Manager, Public Relations & Grassroots

Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952, Church's Texas Chicken® is a highly recognized brand name in the Quick Service Restaurant industry and is one of the largest quick service chicken concepts in the world. Church's Texas Chicken serves up a rich tradition of gracious Southern hospitality and freshly prepared, high quality, authentic home-style fare, to help people provide affordable, complete meals for their families. Church's menu includes its world famous Original and Spicy chicken, Tender Strips® and chicken sandwiches with classic sides and hand-made from scratch honey-butter biscuits. The Church's system consists of more than 1400 locations in 25+ countries and system-wide sales of $1.8 billion. Throughout the world the company operates two brands: Church's Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken.Job DescriptionJob Title: Manager, Public Relations & GrassrootsReports To: Director, Social & Community ManagementLocation: Atlanta, GAJob Summary:The Manager of PR & Grassroots will lead strategic public relations efforts and community engagement initiatives for Church’s Texas Chicken, driving brand awareness, enhancing corporate reputation, and fostering meaningful connections with local communities. This role requires a passionate storyteller, a media-savvy professional, and a skilled grassroots marketer who can craft compelling narratives while executing impactful community programs.In collaboration with senior leadership and marketing, the Manager of PR & Grassroots will be responsible for designing and implementing PR and grassroots strategies, overseeing execution both internally and externally. This individual must be results-driven, with a deep understanding of evolving PR trends, social media, and other key brand communication platforms. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional communicator, capable of representing Church’s Texas Chicken to the public while ensuring brand consistency and positive positioning. Additionally, they will serve as the primary liaison for PR agency partners and lead grassroots initiatives that strengthen the brand’s presence in local communities.Key Duties/Responsibilities:Design a PR strategy and develop a plan that supports the brand’s primary efforts to reflect the Brand’s areas of growth.Develop PR engagement for regional execution and local franchise activationIdentify opportunities to create stories relevant to our public that align with our brand, engaging the press and expanding our reach to generate additional earned media exposure.Create an annual calendar to effectively engage with Marketing, internal teams, and franchisees as needed.Lead our PR agency in areas required to support our objectives and efforts, as well as our communications partner and other available resources pertinent to Grassroots efforts.Engage project partners in relevant and opportunistic grassroots initiatives, keeping our core customers and franchisees at the center.Participate in the design of the marketing plans for NROs (New Restaurant Openings) from a PR perspective.Develop relationships with key media organizations and influential individuals.Present reports on the effectiveness of PR campaigns and Grass Roots initiatives.Develop and execute successful strategies to position the company as well as the CEO and senior leaders in general and across the industries we serve.Lead the external communications plan to support leadership’s interaction with top-tier media as necessary, leading technology media, speaking events and other forums that target C-level audiences and potential customers.Speak on behalf of the company in interviews and press conferences if necessary.Develop and implement crisis communication plans in collaboration with internal stakeholders.Monitor brand reputation across media and social platforms, addressing potential risks proactively.Serve as a key point of contact for reputation management issues.Manage public relations budgets.Position Requirements (Education, Qualifications, Experience):Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or relevant field.5 + years of demonstrated successful experience in external communications in a corporate or agency environment, preferably in the restaurant, hospitality, or franchise industry.Portfolio of successful campaigns you have overseen.Experience in pitching C-level leaders to media, and the capability to train and prepare them for media interviewsExpert knowledge of social media, online marketing, and internet cultureStrong leadership and team management skillsCreative thinking with an affinity for innovation and problem-solvingExcellent communication skills, both written and verbalEstablished connections with media outlets and influential accountsIn-depth understanding of web and marketing analyticsAbility to conduct market research and present reportsAdvanced editing skills with a willingness to be hands-on with writing and editing to get the job done effectively.Demonstrated experience with social media and advanced understanding of how to best leverage it the corporate level to position the companyWillingness to travel for local market activations and events as neededPhysical Requirements:Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.Travel required 10-20%Why Join Church’s Texas Chicken?At Church’s Texas Chicken, we are passionate about serving bold flavors and making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. As the Manager of PR & Grassroots, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our brand story, strengthening community ties, and driving engagement at the local and national levels. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and love creating authentic connections, we’d love to have you on our team!