External Communications Consultant

Conduent•Remote, AZ

2d•$120,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

Conduent is seeking a strategic, hands-on communications professional to strengthen the company’s external reputation, increase media visibility, and communicate its business transformation, technology capabilities, and client impact to key audiences. The Senior Manager will lead the day-to-day execution of Conduent’s public relations program by developing compelling storylines, building journalist relationships, generating earned-media opportunities, and translating business priorities into relevant external narratives. The role partners with business leaders, subject-matter experts, Marketing, Investor Relations, Legal, ESG, internal communications, and other stakeholders to identify newsworthy stories, develop executive visibility opportunities, and support proactive and reactive communications. It combines strategic judgment with strong writing and media-relations expertise, and requires the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, complex corporate environment. This is a highly hands-on position, involving both shaping strategy and personally delivering communications work. The position is remote and offers flexible working hours. The stated estimated salary range is $120,000–$150,000; actual salaries may vary based on factors including location, experience, and performance. The role may be eligible for a bonus or incentive based on business need.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
Typically 7–10+ years of experience in public relations, corporate communications, media relations, or a related discipline.
Demonstrated success generating earned media through proactive pitching and strong journalist relationships.
Experience working with B2B, technology, business services, consulting, financial services, or other complex corporate organizations.
Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and message-development skills.
Experience developing executive thought leadership, media briefing materials, and external communications for senior leaders.
Strong judgment in handling sensitive issues, media inquiries, and reputational risks.
Ability to understand complex business and technology topics and translate them into clear, relevant stories.
Strong project management skills and ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
Experience working with external PR agencies and cross-functional stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively in a global organization with geographically dispersed teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a publicly traded company and understanding coordination among Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, and Legal.
Familiarity with crisis communications, cybersecurity issues, or other sensitive corporate matters.
Experience supporting executive visibility at industry conferences, media events, and business announcements.
Familiarity with media monitoring, coverage analytics, and social listening tools.
Experience communicating AI, digital transformation, customer experience, or technology-enabled business services.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute proactive public relations plans aligned with Conduent’s business strategy, transformation priorities, and reputation objectives.
Identify storylines demonstrating Conduent’s industry expertise, technology capabilities, innovation, client outcomes, and business impact.
Build and maintain relationships with business, technology, trade, and industry journalists to generate earned-media coverage.
Develop media pitches, press releases, contributed articles, executive bylines, Q&As, media briefs, and other external communications materials.
Identify opportunities to position Conduent and its leaders in relevant industry conversations, including business transformation, AI-enabled operations, customer experience, healthcare, financial services, and public-sector services.
Manage media outreach from story development through pitching, follow-up, interview coordination, and coverage tracking.
Evaluate media opportunities based on audience relevance, credibility, business value, and potential reputational impact.
Develop external messaging, talking points, briefing materials, and interview preparation for the CEO and other senior leaders.
Build executive thought-leadership programs, including contributed articles, speaking opportunities, interviews, and industry commentary.
Translate complex business, technology, and operational topics into clear, differentiated narratives for external audiences.
Partner with leaders and subject-matter experts to develop insights and original perspectives that can earn media interest.
Maintain consistent corporate messaging, company descriptions, key messages, and proof points across external communications.
Review and strengthen external content for clarity, accuracy, differentiation, and alignment with company priorities.
Partner with Marketing on integrated storytelling, campaign amplification, and the use of earned and paid media to extend priority content.
Identify opportunities to turn business developments, client wins, research, events, and internal expertise into external stories, subject to client permissions and disclosure requirements.
Monitor relevant media coverage, industry developments, and emerging issues affecting Conduent and its businesses.
Prepare media coverage reports, executive updates, and analyses of communications effectiveness.
Support reactive statements, media responses, Q&As, and communications plans for sensitive or emerging issues.
Coordinate with Legal, Security, business leaders, and external advisers on issues requiring careful review, rapid response, or specialized counsel.
Help maintain media response protocols, approval workflows, contact lists, and other core PR processes.
Coordinate external messaging with Marketing, Investor Relations, Legal, ESG, business leadership, and internal communications.
Partner with external PR agencies and specialist advisers on defined projects, major announcements, crisis communications, and other high-priority needs.
Set clear briefs, deliverables, timelines, and performance expectations for agency partners.
Identify ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the external communications operating model.
Establish practical PR performance measures, including earned-media coverage, message inclusion, outlet quality, executive visibility, and engagement with priority audiences.
Track results against communications objectives and use insights to refine storylines, outreach strategies, and channel selection.
Maintain a forward-looking PR calendar tied to company announcements, business milestones, industry events, and thought-leadership opportunities.
Provide communications leadership with regular updates on progress, media opportunities, risks, and results.