Senior Director, Communications

sweetgreen•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$160,799 - $229,713

About The Position

The Senior Director of Communications sets sweetgreen’s enterprise communications strategy to drive brand recognition, protect the company’s reputation, and accelerate growth. The role owns integrated communications across consumer, corporate, executive, financial, and internal audiences, and leads external agency partners and collaborators. Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, the Senior Director is a member of the Commercial Leadership Team and a strategic partner to the broader executive team. The role defines sweetgreen’s cultural communications and brand narrative, identifies and develops cultural moments, directs always-on editorial and founder-led storytelling, and oversees a content strategy that generates conversation across brand, partnership, business, food quality, and menu innovation topics. It also owns the corporate and earned communications agenda, cross-functional external messaging, communications materials, agency relationships, and budget. As a strategic communications partner to the founders and executive team, the Senior Director shapes executive communications and visibility, advises leaders on media and speaking opportunities, and manages the CEO’s direct communications on X and LinkedIn. The position also owns the proactive and reactive crisis communications program, including preparedness and the company’s external response to high-stakes issues. Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. The company describes its culture as collaborative and focused on developing employees and connecting them to food and purpose.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field/experience.
12+ years of progressive communications experience.
At least 5 years directing and managing agencies, external partners, and cross-functional communications programs.
A track record of building integrated communications strategies that measurably affect brand reputation, share of voice, cultural relevance, or business outcomes.
Experience with owned and social channels, in addition to earned media.
Proven experience building or scaling founder-led communications programs, executive social media presence, or direct-to-audience content platforms.
Experience managing and optimizing external agency relationships and communications budgets, with a track record of delivering results through partners rather than a direct team.
Executive presence and credibility as a counselor to founders and C-suite leaders, including experience preparing and supporting CEOs through high-visibility moments and influencing senior-level decisions.
Demonstrated success leading issues and crisis communications for a public or high-profile brand, including coordination across Legal, People, and Operations.
Strong editorial instincts and a point of view on cultural trends, together with the ability to translate them into a measurable enterprise plan.
Ability to synthesize large volumes of information, analyze data and cultural signals, and create clear, concise, resonant messaging for diverse audiences.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, manage multiple high-priority workstreams, meet deadlines and objectives, and demonstrate attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience at a culturally relevant consumer brand, high-growth DTC company, or lifestyle brand is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Define and own sweetgreen’s cultural communications strategy, positioning the brand in conversations about food, wellness, and culture.
Lead the strategy for identifying and creating cultural moments, including menu drops, chef collaborations, brand partnerships, and community activations, in partnership with the founders, VP of Marketing, and VP of Partnerships.
Define and own the always-on editorial strategy across earned channels, including Substacks, newsletters, social media, and podcasts.
Set the playbook for founder-led storytelling and direct agency partners and collaborators to support authentic founder communications in direct-to-audience channels.
Oversee the content engine strategy and create a steady stream of conversation-worthy stories about brand messages, partnerships, business milestones, food quality, and menu innovation.
Own sweetgreen’s earned communications agenda and direct agency partners to maximize press coverage, brand visibility, and third-party credibility.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Legal, Finance, and Operations to ensure consistent, strategic external messaging.
Oversee development of communications narratives and materials, including press releases, brand films, investor communications, partnership announcements, and direct-to-audience content.
Manage and optimize external agency relationships and the communications budget, ensuring ROI and alignment with brand and business objectives.
Set executive communications strategy and direct agency partners and content collaborators to shape and amplify founder and leadership voice across social media, podcasts, speaking engagements, and direct-to-audience platforms.
Advise, brief, and partner with founders and C-suite leaders on media and speaking opportunities, ensuring messaging is on strategy and reflects sweetgreen’s cultural authority.
Curate and manage the CEO’s direct communications on X and LinkedIn to complement the overall brand narrative.
Elevate executive visibility across internal and external audiences through a modern communications strategy, in partnership with the VP of Marketing, Chief Commercial Officer, and Head of Investor Relations.
Own and continuously evolve the crisis communications playbook and framework, partnering with HR, Legal, Marketing, and Operations to ensure preparedness and rapid response capabilities.
Lead the company’s external response to high-stakes issues as the primary communications decision-maker during critical moments, addressing emerging reputation risks.

Benefits

Highly competitive pay and bonus plan.
Three medical plans.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Flexible PTO plan.
401(k) program.
Employee HSA and FSA.
Complimentary greens.
An opportunity to make an impact by developing people and connecting them to real food.
A collaborative team that supports employees and lives the company’s core values.
A clear career path with personal and professional development opportunities.
Free sweetgreen swag.