Director, Corporate Communications

Since 1940, Dairy Queen® has been one of the world’s best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

(Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

We have an exciting opportunity open for a Director of Corporate Communications based out of our corporate headquarters in Bloomington, MN.The Director of Corporate Communications leads ADQ’s enterprise-wide communications strategy, including public relations, employee communications, franchisee communications, fan relations, and crisis-management communications. This role develops and executes communication strategies that support business priorities, protect and enhance the Company’s reputation, ensure consistent messaging across audiences, and strengthen engagement with employees, franchisees, fans, media, and other stakeholders.

The Director serves as a strategic communications advisor to executive leadership, oversees communications team members and outside PR resources, and ensures effective messaging, processes, and responses are in place for key initiatives, sensitive issues, media inquiries, customer feedback, and other high-impact matters.

Key Accountabilities Include:

• Lead and oversee the company’s Public Relations function, serving as the primary point of contact for media outlets and other external parties making inquiries on behalf of the brand.
• Develop and execute a proactive public relations strategy that supports the company’s business objectives, protects and enhances brand reputation, and reinforces the company’s position as a leading QSR brand.
• Monitor external trends, media coverage, stakeholder sentiment, and emerging issues that may affect the company’s reputation, and recommend proactive communications strategies as appropriate.
• Shape and steward the company’s public persona, voice, and messaging across all external-facing communications, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment with ADQ’s Mission, Vision and Values.
• Manage relationships with outside public relations agencies, consultants, vendors, and other communications resources, ensuring high-quality execution, strategic alignment, and effective use of resources.
• Partner closely with executive leadership to develop company positions on key business, reputational, regulatory, social, and industry issues, including inquiries or campaigns from NGOs and other advocacy organizations and other sensitive or high-profile matters.

• Provides strategic oversight and direction to the Manager responsible for Employee Communications.
• Oversees the development, positioning, and execution of key internal communications for ADQ employees, ensuring messages are clear, timely, engaging, and aligned with the Company’s strategic priorities, brand, and Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Supports executive leadership as a communications advisor and strategist, providing counsel on high-impact internal messaging, strategic initiatives, leadership communications, and employee engagement.

• Provides strategic oversight and direction to the Manager responsible for Franchisee Communications.
• Oversees and contributes to the development of franchisee communication programs that strengthen the partnership between ADQ and its franchisees.
• Ensures franchisee…