Senior Director of External Communications & Public Affairs

The Senior Director of External Communications & Public Affairs will drive Workiva’s multi-year global communications and public affairs strategy, positioning the company as the leading cloud platform for finance, sustainability, audit, and risk. This high-impact role oversees media relations, executive thought leadership, crisis communications, public affairs and brand awareness across key markets, including LATAM, APAC, and EMEA. Partnering closely with Marketing, Investor Relations, Product, and People Communications, this leader ensures messaging aligns with business objectives and growth goals.

Leading a high-performing team and agency partners, the Senior Director thrives in a fast-paced, always-on environment. They bring strong strategic execution, attention to detail, and a results-driven mindset, measuring success through media impact, share of voice, and contribution to pipeline growth.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and  Execute Global External Communications & Public Affairs Strategy – Lead the creation and execution of a global external communications and public affairs strategy to position Workiva as a leader in cloud-based financial, sustainability, and risk technology. Drive measurable brand impact through key events such as Climate Week and COP with UN Global Compact and World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, optimizing media mentions and audience engagement
   

• Craft Compelling Messaging and Narratives – Develop high-impact messaging and narratives, including press releases, media alerts, executive briefings, crisis communication plans, and thought leadership content that align with brand goals and audience needs
   

• Drive Cross-Functional Collaboration – Partner with product marketing, R&D, sales, operations, investor relations, and internal teams to design and execute PR campaigns that support brand initiatives, product launches, and major company announcements. Act as a key leader in brand development, assessment, and execution
   

• Lead Executive Thought Leadership – Position executives and subject matter experts as industry thought leaders through earned media opportunities. Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy, including media training, briefing materials, and talking points, to ensure consistent and impactful messaging
   

• Engage Media and Track Performance – Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, analysts, and influencers to enhance brand visibility. Regularly track and analyze key brand metrics to optimize strategies and measure success
   

• Lead Crisis Communications – Develop and implement proactive crisis communication strategies to protect and enhance Workiva’s reputation. Coordinate messaging across legal, product, customer experience, investor relations, and other key teams to ensure a unified response during high-stakes situations
   

• Build and Lead a High-Performing Team – Recruit, develop, and manage a high-impact external communications and public affairs team, including agency partners. Foster a fast-paced, high-performance, and people-first culture
   

• Execute Integrated Campaigns and Editorial Strategy – Partner with content, people communications, social media, sustainability, and investor relations teams to develop integrated campaigns that enhance brand awareness and support business objectives
   

• Provide Strategic Guidance – Advise senior marketing leadership, executives, and cross-functional teams on communications and public affairs strategies, helping navigate challenges and maximize opportunities

What You'll Need

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field

• 12+ years of experience in global corporate communications, public relations, public affairs, or closely related field

• Experience in business-to-business (B2B) tech or SaaS industry

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience in media relations (including tier-one connections), investor communications and crisis communications for a public B2B technology or SaaS company

• Experience working in a decentralized communication function 

• Experience leading high profile public affairs and regulatory partnerships such as World Economic Forum and United Nations

• Knowledge or experience working with the Workiva platform

• Strong communicator with the ability to convey complex ideas and data to diverse audiences in written, spoken, and presentation formats

• Effective communication skills across all organizational levels, spanning from buyers and end-users to executive management

Travel Requirements & Working Conditions

• Up to 30% travel to meet with media, public affairs partners, and thought leadership events

• Reliable internet access for any period working remotely, not in a Workiva office.

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How You’ll Be Rewarded

✅ Salary range in the US: $185,000.00 - $296,000.00

✅ A discretionary bonus typically paid annually

✅ Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire

✅ 401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package

The salary range represents the low and high end of the salary range for this job in the US. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience and other relevant factors.

Workiva is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.  We believe that great minds think differently.  We value diversity of backgrounds, beliefs, and interests, and we recognize diversity as an important source of intellectual thought, varied perspective, and innovation.  Employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic.  We strongly encourage and welcome people from historically marginalized groups to apply.

Workiva is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. To request assistance with the application process, please email [email protected].
 

Workiva employees are required to undergo comprehensive security and privacy training tailored to their roles, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.

Workiva supports employees in working where they work best - either from an office or remotely from any location within their country of employment.

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