National Restaurant Association · 1 day ago
Vice President Communications
Washington, DC
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
15+ years expThe National Restaurant Association is a respected organization in the hospitality industry, seeking a Vice President of Communications. This role involves developing and executing a comprehensive communications strategy, leading a team, and collaborating with various leaders to enhance the industry’s image and drive engagement.
HospitalityLifestyleRestaurants
Responsibilities
Define and implement a comprehensive communication strategy that articulates and advances the Association’s corporate narrative and thought leadership across all programs, products, and services
Collaborate with integrated marketing team leaders to develop campaigns and initiatives that advance the Association’s strategic goals
Lead the development and execution of an integrated thought leadership plan, leveraging executive voices - including CEO, EVP of Public Affairs, Chief Economist, and Board Chairs -- to shape public discourse, influence policy, articulate the industry’s story, and elevate the Association’s authority
Lead crisis communication planning and execution in partnership with legal and executive teams, ensuring the Association’s reputation is protected and its position is clearly communicated during high-stakes situations
Build and lead the Communications Council for the communication members of the National Restaurant Association
Partner with the Marketing leads to manage a proactive partnership with the state restaurant association staff
Oversee development and implementation of a proactive, always-on media relations program that consistently raises awareness and grows the Association’s share of voice on key industry and policy issues
Cultivate and manage relationships with media and influencer communities, identifying opportunities for coverage and ensuring rapid, strategic response to emerging news and trends
Monitor and analyze media coverage to evaluate effectiveness, identify opportunities for increased visibility, and adjust strategies to maximize impact
Oversee development and production of speeches, talking points, presentations, and executive communications for the CEO, Board, and senior leadership, ensuring consistent, impactful messaging that aligns with the Association’s strategic priorities and thought leadership objectives
Identify and prepare executive stakeholders for high-profile speaking engagements, media appearances, and industry events
Collaborate with executives to craft compelling narratives that reinforce the Association’s position as an industry leader and trusted voice
Drive storytelling initiatives that highlight the restaurant industry’s contributions to communities, economic growth, and workforce opportunity creation
Develop compelling narratives and positioning frameworks that support advocacy efforts, policy positions, and member engagement, ensuring all communications reinforce the Association’s image, identity, and strategic priorities
Collaborate with Public Affairs, Programs, Products, and Services teams to ensure communication strategies support their objectives and drive measurable engagement
Direct the activities of external agencies and consultants responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies on behalf of the Association
Oversee day-to-day activities of the communications function, including budgeting, planning, and staff development
Manage, mentor, and develop the media relations and communications department staff to achieve the Association’s communication goals, objectives, and strategic priorities
Define team growth and development pathways, ensuring clear advancement and skill-building opportunities
Foster a culture of high performance, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Lead workforce planning and recruitment to ensure the team’s structure and capabilities align with evolving organizational needs
Establish core communication metrics and KPIs to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies, media relations and storytelling initiatives
Develop and maintain dashboards and regular reporting processes to track performance, share insights with leadership, and inform decision-making
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communication, marketing, or related field; or equivalent experience
Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in strategic communications, including 5 years in a managerial role, preferably within a member-based, or advocacy organization
Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing proactive, always-on media relations strategies that measurably increase share of voice and position the Association as an authoritative industry leader
Extensive experience in strategic communications, media relations, executive communications, and advocacy within complex organizations
Proven success in crisis management
Established relationships with media and analyst communities
Exceptional writing, editing, and presentation skills; confident presenting ideas and concepts to senior leadership
Strong strategic planning, project, and budget management skills
Demonstrated ability to guide messaging with diplomacy, tact, and sensitivity across diverse stakeholders and audiences
Highly adaptable; able to work well under pressure in a fast-paced, fluid environment
Leadership skills, including mentoring, coaching, and team building
Analytical and critical thinking abilities; strong organizational and time-management skills
Occasional travel required (estimate 10%)
Benefits
Outstanding healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision)
Competitive salaries
Generous vacation and leave time
Matching 401(k) plan
A unique collection of corporate discounts and memberships
Programs to support career and skills development
Learning and tuition assistance
Company
National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association is a foodservice trade association supporting restaurant businesses worldwide.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Michelle Korsmo
President & CEO
Recent News
2026-01-20
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