Managing Director – Consumer Public Relations

Corporate Communications

Our Corporate Communications department manages relationships with the media and shares information about the company both externally and to our employees worldwide

Job Overview

Reporting to the Vice President, Global Communications, the Managing Director, Consumer PR will focus on protecting and promoting United’s reputation within the media across four main areas of focus: Brand, Network, Technology, Product and Loyalty. This individual will lead a bold, proactive media relations team that brings creative thinking, strategic focus, storytelling abilities and lots of pursuit to a broader corporate communications function that regularly operates in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. This leader will build, mentor and mobilize a team of media relations professionals and reflect an existing collegial and collaborative culture among the team. Importantly, this role is designed for a leader and a do-er, which is to say that taking an active role in day-to-day activities and leading by example is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute consumer media strategies, tactics and measurement benchmarks 
• Write effectively (and at times, quickly) – communications plans, speeches, press releases, talking points, web copy, etc. 
• Strong writing skills, significant experience working with reporters and placing stories, as well a proactive approach to the work that allows them to nimbly spot the opportunities across a diverse range of consumer media and make recommendation as to how United can capitalize on them to maximize coverage 
• Connect with reporters frequently. Both for pitching purposes but also for relationship building 
• Be a leader – keep your finger on the pulse of the team and their work, set a high bar, help prioritize the work, deliver feedback in a timely manner, lead by example and put your team in positions to succeed and shine in the eyes of their internal clients and fellow team members 
• Be a voracious consumer of news and a student of news making – outside the aviation beat – and leverage those learnings in your role 
• Key liaison to internal customers and business leaders, including the airline’s executive team 
• The candidate will be a master collaborator and skilled at working through others and must be highly credible among United’s senior leadership and the current and future journalists who cover United closely. We expect this individual to partner closely with business leaders to develop, coordinate and implement strategies that elevate United’s profile, shape United’s public narrative and advance United’s business priorities

This role is hybrid with some time spent in the downtown Chicago office. Up to 20% travel is required.

Required

• Bachelors degree in relevant field 
• 5-7 years experience in a leadership role 
• 15+ years hands-on communication experience, with demonstrated track record in developing and executing media strategies, generating positive, brand enhancing and product aligned coverage in top tier global media 
• Must have experience developing a deep network of high-level relationships with top-tier journalists and influencers, proactively and creatively promoting a company’s valuable thought leadership and build awareness and credibility 
• Experience translating complex messages into relevant and compelling media stories 
• Experience working in a fast-paced, collaborative global environment with high performance expectations and ownership of results 
• Experience building, retaining, developing and mentoring a high performing cross-cultural team of professionals, widely viewed as a strong developer of others 
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry 
• A history of promoting corporate brand, products/services, culture, people and community goals using multiple formats in media 
• External communications strategy and execution, Stake-holder management and Media Relations 
• Proven ability to evolve corporate media policies and actively, educate staff on them, training them to be effective spokespeople while enforcing policies to protect both company and brand 
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders of all levels in the company to design and execute their media outreach strategies and position their messages in a manner consistent with the global brand 
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations 
• Poised, trustworthy, professional and passionate about promoting corporate interests 
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship 
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification 
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

Preferred

Masters degree in relevant field