Job Summary

The Sr Director of External Communications will be responsible for external communications activities including enterprise-wide public relations, brand public relations, media relations and issues management. The Sr Director will partner cross-functionally to provide strategic communications counsel while building a strong external communications program, driving innovation through breakthrough earned media strategies. This role serves as a key adviser on external communications messaging and earned media strategies to leaders and teams across the company.

Key Responsibilities:

• With the VP of Corporate Communications, sets the organization's external communications and public relations strategy to advance business goals and enhance the organization's reputation with the public, the media, associates and other external audiences
• Serves as a media spokesperson for the company; manages a team of media spokespeople and external communication strategists on a wide range of company topics
• Oversees the development and execution of external communication strategies and plans that protect and enhance the organization's reputation and deliver measurable impacts that are effective, economical, and appropriate for their intended audience; manages crossfunctional, enterprise-wide projects with high visibility, collaborating with key partners to develop integrated, multi-channel external communications strategies
• Develops creative breakthrough earned media strategies and differentiating brand public relations collaborations that support company campaigns and initiatives; and serve as a catalyst for innovation
• Serves as a strategic business partner to leaders across specific business units, working to understand business unit goals and objectives and developing external communication strategies, key messaging and earned media plans that promote corporate and brand initiatives; advises and counsels leaders on media opportunities
• Guides best in class measurement approach to gauge effectiveness of earned media efforts and inform ongoing programming, budgets and resource allocations
• Oversees external communications speaking policy; develops and implements media training for Lowe's executives as needed and coaches individuals across the enterprise participating in external engagements
• Executes sound judgment consistently; determines the best approach with complex decisionmaking to respond to critical or second escalated inquiries from the public or media to ensure all communications are accurate and appropriate and for effective brand protection and promotion
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with critical stakeholders internally and externally, identifying and fostering the right media and influencer relationships
• Demonstrates advanced experience leveraging new tools, technologies, platforms, methodologies and strategies to advance earned media and influencer relations
• Manage budget and actively support, coach, develop and mentor talent within the function and across the organization as well as overseeing agency partners

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in Communications, Journalism, Business or related field
• More than 12 years Experience in external communications, including media relations and in developing, implementing and measuring effective external communication plans and programs
• 10 years experience in complex risk and issues management related to external communications
• 10 years Strong leadership, influencing and highly cross functional collaboration skills
• 10 years eading multiple direct reports and crossfunctional teams
• 7 years experience in developing and implementing effective communication strategies
• Strong editorial judgment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Communications, Journalism, Business or related field
• Retail and public relations agency experience

About Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 17 million customer transactions a week in the U.S. With total fiscal year 2022 sales of over $97 billion, approximately $92 billion of sales were generated in the U.S., where Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts. For more information, visit Lowes.com.