SVP, Communications - National Restaurant Association

As the second-largest private sector employer in the U.S., the restaurant industry is a powerful engine of opportunity and upward mobility, helping millions of people build careers and develop leadership skills that extend far beyond the workplace. The National Restaurant Association works to protect the unique role restaurants play in American life—as employers, small businesses, and centers of culture and community. As Senior Vice President (SVP), Communications, you will lead a communications function with a dual focus: building a unified brand voice across the National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, and advancing the Association’s advocacy agenda by making key issues understandable and compelling to members, policymakers, the media, and the public.

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), you will lead a recently centralized team of 5 and build the structure to support a fully integrated communications function spanning public affairs, media relations, executive communications, stakeholder and board engagement, internal communications, and crisis response. As the top-level communications executive, you’ll amplify the impact of the Association and the Educational Foundation and the proof points behind it, shaping strategies that strengthen enterprise-wide voice, reputation, and influence. We are looking for new thinking across every area of strategic communications—testing new formats and channels, using data to decide where to deploy the team’s strengths, and finding fresh angles that get attention.

You’ll be joining the Association at a time of significant momentum, with a business transformation underway to support innovation and sustainability in a competitive market. This role is ideal for an experienced communications leader who can assess what the organization needs, set the strategy, and build the plan to deliver it.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Success in your first 1-2 years will be demonstrated by:

• A brand communications strategy that translates the organization’s brand architecture, positioning, and identity into a clear market-facing narrative—articulating the distinct and shared value of the Association and the Educational Foundation, equipping leaders and staff with a unified story, and reinforcing the organization’s reputation as the leading voice for the industry.
• A thought leadership strategy that positions the CEO and senior leaders as authoritative voices on the issues affecting the industry through speaking engagements, published commentary, and earned media.
• A more effective advocacy communications approach that increases the visibility of advocacy work, helps target audiences make sense of regulatory and policy changes, and ensures continuity in how priorities are communicated across channels.
• A measurable improvement in earned media coverage and messaging reach, evidenced through share of voice, media quality and sentiment, and how consistently key messages appear in coverage.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• This role offers a hybrid work environment, with Monday–Wednesday in our Washington, DC, headquarters and Thursday–Friday remote.
• The budgeted salary range for this position is $350K - $365K with bonus potential. We offer an outstanding benefits package, including a 401(k) with 6% matching, health, dental, vision, and life insurance, HSA and FSA options, short- and long-term disability, and generous leave. Additional benefits include support for professional development, tuition reimbursement, and more.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the principal advisor to the CMO, CEO, and executive leadership on communications strategy, positioning, and reputation management internally and externally.
• Develop and execute an enterprise-wide external communications strategy (considering both traditional and non-traditional approaches) that advances the National Restaurant Association’s and Educational Foundation’s mission, reputation, and thought leadership position.
• Guide the development of issue-driven communications strategies to support the Association’s public affairs objectives at the federal, state, and local levels—raising visibility, increasing stakeholder understanding, and advancing the policy agenda.
• Partner with the EVP of Public Affairs to shape media coverage around legislative and regulatory priorities through strategic messaging, content creation, media outreach, and rapid-response engagement.
• Oversee crisis communications planning and response to protect and enhance organizational trust.
• Develop and implement an internal communications strategy that ensures employees are informed, aligned, and engaged in organizational priorities and activities, while reinforcing company culture and values.
• Define and track success metrics, such as share of voice, media quality and sentiment, employee engagement, and reputation benchmarks; use insights to refine strategies and ensure enterprise-level impact.
• Leverage modern communications channels—including social media, digital platforms, and multimedia content—to broaden reach, increase engagement, and reinforce brand positioning.

Functional Oversight & Team Leadership

• Build and evolve an integrated communications function, including designing team structure, hiring talent, defining roles and responsibilities, and aligning capabilities with organizational needs.
• Establish a performance management framework for the team, including clear objectives, defined KPIs, accountability mechanisms, and regular evaluation of outcomes against strategic goals.
• Foster a culture of excellence, ownership, and continuous improvement through coaching, feedback, and professional development planning.
• Guide the development of core communications competencies across disciplines, including media relations, internal communications, executive visibility, and public affairs.
• Oversee the selection, onboarding, and performance management of external agency partners, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, budget discipline, and accountability for results.

Executive & External Engagement

• Provide strategic counsel and support to the CEO and senior leaders for external engagements, speeches, and high-profile initiatives.
• Develop and manage executive thought leadership strategies, including content development, speaking opportunities, media positioning, and published commentary.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with industry communication leaders, media contacts, stakeholders, and regulatory or advocacy organizations.

Enterprise Decision-Making & Resource Allocation

• Participate in enterprise-level strategic planning and decision-making alongside the executive leadership team.
• Shape and approve operational policies, resource deployment, and budget allocations in support of communications initiatives and enterprise goals.
• Lead the integration of communications strategies into organizational planning across functions to support modernization, growth, and transformation initiatives.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in communications, public affairs, media strategy, or related disciplines, with expertise spanning brand, thought leadership, and policy or advocacy communications in complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
• Proven ability to build, scale, and lead high-performing teams, including defining roles, setting strategic direction, and establishing performance management frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience managing strategic communications agencies and partner relationships.
• Strong and active media relationships across traditional outlets (broadcast, print) and new media (digital, social, podcasts, newsletters), with a proven record of securing prominent coverage and thought leadership placements.
• Expertise in developing and executing executive visibility strategies, including speechwriting, op-eds, interviews, and thought leadership platforms.
• Skilled at working in fast-paced, high-stakes environments with the ability to advise executive leaders on sensitive or complex issues.
• An advanced degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science, or a related field is preferred.

About the National Restaurant Association

The National Restaurant Association is the largest foodservice trade association in the world. We represent and advocate on behalf of the restaurant industry. Our vision is a thriving restaurant and foodservice community, providing America with nourishment, opportunity and joy, working to enhance quality of life for all. Our mission is to serve our industry and impact its success. We strengthen operations, mitigate risk, and develop talent; advance and protect business vitality through national, state, and local advocacy; and drive knowledge and collaboration.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.