Senior Director, Communications

Responsibilities

• Cultural Hype & Brand Narrative - Define and own sweetgreen’s cultural communications strategy, positioning the brand at the center of the food, wellness, and culture conversation:
• - Lead the strategy for identifying and creating cultural moments from menu drops and chef collaborations to brand partnerships and community activations in partnership with the founders, VP of Marketing, and VP of Partnerships
• - Define and own the always-on editorial strategy across earned channels (Substacks, newsletters, social, podcasts), ensuring sweetgreen drives its own narrative rather than just reacting to it
• - Set the playbook for founder-led storytelling, directing agency partners and collaborators to help our founders show up authentically in direct-to-audience channels
• - Oversee the content engine strategy that generates a steady drumbeat of conversation-worthy stories spanning brand messages, partnerships, business milestones, food quality, and menu innovation
• - External Communications - Set and own the corporate narrative strategy across consumer, business, executive, and financial audiences:
• - Own sweetgreen’s earned communications agenda, directing agency partners to maximize press coverage, brand visibility, and third-party credibility across all channels
• - Lead cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Legal, Finance, and Operations to ensure consistent, strategic messaging across all external touchpoints
• - Oversee the development of communication narratives and materials across channels, including press releases, brand films, investor communications, partnership announcements, and direct-to-audience content
• - Manage and optimize the external agency relationships and communications budget, ensuring strong ROI and alignment with brand and business objectives

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field/experience
• 12+ years of progressive communications experience, with at least 5 years directing and managing agencies, external partners, and cross-functional communications programs.
• Experience at a culturally relevant consumer brand, high-growth DTC, or lifestyle brand strongly preferred
• A track record of building integrated communications strategies that have measurably moved brand reputation, share of voice, cultural relevance, or business outcomes, ideally with demonstrated success in owned and social channels, not just earned media
• Proven experience building or scaling founder-led communications programs, executive social media presence, or direct-to-audience content platforms
• Experience managing and optimizing external agency relationships and communications budgets, with a track record of delivering strong results through partners rather than through a direct team
• Deep executive presence and credibility as a counselor to founders and C-suite leaders, with experience preparing and supporting CEOs through high-visibility moments and influencing critical decisions at the most senior levels of an organization
• Demonstrated success leading issues and crisis communications for a public or high-profile brand, including coordination across Legal, People, and Operations
• Strong editorial instincts and a point of view on where culture is moving, paired with the rigor and influence skills to translate that into a measurable enterprise plan
• Exceptional ability to synthesize large volumes of information, analyze data and cultural signals, and translate them into clear, concise, and resonant messaging for diverse audiences

Benefits

• Highly competitive pay + bonus plan
• Three different medical plans to suit your and your family's needs
• Dental and Vision insurance
• Flexible PTO plan
• 401k program
• Employee HSA and FSA
• Complimentary greens
• An opportunity to make a real impact on the people around you, both by growing them and by connecting them to real food
• To live the sweetlife and celebrate your passion + purpose
• A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back