Sr. Director, External Communications

Location: Charlotte, NC

Purpose of Role

The Senior Director of External Communications will be responsible for external communications activities including enterprise-wide public relations, brand public relations, media relations and issues management. The Senior Director will partner cross-functionally to provide strategic communications counsel while building a strong external communications program, driving innovation through breakthrough earned media strategies. This role serves as a key advisor on external communications messaging and earned media strategies to leaders and teams across the company.

Responsibility Statements

• With the VP of Corporate Communications, this leader sets the organization's external communications and public relations strategy to advance business goals and enhance the organization's reputation with the public, the media, associates and other external audiences.

• Serves as a media spokesperson for the company; manages a team of media spokespeople and external communication strategists on a wide range of company topics.

• Oversees the development and execution of external communication strategies and plans that protect and enhance the organization's reputation and deliver measurable impacts that are effective, economical, and appropriate for their intended audience; manages cross functional, enterprise-wide projects with high visibility, collaborating with key partners to develop integrated, multi-channel external communications strategies.

• Develops creative breakthrough earned media strategies and differentiating brand public relations collaborations that support company campaigns and initiatives; and serve as a catalyst for innovation.

• Serves as a strategic business partner to leaders across specific business units, working to understand business unit goals and objectives and developing external communication

strategies, key messaging and earned media plans that promote corporate and brand initiatives;

advises and counsels leaders on media opportunities.

• Guides best in class measurement approach to gauge effectiveness of earned media efforts and

inform ongoing programming, budgets and resource allocations.

• Oversees external communications speaking policy; develops and implements media training for

Lowe's executives as needed and coaches individuals across the enterprise participating in

external engagements.

• Executes sound judgment consistently; determines the best approach with complex decision making

to respond to critical or second escalated inquiries from the public or media to ensure all

communications are accurate and appropriate and for effective brand protection and

promotion.

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with critical stakeholders internally and externally,

identifying and fostering the right media and influencer relationships.

• Demonstrates advanced experience leveraging new tools, technologies, platforms,

methodologies and strategies to advance earned media and influencer relations.

• Manage budget and actively support, coach, develop and mentor talent within the function and

across the organization as well as overseeing agency partners.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Business or related field

• More than 12 years experience in external communications, including media relations, and in

developing, implementing and measuring effective external communication plans and programs

• 10 years of experience in complex risk and issues management related to external communications

• 10 years of strong leadership, influencing and highly cross functional collaboration skills

• 10 years leading multiple direct reports and cross functional teams

• 7 years of experience in developing and implementing effective communication strategies

• Strong editorial judgment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Business or related field

• Retail and public relations agency experience