Shake Shack is a modern fast-casual food and beverage company founded in 2004, best known for burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, frozen custard, shakes, beer, and wine. Its roadside-inspired restaurants focus on fresh, straightforward ingredients and an elevated casual dining experience. Shake Shack also connects with customers through seasonal promotions, gift cards, merchandise, and digital platforms that support its customer experience and privacy practices.
Director of Brand and Corporate Communications - Shake Shack (New York, NY Hybrid)
Lead Shake Shack’s consumer and corporate communications, from PR strategy and brand storytelling to executive messaging and reputation management. Manage communications teams and agency partners while shaping the company’s cultural relevance and growth narrative.
Description
- Lead consumer PR strategies spanning Shake Shack’s food, guest experience, campaigns, collaborations, partnerships, and brand moments.
- Translate menu news, business priorities, guest insights, and brand initiatives into compelling stories.
- Build relationships with lifestyle, food, culture, business, and trade media.
- Partner with Brand Marketing, Culinary, Digital, Tech, Social, Operations, Development, and agencies on integrated communications plans.
- Oversee press materials, messaging, media outreach, seeding, events, and measurement.
- Develop corporate communications strategies connecting Shake Shack’s purpose, performance, people, and growth story.
- Direct corporate storytelling across earned, owned, and executive channels.
- Advise senior leaders and develop messaging for internal and external communications.
- Support issues management and reputation response through messaging, scenario planning, media guidance, and stakeholder communications.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the communications team.
- Set team goals, priorities, and success measures while providing coaching and feedback.
- Coordinate communications across business functions and senior leadership.
- Manage agency partners, freelancers, and external collaborators.
- Oversee communications budgets, agency scopes, and resource planning with the Chief Communications Officer and Finance team.
Requirements
- Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated brand and corporate communications strategies aligned with business priorities, brand affinity, reputation, and earned media goals, preferably in restaurants or hospitality.
- Experience leading, managing, and developing teams, with the ability to inspire people and deliver results.
- Strong analytical ability to use media insights, sentiment, message pull-through, reputation signals, and campaign performance data to guide strategy and measure communications impact.
- Deep expertise in brand storytelling and reputation management, including protecting and evolving Shake Shack’s voice across consumer, corporate, executive, and issues communications.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to senior leaders and external partners.
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business, or a related field.
- Seven to nine years of supervisory experience.
- More than 10 years of professional experience.
Benefits
- Weekly pay and performance bonuses
- Shake Shack meal discounts
- Corporate discounts for travel, electronics, wellness, leisure activities, and more
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance*
- Employer-paid life and disability insurance*
- 401(k) plan with company match*
- Paid time off*
- Paid parental leave*
- Employee Assistance Program access from day one
- Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits
- Flexible spending and dependent care accounts*
- Professional development and growth opportunities