Director, Communications, Public Relations & Social Experience

Summary Description: This position leads the Family Member Communication Team, the Social Media Team, and the Public Relations team as they execute on Whataburger's marketing and communication strategies. This includes directing the vision of the overall brand content, social media, Public Relations, internal communication, and meetings & events teams to effectively promote and protect the Whataburger brand. Contributes to developing integrated campaign strategies which utilize various media platforms to share the brand message. Advises leadership on current and future efforts to continue building the business. Presents promotional campaign ideas in various types of media and provides consultation on effective communication strategies. Works closely with leaders of advertising, digital sales, retail, and finance to support the brand's new products. Manages brand identity to ensure consistent application throughout the Company. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Directs the development and implementation of a comprehensive project communication strategy and framework.  This includes developing, introducing, and continually evolving processes, tools, and tactics to facilitate effective and efficient project communications.
• Ensures team's communications support is being provided and that messages within content maintain consistency and accurately represent the business's values and objectives.
• Provides strategic counsel to various stakeholders; leads project communications toward the development and delivery of enhancements such as workshops, stakeholder training programs, and evolving project communication tools and methods. Develops criteria for consistency in brand messaging.  
• Directs project objectives and timelines for Internal and External Channel content creation.
• Uses family member engagement data and metrics to devise strategic improvements and direct the implementation of changes.
• Develops planning roadmap for change management required to implement new solutions including roll out strategies, transition to functional operations, and communication plans.
• Develops and manages annual operating budget, monitors budget variances, and ensures team expenses are on target, making adjustments when necessary.
• Plans and directs development and communication of informational programs to maintain favorable public and stakeholder perceptions of the Company's mission, culture, and accomplishments.
• Develops and reviews visual presentations and other internal informational communications for compliance with communication strategies as appropriate.
• Oversees promotional material for Company sponsored events, reviewing content aimed at increasing product and service awareness.
• Assumes additional responsibilities as assigned.

EDUCATION:  

• Bachelor's degree in a Communication related field (Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media) or any equivalent combination of educational and work experience required

EXPERIENCE:  

• 5 years' experience supervising others at various organizational levels, preferably at a regional or higher level
• 5 years' experience working directly with business stakeholders through project sponsorship, project management, business analysis, or similar roles
• 7 years' experience overseeing communication, social media, Public Relations, or some combination

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:  

• Ability to support all projects and programs within the portfolio, at all stages, with effective communication planning and delivery to achieve alignment and understanding of project and project impacts for Family Members at all levels in the company
• Proficiency in MS Office Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, and Visio (as applicable)
• Proficiency in JD Edwards (as applicable)
• Advanced ability to communicate, influence and negotiate decisions while motivating staff
• Advanced ability to create and implement given strategic direction
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Advanced professional or theoretical knowledge and functional concepts, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization in the execution of assigned duties and responsibilities
• Advanced understanding of the function's structure and policies with an intermediate understanding of the structure and policies of Whataburger Restaurants LLC
• Intermediate understanding of budgetary concepts and procedures
• Advanced ability to implement given strategic direction
• Intermediate understanding of performance review process
• Intermediate understanding of portfolio management: input to output, decision making process, logical sequence of activities, interdependencies between activities/tasks, deliverable prioritization, and timeline