Director Of External Communications Jobs in Decatur, GA

Company Overview:

Come grow with us!We areOneRayonier, a team that works together to create value by prioritizing safety, challenging the status quo, giving back to our communities, and driving innovation through continuous learning.With nearly 100 years of experience, we're still discovering new ways to make lives better with our trees, our land, and - our most important resource - ourpeople.

At Rayonier, we strive to create an employee experience where you feel valued and proud to be part of our team. We foster a respectful, inclusive and collaborative environment that celebrates your unique talents and perspectives.Experience the Rayonier difference: We're big enough to offer exciting career paths, but small enough for you to know your colleagues by name.Come join a team that empowers you to make a difference!

Are you a strategic storyteller with a passion for driving impactful corporate narratives? We are seeking a dynamic Director of Communications to lead the development and execution of our enterprise-wide communications strategy.In this leadership role, you will champion our core business objectives, strengthen corporate reputation, and advance stakeholder trust. Overseeing internal and external communications, media relations, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement, you will ensure our messaging aligns tightly with our business priorities, corporate values, and strategic vision. As a direct report to the Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, you will set the communication agenda, amplify our narrative as a leading land resources REIT, and build an inspired connection across our entire organizational footprint.

How You Will Contribute

We are seeking a communications professional ready to lead our corporate narrative, manage our brand, and leverage their creativity to drive enterprise value. In this role, you will operate across five critical pillars:

Strategic Storyteller: Look across our vast land assets, sustainability achievements, and corporate milestones to craft compelling, high-impact narratives.

Executive Advisor: Function as a trusted counselor who brings confidence and acumen to advise senior leadership on messaging, reputation management, and public sentiment.

Media & Brand Advisor: Navigate the media landscape with ease, managing press inquiries and cultivating trusted relationships with journalists, industry associations, and partners.

Internal Communication Leader: Build internal channels and content that engage, inform, and inspire our diverse, geographically distributed workforce.

Creative Producer: Direct high-level creative assets seamlessly, from website re-designs and newsletter overhauls to on-site photo shoots and video productions.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic & External Communications

• Develop and implement comprehensive corporate communication strategies aligned with overarching business goals and sustainability priorities.

• Provide critical guidance to executive leadership on messaging, crisis issues management, and reputation strategy.

• Position the company as a leading land resources REIT by highlighting corporate responsibility and climate initiatives to educate key stakeholders.

• Partner cross-functionally across the organization to develop communications strategies that support a wide range of business and departmental objectives.

External Communications & Media Relations

• Lead media relations, handle press inquiries, and oversee proactive reputation management.

• Supervise the creation of high-quality press releases, official comments, corporate fact sheets, and external communications.

• Cultivate strategic relationships with journalists and industry associations while monitoring media coverage to respond decisively to emerging public issues.

Internal Communications

• Design and lead an internal communications strategy tailored to engage, inform, and inspire a diverse, geographically distributed workforce.

• Support leadership communications by managing town halls and crafting executive messaging.

• Establish and refine channels, tools, and content that foster ongoing education, two-way communication, and meaningful employee feedback to cultivate a transparent and connected culture.

Brand & Digital Communications

• Maintain and evolve the corporate brand identity and foundational messaging architecture.

• Oversee the company's entire digital presence, managing the corporate website, social media channels, and internal digital communication platforms.

• Drive compelling corporate storytelling initiatives through these channels to highlight the company's mission, values, achievements, and real-world impact.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Lead and mentor a communications team as a people manager, ensuring they are viewed as a highly capable and trusted resource across all business units and functions.

• Manage the department's operational budget and direct vendor and external agency relationships.

• Foster a high-performing, collaborative environment.

What You Bring to the Team

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, business, or related field

Experience: Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive communications or related business and marketing experience, with at least five (5) years in a leadership role with a strong preference for experience in natural resources, forestry, or related industries.

Digital, Media & Communications Production Skills: Experience building and managing communication strategies across diverse, distributed workforces, paired with hands-on experience overseeing website and newsletter designs, professional photo shoots, video production, and media and public relations.

Professional Competencies: Exceptional writing, editing, and corporate storytelling abilities, paired with strong public speaking and interpersonal skills. You bring strong strategic thinking and executive advisory skills. Demonstrated a strong comfort level managing multiple projects and navigating deadlines.

Are you ready to lead our narrative and take ownership of an incredible corporate legacy and master the art of modern brand storytelling? Apply today to drive strategic growth and experience the Rayonier difference!

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

This role is primarily office-based with extended periods of computer use. Domestic travel (estimated 15-20%) may be required to support executive engagement, stakeholder meetings, site visits, and external representation.

What We Offer

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, disability, identity theft protection, and paid parental and caregiver leave. We also offer a health savings account, a dependent care spending account, and an employee assistance plan. We provide wellness reimbursements, home office reimbursements, employee discount programs, annual health screenings, wellness incentives, wellness seminars, and financial counseling and planning tools.

• Our 401(k) retirement savings plan includes company matching contributions (60% match on the first 6% of base and bonus deferrals) as well as a 3% enhanced retirement contribution that does not require an employee contribution.

• We recognize the importance of work-life integration and offer flexible work schedules and hybrid work from home options (for most positions), along with a minimum of three weeks paid vacation, five paid personal days, 11 paid holidays and paid sick leave each year.

• We provide a comprehensive employee development program which provides career planning tools and resources, mentoring program, leadership development, training programs and an 80% tuition reimbursement.