Lead Advisor, Business Communications & Campaigns

Corporate Communications and External Affairs exists to enhance and protect the reputation of Chick-fil-A so we can fully live out our Corporate Purpose.

This role, which sits within the Business Communications + Campaigns Public Relations team, will help support external communication development and execution for bodies of work across the business- primarily in service of Restaurant Experience, with specific focus on Menu, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Brand Advertising and Media initiatives, as-needed. This person will also support Influencer Relations across all external-facing programs. This Advisor will help support internal business partners through an Inform, Advise and Execute model.

Advise to ensure partners are considering external perception considerations in decision making and bring in other CCEA counsel as needed based on the subject.

Inform by leveraging information to keep partners abreast of the external media narratives, topics and coverage around similar work or the competitive set, sharing implications this may have on our own business.

Execute to develop external communications plan for guest facing initiatives and ensure distribution of messaging across media relations and other guest/external facing channels.

This person will also be responsible for building and maintaining external media relationships with key parties on behalf of the Chick-fil-A brand.

The efforts of this function will be in service of driving positive brand awareness, supporting positive sales and mitigating external narrative risk.

A proven track record of partner collaboration and influence will be essential; media relations experience is a plus.

This position reports to the leader of Business Communications + Campaigns

Our Flexible Future model offers a healthy mix of working in person and virtually, strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.

• Understand the work of the areas of the business that this role supports through building partnerships and identifying areas for proactive storytelling as well as risk or business decisions with external implications.
• Assist in the development of both proactive and reactive PR strategies for an expansive variety of external initiatives, ensuring all associated business messaging is consistent in its response. Examples could include: Menu Tests, Limited Time Offers, CPG product launches, Experiential activations, national partnerships.
• Develop and deploy messaging in support of these initiatives. Work in high collaboration with the Corporate Communication and Content & Channels team to ensure messaging across internal and external audiences is aligned and timed appropriately.
• Develop external materials and related content including associated brand press releases, Press Room content, FAQs, marketing and broadcast materials, Team Member talking points, CARES responses and external media relations responses.
• Help develop the teams’ Influencer Relations Program and assume management and execution of: key influencer relationships, facilitating content, PR mailers, messaging and campaign-specific tactics.
• Media relations support, including ongoing education of the external media landscape, monitoring news and updates from key media partners and review of key media materials (media pitches + campaign lists).
• Organization and updating key brand messaging; fact sheets, PR toolkit, boilerplate, evergreen menu messaging, etc.
• Partner closely with Public Relations agency partners, who are responsible for helping support the work.
• Potential additional needs: Provide guidance to incoming requests via the Public Relations Hotline

• Professional experience in Public Relations and/or Media Relations.
• Strong organization and communication skills
• High attention to detail
• Strong sense of initiative, responsiveness and time management skills
• Ability to prioritize and skillfully handle multiple assignments.
• Ability to articulate key information and relay to appropriate parties
• Fundamental understanding of social media, digital platforms and traditional media relations.
• The ability to thrive in fast-paced environments, while being flexible, collaborative and deadline driven
• Ability to make timely decisions considering complex business nuance.

• Experience in media relations, crisis communication, event planning, and/or social media strategy.
• Experience in the quick service restaurant (QSR), food and beverage, or hospitality industries.