Director External Communications & Media Relations - Remote

Purpose:

The Director of External Communications and Media Relations will support UNFI and its executive team in promoting and protecting UNFI's corporate image and brand equity across its key stakeholder groups, including U.S. and international media, ESG & investor relations, industry trade publications, and corporate customers. The candidate will primarily focus on creating and executing a strategic corporate and financial communications strategy, producing various narratives and campaigns while proactively developing media relations to tell the UNFI Better Food Better Future growth story, company strategy, and overall progress on performance.

The role will liaise with all key stakeholders. The incumbent will serve as UNFI's primary media contact, supporting the CEO, CFO, and other members of the executive management team, as needed, in their preparation for all earnings calls, investor day presentations, industry panel participation, and media interviews. The role will also support UNFI's strategy with announcements, ongoing earnings process improvements and continued development and adaptation of external messaging across all appropriate platforms. In addition to proactive media relations, this role write and manage all crisis communications and issues management in conjunction with UNFI's senior leadership team. Additionally, as UNFI furthers its efforts in ESG, this role will proactively support the ongoing progress and storytelling associated with UNFI's Better for All strategy.

The Director - External Communications & Media Relations will report to the Vice President - Communications and Media Relations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Supports UNFI's VP of Communications & Media Relation and the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, in leading the Company's media relations strategy. Champions strategic external communications and promotional campaign ideas through various types of media, both proactive and reactive - driving the Better Food Better Future and Better for All narratives.
• Leads UNFI's corporate media relations efforts and is accountable for consistently delivering high-quality results that maintain and expand UNFI's media presence (including online, social media, new media, and emerging platforms), reputation, and overall share of voice.
• Oversees external messaging, content, and media strategy around financial announcements (earnings, SEC filings, etc.) working in partnership with the CFO and Investor Relations teams to prepare messaging and background documents for investor calls.
• Translates financial data and facts into multi-stakeholder context and content. Collaborates with Investor Relations to select the best-of-the-quarter highlights and accompanying stories to incorporate into earnings scripts and helps prepare complementary accompanying documents, such as: internal memos, corporate website articles, and media messaging and briefing documents.
• Leads internal and external media resources, including managing UNFI's corporate social media team (and UNFI corporate social platforms) and overseeing its outside PR agency relationships and budgets.
• Works closely with UNFI's Retail leadership team to support all retail-driven PR and media relations efforts, including proactive and reactive media outreach for both the CUB and Shoppers retail banners.
• Develops thought leadership for sustainability by using storytelling of the organization's Better for All (ESG) strategy.
• Implements media monitoring tools that provide data and insight to UNFI leadership, collaborating with key departments (legal, labor, investor relations, marketing) to share regular, customized news feeds.
• Implement best practices. Creates, updates, maintains and (when necessary) enforces appropriate media policies, procedures, and assets to ensure an effective media relations program.
• Protects and enhances UNFI's media reputation. Manages proactive and reactive media relations in support of all issue and crisis management situations.
• Establishes processes and procedures that will enable "early warning" of potential issues that could impact the business, or the reputation of the company and its brands and establishes strategies to mitigate reputational damage.
• Actively monitors both existing and emerging issues that could impact the brand and proactively ensures UNFI communicates positions on various issues to media and other constituencies.
• Develops and maintains media and vendor relationships.
• Measures success and opportunities for ongoing improvement in ROI regarding media relations.
• Manages the relevant resources, such as agencies, to support the external financial communications efforts, aligned with other corporate communications activities.
• Demonstrates deep understanding of industry fundamentals and ability to communicate the drivers that impact corporate results.
• Collaborates with senior management and supports in the writing of quarterly earnings releases and periodic news.
• Performs other relevant job duties as required.

Job Requirements:

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
• MBA or other Masters preferred

Experience:

• Minimum 8-12+ years of experience in a communications/public relations related field, specifically in media relations and financial communications.
• Minimum 5+ years working as a trusted advisor with C-level, corporate executives with significant hands-on experience directly supporting CEO and CFO in their message preparation.

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

• Strong financial acumen with experience writing earnings related materials.
• Experience managing external public relations agencies and resources.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with the press inside a corporation and ability to forge strong relationships with the financial press and other media outlets.
• Experience in managing crisis communications.
• Experience in addressing cyber-related incidents.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Ability to balance own point of view with that of others.
• Able to quickly build credibility and influence audience.
• Polished and confident demeanor with the aptitude to conduct media interviews. Excellent representative of company and brand ambassador.
• Experience building and leading successful, high-performance teams and effectively driving increased individual and collective performance.
• A strategic and critical thinker who can synthesize a breadth of information and distill its most important elements while simplifying complexity.
• Someone who can champion new ideas and approaches while respecting traditions and who can build shared commitment, shaping how others, inside and outside of the company, see the future.
• Outcomes-driven and accountable.
• Demonstrates cultural acuity with adaptability and change leadership.
• A collaborative and inclusive professional who can work effectively with a wide variety of people.
• Gravitas and finesse with superb written and verbal communication, interpersonal, presentation skills.
• A trusted advisor with expertise and an informed point of view to influence actions, messages, and outcomes.
• Proactive with a sense of urgency and attention to detail.
• Passionate, creative, fun and engaging.
• Self-aware, authentic, and principled.
• Composed in challenging situations, calm under pressure.

Physical Environment/Demands:

• Some travel may be required.
• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled at-home or office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment in the course of normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.