Senior Director, Media Relations and Corporate Communications

Title: Senior Director, Media Relations and Corporate Communications

Classification: Exempt / Full-Time

Department: Marketing / Communications

Salary Range: $145,600.00 - $218,400.00

Reports To: Senior Vice President, Public Relations & Chief Communications Officer

About Brand USA

Brand USA is the nation’s destination marketing organization, dedicated to driving legitimate international inbound travel to strengthen the U.S. economy, boost exports, create quality jobs, and foster community prosperity. By running data-driven campaigns and unifying messaging across industry and government, Brand USA positions the United States as a premier global destination while providing up-to-date visa and entry information.

Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, over the past decade, Brand USA, in collaboration with travel industry partners, has been responsible for attracting an additional 8.7 million visitors who spent nearly $29 billion in the United States, generating $63 billion in economic output, and sustaining nearly 37,000 jobs per year. Without any cost to taxpayers, these efforts have generated $8.3 billion in tax receipts and returned $20 to the U.S. economy for every dollar spent.

JOB SUMMARY

Brand USA is seeking a strategic, high-performing Senior Director, Media Relations and Corporate Communications, to lead the organization's media relations and corporate communications functions. This role is responsible for crafting and executing a cohesive communications strategy that promotes Brand USA's mission, enhances its reputation, and supports its global initiatives. This individual will manage day-to-day media relations, executive communications, board communications and presentations, companywide newsletters, corporate social channels, and external media engagement. A strong writer with a proven track record is essential for this role. The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Public Relations & Chief Communications Officer, and works closely with executive leadership, legal, marketing, and public affairs teams, as well as the global international and domestic Public Relations and Communications team. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Media Relations

• Support the Senior Vice President, Public Relations & Chief Communications Officer, in driving strategic earned media coverage for Brand USA's programs, campaigns, initiatives, leadership, and milestones.
• Serve as a Brand USA media spokesperson.  
• Partner with U.S. and international PR and communications agency teams to cultivate journalist relationships, proactively pitch stories, and monitor reputational issues. Work in close collaboration day to day with the SVP and CCO; the Senior Director, International PR; and the Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to translate complex travel trade and marketing initiatives into compelling media narratives.
• Harness the latest research to tell stories that showcase the vital importance of the nation's travel and tourism industry and the work that Brand USA does to further its mission of driving international tourism to the USA.
• Secure tier-1 media placements and manage media tours to promote Brand USA's initiatives and leadership.
• Leverage established network of contacts in travel trade publications and business media to amplify Brand USA's messaging.

Corporate Communications

• Develop and oversee Brand USA's corporate communications strategy in alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
• Create corporate positioning and messaging frameworks that support Brand USA's mission and enhance organizational reputation.
• Write and coordinate press releases, briefing documents, executive speeches, talking points, outlines, executive-level presentations, and remarks for public engagements.
• Lead content development, writing, and distribution of monthly internal and external newsletters, particularly those for industry stakeholders, partners, the travel trade, and other relevant audiences.
• Serve as a primary steward of Brand USA's corporate LinkedIn and social media presence, ensuring message consistency and tone; craft messaging that will resonate in those channels.  
• Maintain public speaking engagements for Brand USA's CEO and other company executives.
• Develop and manage board presentations, speaking points, and materials in collaboration with Global Comms, Public Affairs, Finance, Legal, and Executive Leadership.
• Manage the master editorial calendar for corporate communications, ensuring alignment across departments.
• Lead stakeholder communications and relationship management initiatives to strengthen Brand USA's position within the tourism ecosystem.

Strategic Alignment & Cross-functional Leadership

• Build coalitions across departments (e.g., Marketing, Public Affairs, Research, Legal) to amplify Brand USA's message and ensure storytelling consistency.
• Work closely with the Marketing team on design, distribution, and analytics for communication materials.
• Ensure all executive and corporate communications reflect Brand USA's brand tone, positioning, and priorities.
• Translate complex policy and business initiatives into accessible communications for diverse stakeholder audiences.
• Key team player who can work within a small, but effective global communications team.

Management & Operational Oversight

• Oversee contractors assigned to corporate communications or content development.
• Contribute to the annual communications budget, managing vendor relationships, and supporting PR program forecasts.
• Support the company's crisis communications and issues management response, particularly in regulated and government-adjacent environments.
• Utilize analytics and measurement tools to evaluate communications program effectiveness and optimize strategies.
• Report to work on a regular basis and is available for occasional after-hours emergency calls and projects.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• May be asked to perform additional duties not listed in the job description as required by business needs.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• 8-12 years of progressive experience in media relations, corporate communications, including executive communications and crisis communications/reputation management.
• Deep understanding of the travel and tourism ecosystem, including DMOs, tour operators, hospitality partners, and government tourism initiatives, strongly preferred.
• Experience with destination marketing and international tourism promotion strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of travel industry trends, challenges, and stakeholder landscape strongly preferred.
• Exceptional writer with a proven track record and editing skills, particularly for executive-level speeches, presentations, newsletters, press releases, and social media.
• Demonstrated success in handling high-profile communications for senior executives and/or public sector leaders.
• Experience managing media and messaging in complex, high-stakes environments.
• An established network of contacts in travel trade publications and business media is required.
• Experience with corporate positioning and messaging frameworks, reputation management, and brand stewardship.
• Background in government relations or public-private partnership communications preferred.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate complex policy and business initiatives into accessible communications.
• Experience working with boards, C-suite executives, and government stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills. Strong teamwork ethic essential.
• Experience with international communications and cultural sensitivity.
• Analytics and measurement experience for communications programs.
• Crisis communications experience in regulated or government-adjacent environments.
• Adept at managing multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Ability to travel occasionally for meetings and events.
• A dedicated remote work area that is quiet enough for employees to concentrate is required. Must have homeowner's or renter's insurance and the ability to comply with company technology, safety, and health requirements.
• Ability to travel on occasion as required to attend meetings and/or events.
• Ability to frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Ability to lift up to twenty (20) pounds.
• Ability to perform the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• May require more than forty (40) hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.

Brand USA offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

Medical, Dental, and Vision: Three medical plan options (HMO, POS, PPO) through CareFirst, with varying coverage levels and out-of-pocket costs. Dental and vision plans are also offered.

Life and AD&D Insurance: Company-paid basic life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance (2x annual salary up to $200,000).

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability: Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.

401(k) Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions (100% of the first 3% of salary deferred, plus 50% of the next 2%, which means a total of 4% matching contribution when the participant defers 5%).

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Options for pre-tax deductions for healthcare and dependent care expenses.

Transit and Parking Account: Pre-tax deduction option for transit and parking expenses.

Wellness Program: Access to a wellness and disease management program through Sharecare.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access to resources for personal and work-related issues.

Voluntary Benefits: Options for additional life insurance, pet insurance, etc.

International Medical Coverage: Coverage for medical emergencies while traveling internationally on company business.

Schedule

Brand USA’s business hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our standard work hours may vary based on position requirements. Additional hours may be required during peak times, which may require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Brand USA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. ^[i]

Brand USA has an organizational commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion. In that spirit, we welcome all qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, economic circumstances, national origin, or veteran status.