Head of External Communications

Description:

SPS Commerce is a leading provider of cloud-based supply chain management solutions, serving a global network of retail trading partners. We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where innovation and continuous improvement are highly valued. Join SPS Commerce and be part of a dynamic team that's transforming the global retail supply chain!

Position Summary:

As the Head of External Communications on our Brand Marketing team, you will own the day-to-day operations of SPS Commerce's Public Relations and Analyst Relations programs. You'll also serve as the people manager for the Sr. Social Media Manager and Influencer Marketing Manager, ensuring social media and user generated content (UGC) strategies stay aligned with and reinforce SPS’ broader external communications priorities.

Reporting to the Head of Brand Marketing, you'll shape and protect SPS's reputation with media, industry analysts, and the broader retail supply chain community. This role calls for a skilled storyteller and relationship builder who can translate complex supply chain and technology topics into compelling narratives, manage a busy media and analyst cadence, and serve as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders and executives.

What You'll Do:

Own and execute SPS's day-to-day public relations program in partnership with our PR agency, including media strategy, proactive story pitching, reactive media response, and executive visibility initiatives

Co-manage ongoing relationships with industry analysts including Gartner, Forrester, and IDC — scheduling and attending briefings, managing briefing documents, recording outcomes, and coordinating analyst inputs into research reports, rankings, and market landscape placements

Serve as a primary point of contact for reporters and trade press, managing inbound media inquiries, coordinating interviews, and reviewing press release drafts, briefing documents, and talking points

Partner with Marketing, Investor Relations, Internal Communications, Product, Legal, and executive stakeholders to ensure PR and AR activity is coordinated, accurate, and reflects a consistent company narrative across all external touchpoints

Manage relationships with external PR agency and vendors, guiding day-to-day execution, monitoring deliverables against budget, and ensuring output aligns with brand voice and messaging guidelines

Track and report on PR and AR performance metrics including media coverage, share of voice, sentiment, and analyst positioning, using data-driven insights to continuously refine program strategy

Lead, coach, and develop the Sr. Social Media Manager and Influencer Marketing Manager through regular feedback, career development support, and clear priorities that keep social media and UGC execution aligned with broader external communications goals

Support the development of holding statements, FAQs, and response plans for sensitive or time-critical issues, coordinating with Legal and leadership as needed

Where You'll Work:

This role is hybrid out of our headquarters in Minneapolis, MN or open to fully remote candidates. We Succeed Together through in-person collaboration, balanced with remote work to provide flexibility.

What You'll Bring:5-7 years of experience in public relations, analyst relations, or corporate communications, ideally within a B2B technology, SaaS, or supply chain environment

Demonstrated experience building and managing relationships with industry analysts including Gartner, Forrester, and IDC, and coordinating briefings, inquiries, and report submissions

Established media relationships and a track record of securing earned media coverage in trade, business, or technology press

Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the…