Sr. Director, Corporate Communications

Job Purpose

The Sr Director, Corporate Communications will report to the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. The leader is responsible for three key functions: earned media including public relations, corporate communications, crisis communication, social impact and executive thought leadership. The leader is accountable for:

• Corporate communications and reputational management, including internal council for company and franchise team members for crisis and managing all external crisis communications.
• Creation and management of the Panera Bread and Panera Bread executive team’s thought leadership plan including executive placement within multiple mediums including but not limited to public events to NGO meetings to podcasts.
• Redefining social impact and leadership with the foundation and other related matters.

Candidates must be seasoned media relations professional, as well as creative marketers who go beyond the channel to develop impactful and breakthrough ideas and execution.

Location: Newton, MA

Duties & Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Planning

• Develop proactive strategic communications to promote, protect and defend the organization.
• Provide communications counsel and plans to Panera’s business units (Panera at Home, Panera to You) as well as to senior leaders in the organization
• Coordinate with various internal marketing functions and agency teams to develop impactful plans that support Panera initiatives

Corporate Media Relations

• Oversee campaign execution, in conjunction with agencies, including managing/attending c-suite level press tours
• Respond to inbound media inquiries, staff interviews and provide counsel to senior executives
• Draft company statements, messaging and press materials

Crisis and Issues Management

• Serve as one of the lead members of Panera’s Crisis and Issues management team interfacing with Panera legal, QA, operations and customer care
• Plan for and prepare for potential crises
• Provide strategic counsel to senior leadership and messaging support when issues arise
• Manage specialist agencies and retain counsel when necessary

Qualifications (Education & Experience)

Qualifications include:

• At least 8-10 years of experience in the public relations field with in-house and agency experience
• High energy self-starter with an unapologetic bias for action
• Excellent understanding of the news media, news cycles, media relations strategy and execution
• Must be able to work autonomously with people at all levels within the organization
• Ability to quickly understand and vet potential brand risk and craft issues response strategy
• Experience managing agency resources
• Ability to multi-task, work successfully with teams, and work under pressure
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Master’s degree, preferably with a concentration in public relations, marketing or communications
• Food and wellness experience
• Performance-oriented
• Flexibility to respond to issues as they happen required

Working Conditions

• Required travel – occasional travel required

Physical Requirements

• While performing this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit, talk hear & use hands and fingers to operate keyboards

Direct Reports

• This position will have approximately 2-3 direct reports.