Sr. Director - Communications, PepsiCo Foods

Overview

If you’ve got that perfect blend of consumer PR and corporate communications, we’d love to talk—and bonus points if you’ve got deep experience partnering to create integrated communications campaigns for iconic brands (because we have quite a few). We’re hiring a Sr. Director of Communications to oversee the teams responsible for communications across our broad portfolio of brands and corporate reputation for PepsiCo Foods U.S. (PFUS). You’ll be based in Plano, TX, where you’ll work alongside the PFUS executive leadership team and the VP – Communications overseeing this team.

Responsibilities

This role serves as a senior leader on the PepsiCo Global Communications and the PFUS Communications team, acting as Communications Business Partner to the PFUS Sales and Marketing teams at the executive level, as well as overseeing communications programs critical to corporate reputation. Serves as functional expert on corporate reputation and marketing initiatives for PepsiCo at large and leads major programs for the PFUS business unit and the PFUS portfolio of brands.

The leader must be a well-rounded expert in key communications disciplines, including media relations, strategy development, executive visibility, messaging and crisis communications. As part of this matrixed role, the leader must have extensive experience managing a cross-functional team and agency resources to deliver against both operational and functional goals.

Successful candidates will have demonstrated experience modernizing communications programs to go beyond the traditional PR approach. Understanding the evolving media landscape and targeting key audiences with a data-driven outreach strategy are critical to this role. Must have hands-on media relations experience across traditional and emerging outlets and ability to develop the same in others.

• Promoting and protecting reputation of PFUS, inclusive of the Frito-Lay and Quaker portfolio of brands.
• Driving a modern media strategy to connect PFUS brands with consumers.
• Contributing to the promotion and protection of the PepsiCo brand as it relates to association with food and the broad portfolio of brands in partnership with Global Communications and PepsiCo Beverages U.S. (PBUS) teams.
• Serving as a senior leader within Global Communications and member of the PFUS Communications leadership team.
• Developing comprehensive public relations plans for PepsiCo as a food company, garnering awareness for specific functions and leadership.
• Driving PFUS-specific marketing and corporate reputation communications initiatives, as well as overseeing executive communications across PFUS to drive consistent messaging from C-suite through entire organization.
• Leading cross-functional communications team and managing PR agency support to ensure proactive external storytelling opportunities around food and thought leadership.
• Managing proactive communications program creation and message development, including business and food category narrative/storytelling and executive thought-leadership platforms to actively promote PepsiCo reputation as a food company with consumers, customers and employees.
• Providing executive counsel and preparedness for internal/external issues and crisis management.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $151,200 - $300,000.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 35% of annual salary paid out annually, and an additional target payout of 15% of annual salary is paid out over 3 years following the end of the performance period.
• Long term incentive equity may be awarded based on eligibility and performance.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.
• A company car and reimbursed mileage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from four-year College or University, preferably with focus on Communications/Journalism/PR.
• 15+ years of PR experience managing corporate reputation communications at large corporate entity or agency with large corporate clients (fast-moving consumer goods category preferred).
• Experience managing a mid-size team direct reports who also oversee teams, as well as cross-functional team members and resources across multiple agencies.
• Expert in key communications disciplines like media relations, strategy development, executive visibility, messaging and crisis communications.
• Experience in corporate reputation matters relevant to PepsiCo Foods including labor, sustainability, nutrition, R&D, manufacturing, growth and innovation and proven ability to serve as counselor to senior executives.
• Outstanding media relations skills including strategic planning, managing complex issues, mitigating negative stories and the ability to storymine.
• Strong expertise in strategic influencer and key opinion leader communications.
• Unique experiences that demonstrate media instincts and deep consumer empathy.
• Proven track record of driving successful, insight-based, creative communications programs that delivered against business objectives, on time and within budget.
• Proven ability in managing a cross-functional team and agency resources to deliver against both operational and functional goals.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills – including presentations and media materials.
• Some travel required.

EEO Statement

Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity.

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

Please view our Pay Transparency Statement.