Director, CEO Communications & External Engagement (Chicago / Hybrid)

Description

Work. Serve. Thrive.

Imagine a place where your talent can make a meaningful difference in peoples' lives. Working at Feeding America is a uniquely rewarding experience in which our employees work together as vital parts of a much larger mission. We are innovative, mission-focused, diverse, collaborative, values-driven and focused on results.

Feeding America is the nation's largest charity and the leading domestic hunger-relief charity in the United States. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Learn more about Feeding America here.

This position is based out of Feeding America's Chicago office. At Feeding America, we believe in offering a flexible work environment. Employees can be in the office an average of 2 days a week (when not travelling for work) and work from home on other days. Employees also have access to a 30-day "work anywhere" program during the course of each calendar year that can be combined with PTO and/or holidays.

The Opportunity

The Director, CEO Communications and External Engagement serves as the strategic communications partner to the CEO, in close partnership with the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO), to own and advance the CEO's external voice, visibility, and influence as a leading voice in hunger relief, policy, and social impact.

This role shapes and operationalizes a cohesive CEO platform across high-impact external engagements, media, thought leadership, partnerships, and digital presence. It ensures the CEO's voice is clear, consistent, differentiated, and fully operationalized, while tightly aligned with Feeding America's enterprise strategy, brand narrative, and growth priorities.

Operating within the Marketing and Communications function, this role works in deep partnership with the CMCO and cross-functional leaders to support broader executive communications and priority external initiatives. It ensures coordination, cohesion, and maximum enterprise impact, positioning CEO communications as a strategic lever for organizational influence and growth.

Compensation

Here at Feeding America national organization (FANO), equality is central to our mission and is an integral part of our compensation policies and structures. As such, we maintain transparent salary ranges and clearly defined practices for how our team, including new hire salary offers, moves through these ranges. You can expect us to offer the best salary up front based on these clearly defined pay practices with little room for negotiation. We make exceptions for highly experienced (multiple years of at-level experience) new hires in accordance with our pay practices. Once hired, employees have the opportunity to progress through salary ranges via regular merit increases and step promotions.

Salary Range: $112,000 - $117,000 Based on Experience

Responsibilities:

• Lead External Voice and Positioning

In partnership with the CMCO, shape and advance the CEO's voice and support other executive leaders as needed, ensuring a clear, consistent, and differentiated presence across hunger relief, policy, and social impact.

• Drive External Engagement Strategy

Develop and manage a prioritized roadmap for external engagements, including speaking, media, partner convenings, and policy moments for the CEO and select executives, aligned to enterprise impact.

• Develop High-Impact Content

Create speeches, talking points, op-eds, presentations, and digital content that translate complex issues into clear, human-centered, and action-oriented narratives.

• Prepare Leaders for High-Visibility Engagements

Lead end-to-end preparation for external appearances, equipping the CEO and other leaders with messaging, context, and guidance to ensure clarity, confidence, and impact.

• Activate Across Channels and Initiatives

Partner across MarCom and other FANO departments or external partners to integrate and amplify executive voices across campaigns, announcements, and strategic moments.

• Expand Digital and Thought Leadership Presence

Strengthen and sustain executive visibility across digital platforms and key forums, ensuring consistent and strategically aligned presence.

• Ensure Enterprise Alignment

Align all external communications with Feeding America's brand narrative, 2030 strategy, and nonpartisan positioning, in close partnership with the CMCO.

• Provide Strategic Counsel and Coordination

Monitor the external landscape, advise on positioning and opportunities, and coordinate cross-functional execution to maximize impact.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in executive communications, external communications, public affairs, or related fields, with a strong emphasis on supporting C-suite leaders in high-visibility roles
• Proven experience shaping and executing external engagement strategies, including media, speaking platforms, thought leadership, and stakeholder-facing communications
• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with demonstrated ability to translate complex, nuanced topics into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences
• Experience preparing senior leaders for high-stakes external engagements, including media interviews, public speaking, and partner or policy forums
• Strong understanding of media landscape, public positioning, and reputation management
• Experience operating in complex, matrixed organizations, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and decision-making in high-visibility and sensitive situations
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under tight timelines
• Experience in nonprofit, policy, advocacy, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred

Required Leadership Competencies:

• Fosters an Enterprise Mindset
• Fosters an Open and Supportive Environment
• Leads with Accountability
• Collaborates Internally and Externally
• Focuses on People and Teams
• Manages Organization and Business Complexity
• Communicates with Impact and Influence

Feeding America's goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented diverse workforce where all employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. We intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and skills on our teams, knowing that it makes us stronger as an organization and better equipped to serve our neighbors in need. We encourage all individuals, including those from historically under-represented communities and individuals with lived experience of hunger, to apply.

Feeding America participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.