Vice President External Communications

About Lumen

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up – committed to teamwork, trust, and transparency. People power progress.

Lumen’s commitment to workplace inclusion and employee support shines bright. We’ve made the Newsweek 2024 Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list and achieved a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the fifth consecutive year. Plus, we’re the top employer in the communications and telecom industry, ranking 12th overall across all industries in The American Opportunity Index.

We’re looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The Role

The Vice President – External Communication role is a critical part of the Lumen Corporate Communications Team. This individual will create and execute our external communications strategy, including our media approach, for a company in the midst of a major transformation and enabling the AI economy. Our candidate is an amazing storyteller and media relations professional and will work with peers across the business to ensure Lumen’s messages are reaching key external stakeholders.

This candidate will have deep relationships with key financial media and is an expert at developing and maintaining lasting relationships with core media. This leader will set up a speakers bureau for the company and ensure our key spokespeople are media-trained and aligned with corporate messaging.

This leader will own our CEO’s media relations needs by proactively seeking opportunities that will benefit the company as well as assessing media interview requests. We are looking for a process-oriented leader who can help set up repeatable messaging processes and structures needed for a high-performing organization.

This leader will partner with our Issues Management team to anticipate issues that may cast the company in an unfavorable light and serve as a key contributor to strategy development for response and resolution.

This candidate will lead a highly valued strategic function that is a key role by executive management. This position leads the External Communications function, including Product Communications, Executive Communications, Financial & Issues Communications, and Social Media.

This role will report to the Vice President – Corporate Communications and will partner closely with the EVP & Chief Marketing Officer. This person will also have a direct working relationship with the CEO and senior-most leaders in the company.

The Main Responsibilities

• Lead Lumen’s external communications function.
• Develop and manage talent in support of a best-in-class Communications organization.
• Develop and implement an external communications strategy in support of the company’s business objectives, including media relations, executive communications, awards and rankings, and social media.
• Engage with cross-functional stakeholders to develop messaging, create key themes, and ensure consistent internal and external messaging.
• Direct proactive efforts to gain positive coverage of Lumen, its transformation, and progress towards growth.
• Develop and execute strategies for CEO and other senior executive media interviews, including executive briefing and preparation.
• Maintain strong “first call” relationships with financial and Tier 1 media.
• Serve as a senior-level spokesperson for the business.
• Unearth and shape compelling stories within the company.
• Ensure media training is available and provided to employees responsible for interacting with external media.
• Serve as a clearinghouse for corporate inquiries, enlisting appropriate subject matter experts as needed.
• Create deep partnerships with our Social Media and Issues Management team.
• Manage crises and issues as required.

What We Look For in a Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
• Excellent judgment, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Calm under pressure and solution-focused when unforeseen circumstances arise.
• Ability to work lengthy and unpredictable hours.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to develop strong, compelling stories about complex topics.
• Excels in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
• 5–10 years of supervisory experience.
• 10–15 years of experience in corporate communications positions for Fortune 500 companies.

Legal Statements

• In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
• Background Screening: If selected, a background screening will be conducted, which may include checks for criminal records, motor vehicle reports, or drug screenings. For more information, refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page.
• Equal Employment Opportunities: We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristics, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected statuses.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Ranges by Location:
  • $167,580–$223,440 in AR, ID, KY, LA, ME, MS, NE, SC, and SD.
  • $176,400–$235,200 in AZ, AL, FL, GA, IN, IA, KS, MO, MT, NM, ND, OH, OK, PA, TN, UT, VT, WV, WI, and WY.
  • $185,220–$246,960 in CO, HI, MI, MN, NV, NH, NC, OR, and RI.
  • $194,040–$258,720 in AK, CA, CT, DE, DC, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, TX, VA, and WA.
• Specific offers depend on experience, education, skills, certifications, and other business needs.
• Incentives: This position is eligible for short-term incentives or sales compensation. Director and VP positions are also eligible for long-term incentives.
• Benefits: Lumen offers a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle, and other benefits and perks to enhance physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Disclaimer

The responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed. This description is not exhaustive and is subject to change based on evolving business needs.

Learn more here