Sr. Specialist, Restaurant & Operator Communications

How We Work At Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A, Inc. ('Chick-fil-A' or 'the Company') Staff members play a vital role in achieving our strategic goals by developing their skills, fostering inclusive teamwork, and embracing innovation. All Staff are expected to contribute to a compelling future by inspiring and motivating those around them. Growth and development are essential at Chick-fil-A. We want Staff to seek new perspectives and adopt new methods to drive continuous improvement and adaptation to evolving business needs. Lastly, we ask Staff to seek wisdom, expect the best, accept responsibility, respond with courage, and think others first.

Our Flexible Futures Model offers a healthy mix of working in person (currently a minimum of 8-10 days per month) and virtually, strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.

Overview

Corporate Communications partners across the Chick-fil-A organization to execute effective, compelling internal communications that build culture, drive change and support business goals. The team delivers strategic messages across a variety of digital, video and print platforms to inspire, educate and equip Chick-fil-A Operators and Support Center Staff.

This role will support key initiatives and rollouts from Menu & Packaging, Brand, Advertising, Media (BAM) and Digital Transformation & Technology (DTT). The Senior Specialist will consult with project owners, develop strategic communications plans, and execute tactics in support of Restaurants with the help of agency partners. Initiatives will include menu and packaging tests/rollouts, technology implementations, brand and advertising campaigns, and support for leadership platforms to cascade strategy and vision.

Additionally, this staff member will serve as the bridge between Restaurant & Operator Communications (ROC) and Enabling Services and Operations, supporting the prioritization and rollout of channel-related work to ROC.

To be successful in this role, the communicator must be collaborative, a quick learner, and able to think and act with a sense of urgency.

Responsibilities

• Business partner: Provide strategic business thinking around key strategies and initiatives, connecting to enterprise strategies.
• Communications consulting: Build understanding of departmental strategies and initiatives to effectively develop communications plans, then lead the execution of tactics to help business partners and Operators achieve their goals.
• Issues management: Coordinate communications response to incidents to ensure internal audiences are equipped to respond; ongoing work to improve systems and processes for issues communications.
• Project management: Create and execute major deadline-driven communications initiatives, on budget and on time, using appropriate combinations of agencies and creative services.
• Messaging: Oversee messaging, story development, and any other produced materials for accuracy, clarity and consistency.
• Relationships: Establish and maintain strong, ongoing relationships with Corporate Communications team, key business partners and Operators.
• Audience: Understand key Operator and Restaurant communication needs to tailor communications in the appropriate manner. Regular Restaurant visits are required with reporting and applying key takeaways to work initiatives a must.
• Continuous improvement: Constant desire to learn how to improve work and translate key communication trends into the into the fast-paced, rapidly growing Chick-fil-A business.

Required Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities)

• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
• Communications planning and project management experience
• Track record as a communicator who thrives on managing a variety of initiatives concurrently and on deadline
• Self-starter able to work independently or in a group, adapt to shifting priorities, and who enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
• Cross-functional teamwork experience

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities)

• Crisis communications experience
• Experience providing counsel to senior leaders and ability to influence stakeholders
• Analytical skills- capacity to gather, analyze, and interpret data to measure effectiveness
• Food service, retail, or hospitality communications experience
• Understanding of franchised and/or highly matrixed organizations

Required Years of Experience

1

Preferred Years of Experience

3

Travel Requirements

10%

Required Level of Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Preferred Level of Education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Major/Concentration

MASS COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS, JOURNALISM, BUSINESS, OR ENGLISH

Relocation Assistance Provided

No