External Affairs Communications Senior Manager

Job Description

About the Job

Hello, potential PriceSmart candidate. We’re on a mission to hire the very best, and are committed to creating exceptional employee experiences where everyone is respected and has access to equal opportunity. We realize the greatest contributions to the company can come from anywhere in the organization, and we know that the next one could be yours!

The External Affairs Communications Senior Manager plays a critical role in advancing and protecting the company's reputation, supporting executive leadership communications, strengthening crisis preparedness and response, and communicating PriceSmart's government affairs, sustainability, and public affairs priorities.

Working closely with the CEO and the SVP of External Affairs and in partnership with Corporate Communications, Legal, ERM, Finance, and other business leaders, this role will develop and execute communications strategies that support the company's growth, stakeholder engagement, and long-term business objectives across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer, trusted advisor, and relationship builder who can translate complex issues into clear and compelling messages for diverse audiences while thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

What You'll Do

Executive Communications

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• Support CEO and Executive Leadership Team communications related to public affairs, government relations, sustainability, corporate reputation, and external stakeholder engagement.
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• Translate sustainability, regulatory, geopolitical, and business issues into clear, compelling executive messages and thought leadership content.
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• Coordinate consistent executive messaging across key external audiences.
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• Support executive social media content and external visibility opportunities in collaboration with Corporate Communications.
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• Lead media interview preparation, messaging development, briefing materials, and Q&A preparation, depending on the subject matter, in collaboration with Corporate Communications.
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• Draft speeches, remarks, presentations, talking points, opinion pieces, newsletters, and other executive communications materials.
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Government Affairs & Public Affairs Communications

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• Develop communications materials supporting government engagement, advocacy efforts, and stakeholder relations
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• Prepare briefing documents for meetings with government officials, embassies, business associations, NGOs, community leaders, and other external stakeholders.
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• Develop strategic messaging related to public policy developments, geopolitical trends, and emerging issues affecting the business.
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• Support communications strategies related to market entry, business expansion, and regulatory priorities.
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Crisis Communications

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• Lead development, implementation, and maintenance of the company's crisis communications framework, protocols, and preparedness efforts in collaboration with Legal, ERM, Corporate Communications, and external advisors.
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• Support development of crisis statements, talking points, stakeholder communications, media responses, and executive briefing materials.
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• Coordinate crisis planning exercises, simulations, after-action reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives, in collaboration with Legal and ERM.
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• Provide communications support related to regulatory, political, operational, and reputational incidents.
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• Assist in monitoring emerging issues and assessing potential communications risks to the company.
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Reputation & Stakeholder Communications

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• Monitor and assess political, regulatory, activist, social, and reputational developments that could affect the company's business objectives, stakeholder relationships, or license to operate.
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• Develop communications strategies to address identified risks and opportunities.
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• Support strategic communications planning for high-profile initiatives, business announcements, and stakeholder engagement efforts.
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• Coordinate with external PR agencies and communications firms supporting country-level initiatives, as appropriate, in collaboration with Corporate Communications.
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• Help strengthen understanding of PriceSmart's business model, values, and positive economic, social, and environmental impact.
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Sustainability Executive Communications

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• Support sustainability-related executive messaging and thought leadership in collaboration with Corporate Communications and relevant business partners.
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• Support sustainability reporting narratives, disclosures, and strategic positioning.
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• Assist with sustainability-related external stakeholder engagement initiatives and executive visibility opportunities.
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• Develop materials that communicate the company's sustainability strategy, priorities, and progress to external audiences.
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As capacity permits, the role may also support:

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• Investor Relations executive communications, in collaboration with Finance.
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• Sustainability storytelling initiatives and external campaigns.
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• Reputation-building efforts and executive visibility strategies.
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• Communications support related to the PriceSmart Foundation and community impact initiatives.
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• Select external speaking engagements, conferences, and stakeholder events.
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Who You Are

Required Experience:

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• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, International Relations, Political Science, Sustainability, Business, or a related field.
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• Fully bilingual in English and Spanish , with exceptional written and verbal communication skills in both languages.
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• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in communications, public affairs, government affairs, public relations, corporate communications, executive communications, or related fields.
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• Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives and developing executive-level communications.
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• Experience in crisis communications, issues management, reputation management, or strategic communications.
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• Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
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Preferred Experience:

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• Graduate degree (Master's) in Communications, Public Affairs, Public Policy, Business Administration, International Relations, Sustainability, or a related discipline.
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• Experience working across Latin America and the Caribbean.
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• Background in government affairs, corporate reputation, sustainability communications, public policy, or stakeholder engagement.
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• Experience working with media, PR agencies, and executive visibility programs.
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Knowledge, Skills, & Competencies

Communication Excellence

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• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
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• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise, and persuasive messages.
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• Strong presentation and verbal communications skills.
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Strategic Thinking

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• Ability to anticipate communications risks and opportunities.
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• Strong business judgment and problem-solving skills.
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• Ability to understand the intersection of business strategy, public policy, sustainability, and reputation.
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Relationship Building

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• Ability to build trust and credibility with senior executives and cross-functional partners.
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• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
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• Collaborative, team-oriented approach.
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Leadership & Execution

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• Self-starter who takes initiative and operates effectively with limited oversight.
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• Ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
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• Strong organizational and project management skills.
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• Calm and effective under pressure, particularly during crises and high-profile situations.
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• Ability to influence and collaborate across functions and geographies.
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Some Important Intangibles

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• You feel connected to our mission and values: Integrity, Excellence, Community
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• You are a self-starter who doesn’t need direct supervision to motivate you for success
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• You enjoy sharing your quirkiness and talents with your coworkers
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• Enjoy working hard
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• Full of energy for the things one sees as challenging
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• The ability to remain calm when dealing with unforeseen constraints.
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• The above description is designed to state the general nature and level of work performed in the function. It is not intended to contain or be construed as an exhaustive inventory of all job duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. A complete job description may be made available to you through the hiring process.
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Benefits & Perks

We believe taking care of our people is the right thing to do. This is what we can offer for all your hard work:

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• Competitive pay ($120,000 - $145,000)
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• Bonus - up to 15%
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• Equity - up to 10%
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• Travel - up to 10%
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• Medical, Dental and Vision plans
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• Employee Assistance Program
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• Education Assistance Program
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• 401K Contributions
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• Life Insurance
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• LTD
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• PriceSmart Membership Card
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• Pet Insurance
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• Meditation App
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• BenefitsHub for Employee Discounts
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• Fun events
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• Employee recognition
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• Supportive, nurturing environment with many opportunities for learning and growth
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• ...and more!
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Our Commitment

We not only embrace and celebrate the diversity of our membership base and communities, but also strive to achieve the same in our employees. At PriceSmart, we are committed to equal employment opportunity, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or any other class protected by applicable law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Get to know us

PriceSmart was founded with a purpose to inspire and impact the lives and businesses of our Members, our employees and our communities through the ethical delivery of the best quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices.

Throughout the years, we have constantly asked ourselves how we can do more and have a greater impact. We want to prove that we are a company that can grow, be profitable and do good in the world, and we have learned that it takes a great organizational culture to achieve that goal.

At PriceSmart, you can look forward to company events, anniversaries celebrating our employees with more than 20, or 30 years of tenure, volunteering and learning opportunities, and just great company filled with curious, kind folks. Dreaming up and sharing ideas aren’t responsibilities reserved for certain teams or leaders; the challenge of building our own culture is on all of our shoulders. That sense of community and belonging keeps us excited to walk through the door everyday, wherever that door may be, in any of our 13 countries.