Director, Brand & Corporate Communications

Shake Shack

$170K — $228K *
Hospitality & Recreation
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business, or a related field
  • 10+ years of experience in brand and corporate communications, preferably in hospitality
  • 7-9 years leading and managing a communications team
  • Proven track record in integrated strategy development aligning with business priorities
  • Strong analytical skills in media insights, sentiment analysis, and campaign performance data

Responsibilities

  • Develop and lead consumer PR strategies to enhance brand love and media momentum
  • Transform business priorities into engaging brand narratives
  • Foster relationships with key media stakeholders for proactive storytelling
  • Collaborate with various departments to create integrated communication plans
  • Oversee communication outputs, ensuring creativity and strategic alignment
  • Craft corporate communication strategies to uphold and enhance company reputation
  • Support issues management with clear messaging and strategic response plans
  • Mentor and develop communications team for optimal performance

Benefits

  • Weekly pay and performance bonuses
  • Meal discounts at Shake Shack
  • Exclusive corporate discounts for travel and leisure
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Employer-paid life and disability insurance
  • 401k plan with company matching contributions
  • Paid time off and parental leave
  • Access to employee assistance program from day one
  • Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits
  • Growth and development opportunities
Full Job Description
Job Summary

Shake Shack is looking for a Director, Brand & Corporate Communications to help shape, share, and protect the story of one of the most loved brands in hospitality. This leader will develop and oversee integrated consumer PR and corporate communications strategies that build brand love, drive cultural
relevance, strengthen reputation, and bring Shake Shack's purpose, food, people, and guest experiences to life. From crave-worthy menu launches and earned media moments to executive visibility, corporate storytelling, reputation management, and issues response, this role sits at the center of how Shake Shack shows up in the world.

The ideal candidate is a creative, strategic, culture-obsessed communications pro who knows how to turn business priorities into compelling stories, build strong relationships with media and external partners, and lead a high-performing team with clarity, energy, and care. This is a can't-miss opportunity for a
modern communications leader who loves great storytelling, moves fast, thinks big, sweats the details, and wants to help write the next chapter of Shake Shack's brand story.

Job Responsibilities and Duties
Brand Communications
  • Develop and lead consumer PR strategies that build brand love, cultural relevance, and earned media momentum for Shake Shack's food, guest experience, campaigns, collaborations, partnerships, and brand moments.
  • Turn menu news, business priorities, guest insights, and brand initiatives into compelling stories that feel fresh and unmistakably Shake Shack.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with lifestyle, food, culture, business, and trade media, creating proactive storytelling opportunities that keep Shake Shack part of the conversation.
  • Partner closely with Brand Marketing, Culinary, Digital, Tech, Social, Operations, Development and agency partners to develop integrated communications plans that support national campaigns, partnerships and market-level priorities.
  • Oversee press materials, messaging, media outreach, seeding, events, and measurement to ensure consumer communications are creative, strategic, on-brand, and built to drive impact.


Corporate Communications
  • Develop and execute corporate communications strategies that strengthen Shake Shack's reputation and clearly connect the company's purpose, performance, people, and growth story for key audiences.
  • Lead corporate storytelling across earned, owned, and executive channels, including company announcements, leadership visibility, milestones, thought leadership, and business priority communications.
  • Serve as a trusted communications partner to senior leaders, helping craft clear, confident messaging for internal and external moments.
  • Support issues management and reputation response by developing messaging, scenario plans, media guidance, and stakeholder communications that protect trust in the brand.


Leadership & Team Development
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of communications professionals, creating a culture of collaboration, curiosity, accountability, and growth while helping each team member do the best work of their career.
  • Set clear goals, priorities, and success measures for the communications team, providing ongoing coaching and feedback that helps the team focus on the highest-impact work and continue building new skills.
  • Act as a connector across the business, bringing together Brand Marketing, Culinary, Digital, Social, Operations, Development, Legal, Finance, People Resources, and senior leaders to deliver communications that are integrated and timely.
  • Lead and inspire agency partners, freelancers, and external collaborators, ensuring teams are aligned on strategy, expectations, timelines, and Shake Shack's creative and communications standards.


Budget & Financial Management
  • Partner with the Chief Communications Officer and Finance team to manage communications budgets, agency scopes, and resource planning in a way that supports business priorities and maximizes impact.


Related Experience
  • Track record of developing and executing integrated brand and corporate communications strategies that align with business priorities, build brand love, strengthen reputation, and drive earned media impact, preferably in the restaurant or hospitality space.
  • Experience in leading, managing, and developing a team, with the ability to inspire and drive results.


Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use media insights, sentiment, message pull-through, reputation signals, and campaign performance data to inform strategy and measure communications impact.
  • Deep understanding of brand storytelling and reputation management, with the ability to protect and evolve Shake Shack's voice across consumer, corporate, executive, and issues-related communications.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to senior leadership and external partners.


Education or Certificate Details
  • Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Business, or a related field


Supervisory Experience:

7-9 years

Work Experience:

10+ years

Benefits at Shake Shack:

A work environment where you can come as you are, share your ideas, have fun, and work collaboratively:
  • Weekly Pay and Performance bonuses
  • Shake Shack Meal Discounts
  • Exclusive corporate discounts for travel, electronics, wellness, leisure activities and more
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
  • Employer Paid Life and Disability Insurance*
  • 401k Plan with Company Match*
  • Paid Time Off*
  • Paid Parental Leave*
  • Access to Employee Assistance Program on Day 1
  • Pre-Tax Commuter and Parking Benefits
  • Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts*
  • Development and Growth Opportunities


*Eligibility criteria applies

Pay Range - $170,487.50 - $228,362.50

Click the "Apply" button above to apply for this opening.

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