Senior Manager-External Communications

Primary Purpose: 

• The Senior Manager-External Communications is responsible for developing and executing the company's external communications strategy, ensuring clear, consistent, and compelling messaging that advances business objectives, strengthens the company's reputation, and supports its long-term growth strategy. 

• This position serves as a strategic communications advisor to executive leadership and leads the company's external communications function, including media relations, project communications, crisis communications, executive messaging, brand management, creative strategy, advertising, and digital communications. 

• The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of the energy industry and an established network of relationships with media, industry organizations, trade associations, and other external stakeholders. The role requires exceptional strategic judgment, strong writing and storytelling skills, and the ability to translate complex business issues into effective communications that build trust and advance the company's objectives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Develop and execute the company's external communications strategy to strengthen Tallgrass' brand, enhance its reputation, and increase awareness among key stakeholders.
• Serve as the steward of the Tallgrass brand, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity across all external communications.
• Monitor communications performance and recommend strategies to improve engagement, visibility, and reputation.
• Lead the development of external communications materials, including news releases, talking points, fact sheets, presentations, executive messaging, and project communications.
• Support capital projects by developing communications plans and materials tailored to key stakeholder audiences.
• Partner with Government & Public Affairs and other key internal leaders across the enterprise to produce high-quality external communications materials.
• Oversee Tallgrass' digital presence, ensuring the website, social media channels, and other external platforms remain current, engaging, and aligned with business priorities.
• Manage day-to-day media relations, including responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, and supporting proactive media engagement.
• Plan and execute advertising campaigns across digital, print, television, radio, and out-of-home (OOH) channels, including creative development, media placement, and campaign evaluation.
• Manage external agencies, creative partners, media-buying firms, photographers, videographers, and other communications vendors.
• Oversee the company store, branded merchandise program, and promotional materials.
• Manage communications budgets, contracts, and vendor performance to ensure high-quality execution and efficient use of resources.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Communications, Public Relations, or a related discipline.

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• Minimum of 15 years of communications experience.

• Proven experience leading internal and external communications within a complex, regulated organization.

• Demonstrated success in reputation management, media relations, and crisis communications.

• Experience managing creative and communications consultants and vendors.

• Strong executive presence with exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated superior leadership outcomes in the areas of leading self, leading others, and leading an organization. 

• Proven ability to drive positive change and continuous improvement.

• Proven track record of successful, innovative leadership and delivery of performance results.

• Demonstrated success in managing large departmental budgets.

• Intermediate proficiency level in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to Excel, Word, Teams, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).

Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Strong analysis, decision making, and logic skills.
• Self-motivated with a high level of initiative.
• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
• Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.
• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience, and skill sets of the successful candidate. 

Physical Demands:

All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel.  The employee is required to talk and hear.  The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions:

• Travel ~50%

• Required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• No

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

Above the minimum requirements, not required but advantageous in this position:

• Advanced degree in Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.\

Other responsibilities:

• The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed. This position may perform other duties as assigned.