Director of Public Relations

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director of Public Relations based in United States.

This is a senior communications role focused on shaping and strengthening public reputation while supporting business growth and customer engagement. You will lead public relations, media relations, community engagement, and reputation management initiatives across local, regional, national, and trade audiences. The role combines strategic communications with hands-on content development, media engagement, executive advising, and event leadership. You will serve as a trusted communications adviser to senior leaders and a spokesperson for the organization when appropriate. The position also plays an important role in crisis preparedness, issue management, community partnerships, and major market initiatives. You will work cross-functionally with Marketing, Legal, Finance, Operations, Recruiting, and other teams in a dynamic environment where priorities can evolve quickly.

Accountabilities:

• Develop and lead public relations and media relations strategies that strengthen reputation, increase brand awareness, support business growth, and reinforce organizational values and priorities.
• Write, edit, and oversee high-quality communications materials, including press releases, fact sheets, presentations, bylined articles, speeches, talking points, reports, and other internal and external content.
• Ensure communications consistently reflect the appropriate organizational voice while remaining aligned with marketing strategies, business objectives, and established principles.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors, producers, and other media professionals across business, consumer, trade, local, regional, and national outlets.
• Identify proactive media opportunities and serve as a spokesperson while preparing senior leaders, subject-matter experts, and other representatives for interviews and public-facing engagements.
• Advise senior leaders and functional managers on public relations, media relations, public affairs, reputation management, and communications strategy.
• Develop employee communications capabilities by training teams to create accurate, engaging, and consistent content and represent the organization effectively in media and community settings.
• Lead issue management and crisis communications planning, preparedness, and response in partnership with Legal, including developing messaging and supporting responses to high-profile or sensitive matters.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop accurate and responsive communications around products, vendors, initiatives, customer matters, and other public-facing topics.
• Plan and execute public relations and community engagement activities for new store openings, relocations, remodels, VIP events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, donation presentations, and other major initiatives.
• Build relationships with media and community stakeholders in future markets, coordinate outreach, and represent the organization at important events and community engagements.
• Oversee designated partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, product media samples, donation communications, and corporate responsibility initiatives while ensuring alignment with organizational values and objectives.
• Coordinate with Finance and Legal teams on donation programs, fundraising activities, compliance, and financial accuracy, while providing investor relations communications support when needed.
• Manage communications and marketing projects from scope and scheduling through approvals, budgets, deliverables, and completion, while monitoring progress and addressing changes that could affect execution.
• Collaborate with Social Media, Marketing, Creative, Production, Nutrition Education, store leadership, and community partners to deliver integrated communications that support broader objectives.
• Measure the effectiveness of public relations campaigns and use insights to refine future strategies, outreach, messaging, and execution.
• Help position the organization as a trusted leader in natural and organic grocery retailing, nutrition education, responsible business practices, and related areas of public interest.

Requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, public relations, journalism, communications, or a related field, with at least eight years of progressive experience in public relations, corporate communications, or a related discipline within a complex and rapidly changing environment.
• Bring substantial experience developing and executing public relations and media relations strategies across local, regional, national, and trade media, whether in-house or through an agency environment.
• Have experience serving as a spokesperson and preparing senior executives and subject-matter experts for media interviews and other public-facing opportunities.
• Demonstrate experience planning and delivering media, executive, community, and other public-facing events, including managing multiple stakeholders and operational details.
• Be highly effective at collaborating with executive leadership and cross-functional partners across Finance, Legal, Human Resources, Operations, Purchasing, Marketing, and other functions.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently manage multiple complex projects, establish priorities, take initiative, and deliver results despite changing deadlines and competing demands.
• Possess excellent organizational, project management, writing, editing, communication, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and the ability to respond effectively to emerging issues, shifting priorities, sensitive situations, and new opportunities under pressure.
• Have a proven ability to build and maintain productive relationships with media professionals, community partners, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders.
• Be proficient with Microsoft Office and familiar with public relations and content management systems; experience with social media platforms and integrated communications campaigns is preferred.
• Be willing and able to travel up to 20% as required.

Benefits:

• Annual salary range of $115,000-$135,000 USD.
• Opportunity to lead high-impact public relations, media, community engagement, and reputation initiatives with broad organizational visibility.
• Significant exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders across communications, marketing, legal, finance, operations, and other business functions.
• Opportunities to shape public-facing strategy, executive communications, crisis preparedness, and community engagement programs.
• A dynamic environment with opportunities to lead complex projects, develop communications capabilities, and influence future initiatives.
• Professional growth through exposure to diverse communications disciplines, media relationships, major events, partnerships, and corporate responsibility initiatives.