect and strengthen Signature’s reputation. The Director will create an integrated newsroom model with an editorial calendar, story pipeline, content priorities, and rapid-response capabilities. The role partners across the business to identify newsworthy developments, translates complex topics into timely stories, and coordinates storytelling across media and corporate channels. It also leads proactive media relations, major announcements, executive communications, thought leadership, issues and crisis communications, and reputation management. The Director builds and coaches an external communications team and agency partners, collaborates across functions, and measures communications performance. Signature Aviation operates more than 225 locations worldwide and has a team of nearly 6,000. The company describes itself as the largest global network of private aviation terminals and a premier hospitality organization, focused on safe, convenient, elevated guest experiences and supporting its team members’ well-being and professional development.

Requirements

10+ years in corporate communications, journalism, public relations, or related fields, including team leadership.
Proven ability to run a proactive editorial operation, generate strong stories, and deliver across media and digital channels.
Deep experience in media relations, executive counsel, and issues and crisis communications.
Exceptional editorial judgment, writing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to move from strategy to execution.
Strong business acumen, collaborative leadership, and sound judgment under pressure.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aviation, transportation, hospitality, infrastructure, or another complex, operationally intensive industry.

Responsibilities

Create an integrated newsroom model with a clear editorial calendar, story pipeline, content priorities, and rapid-response capabilities.
Partner across the business to identify newsworthy developments and turn complex topics into timely, engaging stories.
Lead coordinated storytelling across earned media, LinkedIn, executive platforms, and other corporate channels.
Set a proactive media strategy and cultivate relationships with aviation, business, national, and trade journalists.
Lead major announcements, media outreach, executive interviews, speaking opportunities, and thought leadership.
Advise and prepare senior executives to communicate Signature’s strategy and perspective with credibility.
Anticipate emerging issues, monitor external conversations, and guide communications on sensitive matters.
Lead issues and crisis communications in partnership with Legal, Operations, Safety, Government Relations, and other teams.
Use audience insights and media intelligence to shape narratives, manage risk, and identify opportunities.
Build, coach, and lead a high-performing external communications team and agency partners.
Collaborate with Marketing, Employee Communications, Community Impact, and business leaders to align messaging and execution.
Set measurable goals and assess story quality, engagement, coverage, share of voice, and reputational impact.