Manager, Communications

The Communications Manager leads the planning, organization and implementation of external and internal communication programs to achieve goals for assigned restaurant brands and/or Darden business units. This includes all public relations, employee communications and reputation management functions. The role requires strong media relations expertise, with brand communications experience preferred. The manager is focused on translating business objectives into comprehensive and compelling communication campaigns that drive media relations and/or engage team members. The candidate must be comfortable interacting with media, executives, and operators. This position requires strong partnership to provide strategic counsel and support to operations, marketing, HR and executive/functional leadership. Additionally, the Manager supports the direction of content, frequency and the most effective delivery channels for various communications to reinforce the culture, employment proposition and brand promise with each communication initiative.

Roles And Responsibilites

• Oversees and leads interactions with functional leaders and/or cross-functional teams for key enterprise initiatives in support of business goals and key messages
• Plans, organizes, monitors and controls all aspects of communications campaigns, including strategy development, messaging and reporting KPIs
• Regularly interacts with senior leadership to ensure alignment and provide counsel
• Partners with executives to distill and disseminate their communications (e.g. speeches, letters and presentations), including serving as a member of relevant event planning committees to oversee executive messaging
• Develops and employs public relations tools (pitches, media kits, news releases, etc.) and publicity techniques to raise brand awareness among key stakeholders
• Champions creative PR and internal communications ideas to break through and drive key messages or actions
• Drives actionable and compelling internal communications strategy in support of various initiatives, including HR strategy, change management and training.
• Manages issues, crisis and risk matters for the company and its brands, including identifying potential issues and developing appropriate response plans
• Serves as member of rotating on-call schedule for weekend issues monitoring
• Remains current on industry and consumer trends and developments; leverages such knowledge to help achieve business objectives
• Supports individual and team performance through actions demonstrating strong team orientation and feedback
  
  

Required Technical Skills

• Public Relations and Media Management: Demonstrates the capability to develop and manage a variety of public relation techniques for brand-building publicity with a strong emphasis on national and local media relations programs
• Issue and Reputation Management: Demonstrates the capability to anticipate and effectively address issues affecting the brand or enterprise
• Executive Communications: Demonstrates the capability to write on behalf of key executives, maintaining a consistent tone and narrative over time
• Employee Communications: Demonstrates the capability to drive effective communications to a diverse and dispersed team member audience
• Corporate Communications: Demonstrates the capability to drive compelling communications on behalf of various corporate functions
• Integrated Communications: Demonstrates the capability to identify opportunities for programs that can be leveraged across communication channels, including public relations, employee communications and social media
• Brand Strategy Development: Demonstrates the capability to develop and create a clear and compelling brand strategy and evolve and support that strategy over time
• Project Management: Demonstrates the capability to balance multiple priorities and achieve desired outcomes on time and within budget
• Client Service: Demonstrates the capability to embed and support various internal clients with individualized objectives
• Strategic Counsel: Demonstrates the capability to provide communications counsel to partners and executives
  
  

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree (Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field)
  
  

Other Key Qualifications

• 5 years of communications, public relations, agency or journalism experience
• Proven professional writing and editing expertise across all communication mediums and knowledge of AP Style
• Experience working cross-functionally with partners at all levels
• Passion for food and hospitality
• Some travel required
  
  

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Proven experience facilitating, aligning and coordinating proactive issue and reputation management
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and hold team members accountable for performance
• Fluency in Spanish a plus