Responsibilities

• Enterprise Communications & Reputation: Own and lead Viasat’s enterprise communications and public relations strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities, business objectives, brand and long-term reputation.
• Establish company wide frameworks, standards, and decision rights for external messaging, narrative development, and reputational positioning.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for external reputational issues, with authority to set direction and align leaders across the enterprise.
• Partner closely with the CEO, Viasat Executive Leadership members, Legal, Security, Investor Relations and Political & Government Affairs, and Global Public Affairs on high impact external issues.
• CEO Communications: Serve as the primary PR leader for the CEO, owning strategy for media engagement, external visibility, and executive positioning. This will include occasional travel with the CEO.
• Counsel the CEO on message strategy, media opportunities, risk assessment, and reputational implications of business decisions.
• Prepare and manage CEO participation in media interviews, press engagements, public appearances, and industry events.
• Develop and execute a long term CEO and executive thought leadership platform aligned with Viasat’s strategic priorities.
• Media Relations & External Engagement: Set and oversee Viasat’s global media relations strategy, including proactive storytelling, reactive issues management, and spokesperson programs.

• Build and maintain deep, trusted relationships with top tier global media, analysts, and key influencers.
• Serve as a senior company spokesperson when appropriate and designate spokespersons across the organization.
• Ensure disciplined, consistent messaging across all external channels and regions.
• Crisis, Issues & High Stakes Communications: Lead external communications strategy for enterprise level crises and issues, including regulatory matters, litigation, M&A, security incidents, executive transitions, and reputational threats.
• Develop and maintain crisis communications playbooks, escalation protocols, and readiness models.
• Coordinate closely with Legal, Security, Investor Relations, Political and Government Affairs, Global Public Relations, and executive leadership to manage risk and protect corporate credibility.
• Agency Leadership & Measurement: Own strategy, performance management, and budget oversight for all external communications and PR agencies globally.
• Ensure rigorous measurement of PR effectiveness, media impact, and reputational outcomes tied to business goals.
• Leverage data and insights to continuously refine external communications strategy.
• Team Leadership and Management: Build, lead, and develop a senior, globally distributed external communications organization.
• Build credible relationships with business area leaders including Marketing, Legal, PB&C, Finance, and other key stakeholders across the company.UPDATE: Keep connection to business goals and external strategy as described.

Requirements

• An advanced degree in communications, business, journalism, or equivalent combination of PR and communications work experience.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership in external communications and public relations at enterprise scale.
• 10+ years leading global PR or corporate communications teams in complex, matrixed, and highly technical organizations.
• Demonstrated experience serving as primary PR advisor to a CEO or equivalent senior executive.
• Proven leadership through high‑stakes communications including crisis response, M&A, regulatory scrutiny, and executive visibility.
• Exceptional executive presence and judgment; ability to influence at the most senior levels without direct authority.
• Strong analytical thinker with a strong understanding of complex technologies, policy environments, and global business dynamics.
• Highly skilled at leveraging relationships with media and advocacy groups.

Preferred

• Exceptional team management skills include the ability to effectively hire, coach, motivate and empower team members at all levels.
• Ability to operate in a highly competitive and globalized environment, effectively working cross-functionally to drive resolution and progress.
• History of developing earned and owned media programs that deliver results.

Benefits

• Learn more about Viasat’s comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.
• a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered.