Vice President of Corporate Communications

The

Vice President of Corporate Communications

will serve as a senior communications strategist responsible for corporate reputation, financial and governance related communications, media relations, external storytelling, brand reputation, issues and crisis management, executive visibility, and integrated communications planning for Inspire and its brands. This role will report to the Chief Communications Officer.

This person will be pivotal in shaping corporate, executive, and financial communications, helping to best position the company in the public eye, influencing Inspire's media coverage, and elevating Inspire's story for an ever-expanding audience. The VP will drive strategies that increase awareness, foster trust and loyalty, and promote the company, its brands, and leaders.

Success in this role requires close collaboration across the communications team and a strong one-team mindset, with the flexibility to move beyond defined verticals and day-to-day responsibilities in response to evolving business needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate Communications Leadership

Lead a dynamic team of communications professionals to support business and career development
Execute a comprehensive corporate communications strategy that elevates the reputation of Inspire and its brands
Provide strategic counsel to leadership on communications opportunities, risks, and messaging
Collaborate with Enterprise Communications team to support senior leadership communications initiatives
Collaborate with Enterprise Communications team to align enterprise level messaging, including corporate positioning, brand purpose, and stakeholder engagement
Ensure consistency and clarity of messaging across Inspire's portfolio of brands while supporting unique brand identities
Support external speaking opportunities for Inspire team members and executives
Identify and leverage tech-enabled solutions to optimize team performance and output
Media Relations & External Communications

Lead corporate media relations, including proactive storytelling and reactive issue response
Proactive media sentiment monitoring to influence Inspire messaging
Build and maintain relationships with key reporters, national business media, and trade outlets
Prepare leadership for media opportunities
Crisis & Issues Management

Lead brand reputation communication strategy, preparedness, and real-time-response plans and execution
Advise cross functional teams on risk mitigation and scenario planning
Leadership & Operational Excellence

Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary Corporate Communications team
Implement continuous improvement practices based on business needs and industry trends
Closely collaborate with teams across the organization
Champion a flexible, enterprise-first approach that supports evolving priorities across Inspire and its brands
Identify and leverage tools, technology, and best practices to improve team effectiveness and output
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

15+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, with significant experience in public company environments
4-year Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field required. Advanced degree preferred
Proven leadership in executive visibility, reputation management, and high-stakes media relations
Demonstrated success advising senior executives on strategic communications.
Experience in multiband, franchise, retail, foodservice, or consumer-facing industries preferred
Track record overseeing integrated communications strategies across corporate and brand teams preferred
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, OR ABILITIES

Exceptional storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex business topics into clear, compelling, and impactful narratives
Strategic thinker with global perspective and ability to anticipate reputational challenges and opportunities
Strong business acumen with the ability to align communications to organizational and commercial goals
Collaborative, influential leader skilled at navigating matrixed organizations
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment
Agility in a dynamic environment and proactively takes ownership to drive outcomes
A self-starter with proven ability to work well independently, as well as collaboratively in a team environment
Calm, decisive, and effective under pressure in fast-moving environments

This position is based in our Atlanta Support Center, with an expected on-site presence of 80%.

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We're made up of some of the world's most iconic restaurant brands, but we're much more than just a restaurant company. We're a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple-it's an experience. At Inspire, that's our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.