Mgr Brand Communications

Support Center - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Washington, DC

Management of Companies and Enterprises

About the position

As the Manager of Brand Communications at CAVA, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the visibility, authority, and affection for the CAVA brand. This position is integral to executing the company's national public relations strategies and programs, managing media relations, and leading social impact communications. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Corporate Communications, you will act as a consultant and partner to various teams including Marketing, Social Media, Sustainability, and senior leadership, while also contributing to internal and financial communications functions. The ideal candidate for this role will be a collaborative leader, a skilled project manager, and a creative storyteller. You will excel at identifying trends, leveraging data to create newsworthy content, and proactively managing the narrative surrounding the brand. Success in this role will be measured by the effectiveness of the strategies and initiatives you implement to support CAVA's brand, as well as your ability to deliver compelling messages that resonate with stakeholders and meet the needs of both internal and external partners. This job description is not exhaustive and may evolve as the needs of the company change. You will be responsible for leading comprehensive public communications strategies that align with the restaurant's marketing and business goals, managing PR campaigns from conception to implementation, and monitoring emerging issues and trends to identify opportunities for news engagement. Additionally, you will collaborate with internal stakeholders to bring PR campaigns to life, manage relationships with media, and develop social impact communications programming that engages various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive public communications strategies aligned with the restaurant's marketing and business goals.
• Create and manage PR campaigns, activations, and outreach from conception to implementation.
• Monitor emerging issues and trends, identifying 'newsjacking' moments.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and partners, including Social Media, Operations, Creative, and Marketing, to bring PR campaigns to life.
• In partnership with CAVA's PR agency, identify target media across multiple channels, build relationships, and secure coverage.
• Manage campaign calendar, pitch cadence, and budget.
• Lead the work of the PR agency team and track and analyze PR metrics.
• Act as the primary point of contact for media inquiries and interview requests.
• Evaluate opportunities for media, speaking, and award opportunities, making recommendations.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers.
• Support the team in developing messages, scoping likely questions and answers, and preparing spokespeople.
• Develop social impact communications programming to inform and engage consumers, guests, team members, community members, investors, and partners.
• Craft strategic messaging and create engaging storytelling opportunities to promote CAVA's impact initiatives.
• Collaborate with Sustainability and Field Marketing teams to design and deliver PR activations, locally and nationally.
• Create CAVA's annual impact report and support public reporting requirements.
• Lead communications initiatives in support of the company's Employment Branding strategy.
• Collaborate with People & Culture and Creative teams to develop the Employer branding narrative and message platform.
• Integrate Employer Branding into CAVA's PR and internal outreach.
• Collaborate with marketing, social media, and culinary teams to integrate PR strategies with overall marketing initiatives.
• Serve as a backup member of CAVA's Crisis Triage and Crisis Management teams.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years in public relations, communications, or a related field.
• Strategic thinker with proven success in developing communications programs and initiatives; exhibits sound judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding communication skills, demonstrating clarity of thought, ability to influence, and adopting appropriate tone of voice; ability to create messaging that connects with a variety of audiences.
• Strong project management skills; gracefully manages multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Track record of collaboration and positive, productive relationships with multiple internal and external partners.
• Excellent writing, editing, and copy-editing skills; previous writing/editing experience in corporate communications, PR, or journalism fields preferred.
• Experience in hospitality, retail, or consumer packaged goods preferred.
• Passionate, dedicated, and eager to learn, with a personal reputation for kindness, honesty, and integrity.
• Proficient in MS Office and various PR, social media, and employee communications platforms and applications.
• BA degree in communications, PR, journalism, or a related field.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in hospitality, retail, or consumer packaged goods preferred.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Food provided
• Paid parental leave
• Unlimited PTO
• Health, Dental, Vision, Telemedicine, Pet Insurance
• Company-paid STD, LTD, Life and AD&D coverage for salaried positions
• Free CAVA food
• Casual work environment