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 idea