The Director of Communications is a senior organizational leader responsible for the clarity, credibility, and strategic alignment of communications across Christensen Farms with a primary focus on internal communications effectiveness and leadership enablement.
This role owns company-wide messaging standards, communication channels, and publishing cadence, ensuring communications enable business execution, strengthen trust, and reduce risk in a complex, operationally intensive enterprise.
Reporting to the VP of Human Resources, this position plays a critical role in translating strategy, operational activity, and leadership decisions into clear, actionable communication for employees and contract partners first, with external audiences as a secondary priority. The Director of Communications serves as a member of the Leadership Council and provides proactive consultation on communication strategy, stakeholder sentiment, and issue readiness.
This is not a traditional external communications or marketing role. Success requires a leader who can drive internal communication strategy while also owning execution from concept through rollout.
Success in this role requires strategic judgment, strong organizational awareness, leadership maturity, and the ability to operate with urgency, accountability, and ownership across high-visibility initiatives.
Major Areas of Accountability
Enterprise Communications Strategy
Develop and lead a comprehensive enterprise communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities and values.
Establish and maintain company-wide messaging standards to ensure clarity, consistency, and credibility.
Own communications channels and publishing cadence across internal and external audiences.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the Leadership Council on communications, change readiness, and organizational alignment.
Develop proactive annual communications plans and prioritize resources toward the most critical business initiatives.
Internal Communications & Organizational Alignment
Lead internal communications supporting day-to-day operations, strategic initiatives, and organizational change.
Translate leadership decisions, operational priorities, and business performance into clear, relevant, and actionable communications.
Enable effective execution by ensuring employees and contract partners understand expectations, priorities, and changes.
Ensure leaders are equipped to communicate effectively, providing guidance, coaching, and structure as needed.
Own end-to-end execution of key communication initiatives (e.g., town halls, major rollouts), not just content development.
Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, mentor, and develop a communications team of 2–3 professionals.
Establish clear expectations, accountability, and development pathways for team members including elevating the team beyond execution into more strategic partnership roles.
Provide direct coaching and performance management as needed, given the relative inexperience of the current team.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and professional growth.
Serve as a trusted leader who models sound judgment, credibility, and professionalism.
Stakeholder Sentiment, Listening & Insight
Own stakeholder sentiment across employees, contract partners, and other key internal and external audiences.
Establish listening mechanisms to assess understanding, engagement, and emerging concerns.
Use insight to influence leadership decisions and continuously refine communication strategy and execution.
Serve as an organizational “early warning system” for misalignment, confusion, or risk.
Change Communication & Organizational Transformation
Lead communication strategy for organizational change initiatives, ensuring clarity, alignment, and adoption.
Partner closely with business and PMO teams to support major initiatives (e.g., ERP implementation).
Bring practical, experience-based change leadership (not dependent on formal methodologies).
Potential to expand scope to include change management leadership over time.
Engagement, Events & Philanthropy
Maintain a visible presence in the organization and local community.
Lead planning and execution of company events, engagement activities, and community presence efforts.
Oversee philanthropic giving and community involvement to ensure alignment with organizational values and priorities.
Evaluate the impact and effectiveness of engagement and event activities; drive continuous improvement.
Crisis & Issues Management
Bring experience navigating high-stakes or ambiguous situations (e.g., operational disruptions, reputation challenges).
Own the company’s crisis communications strategy and crisis response plan, including preparation and readiness.
Monitor external events, issues, and trends that could create internal risk or require organizational response.
Lead communications during crises or sensitive situations, coordinating closely with leadership, HR, operations, and legal.
Serve as the final authority on communications strategy and execution during crisis situations.
Enterprise Partnership & Business Impact
Serve as an active, proactive member of the Leadership Council.
Support enterprise-wide initiatives through disciplined communication planning and execution.
Ensure communications directly enable execution, reduce risk, and strengthen organizational trust.
Contribute to long-term organizational effectiveness, engagement, and reputation.
External, Community & Industry Communications
Oversee external communications, including social media and community-facing messaging.
Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners and industry organizations.
Ensure the organization’s external voice is authentic, accurate, and aligned with internal realities.
Support recruitment and partnership efforts through credible and consistent communications.
Education, Training and Experience Requirements
Professional Background
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field required.
10+ years of progressive communications experience, with a strong emphasis on internal communications.
Demonstrated expertise in internal communications, change communications, and stakeholder engagement.
Proven experience leading crisis communications and issue management.
Experience in agriculture, manufacturing, operations-heavy, or asset-intensive environments preferred.
Strong judgment, discretion, and professionalism consistent with a closely held enterprise.
Leadership & Capability
Proven ability to lead and develop teams in lean, hands-on environments.
Strong business and operational acumen with the ability to connect communication to execution.
Demonstrated ownership mindset with a bias toward action and execution.
Comfort partnering with senior leaders and operating with autonomy and accountability.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across functions and levels.
High integrity, credibility, and sound judgment.
Ability to operate both strategically and tactically without relying on large support teams.
