Director of Public Affairs Communications Job at Lumen, Washington DC

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  • Lumen
  • Washington DC

Job Description

Job Description

About Lumen

Lumen connects the world. We are igniting business growth by connecting people, data and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Together, we are building a culture and company from the people up – committed to teamwork, trust and transparency. People power progress.

 

We’re looking for top-tier talent and offer the flexibility you need to thrive and deliver lasting impact. Join us as we digitally connect the world and shape the future.

The Role \n

The Director of Public Affairs Communications will lead strategic communications to support Lumen's public policy, legislative and regulatory priorities at the federal, state and local levels. As part of an integrated External Affairs function, this highly-visible role partners closely with the Company’s public policy and government affairs team, legal, and business unit leaders to develop compelling narratives and programs—including positioning, messaging, PR and thought leadership—influence external stakeholders, and position Lumen as a trusted, strategic national asset, delivering secure and future-ready network infrastructure to advance the country’s growth, innovation, security priorities.

The Public Affairs Communications unit is future-facing—focused on proactive positioning, strategic advocacy, and elevating Lumen’s policy voice through sustained, integrated campaigns.

The Director will oversee a dedicated Public Affairs Manager and work with external consulting partners, serving as a senior counselor to executives on public positioning related to legislation, regulation, public-sector infrastructure deployment, and national priorities.

The Main Responsibilities \n

  • Strategic Communications Leadership
    • Develop and execute integrated public affairs communications strategies that align with Lumen’s corporate objectives, ensuring consistent messaging across all external-facing platforms and stakeholder engagements.
  • Executive Counsel & Policy Alignment
    • Serve as a trusted advisor to government affairs leadership, providing strategic communications counsel on public policy, regulatory developments, and reputational risk. Translate complex policy issues into actionable communication strategies that support business goals.
  • Stakeholder & Government Relations
    • Cultivate and manage communications relationships with key stakeholders including government officials, regulatory bodies, industry associations, and community leaders. Work with internal subject matter experts to support advocacy for Lumen’s interests through proactive engagement and coalition building.
  • Media & Issues Management
    • Lead media relations efforts, including proactive story pitching, rapid response to inquiries, and crisis communication related to the public policy and regulatory environment. Monitor public sentiment and media coverage to inform decision-making and mitigate reputational risk.
  • Narrative Development & Content Strategy
    • Oversee the creation of high-impact communication materials—press releases, op-eds, speeches, Q&A briefs, and social media content—that articulate Lumen’s position on key policy issues and elevate its public profile.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
    • Partner with Legal, Regulatory, Investor Relations, Marketing, and HR to ensure message discipline and alignment across all channels. Facilitate internal coordination to support unified external communications.
  • Legislative & Regulatory Intelligence
    • Partner with public policy and government affairs to track and analyze legislative and regulatory developments at the federal, state, and local levels. Provide timely insights and strategic communications recommendations to internal stakeholders.
  • Crisis Preparedness & Response
    • Lead the development and execution of crisis communication plans. Act as a spokesperson during high-stakes situations, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and alignment with legal and regulatory standards.
  • Public Opinion & Reputation Monitoring
    • Leverage media analytics and stakeholder feedback to assess the effectiveness of public affairs initiatives. Continuously refine strategies to enhance Lumen’s reputation and influence.
  • Practices & Processes 
    • Build best-in-class public affairs communications practices and processes that will drive efficiencies in how Lumen’ communications team operates.
  • Team Leadership & Development
    • Mentor and lead a high-performing team of public affairs professionals. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What We Look For in a Candidate \n

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Political Science, Law, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
  • At least 15 years of relevant work experience in public affairs, government relations, or policy advocacy, with a demonstrated ability to influence complex regulatory and legislative outcomes.
  • Executive presence and consistent track record of influencing and leading cross-functional teams, ideally in a ground-breaking telecom / technology space.
  • Proven track record of advising executive leadership and shaping public narratives in high-stakes, multi-stakeholder environments.
  • Prior work on Capitol Hill, Executive Branch and/or experience in working with relevant reporters, influencers and policymakers. 
  • Strong media instincts with expertise in both traditional and emerging media channels to manage a fast-paced news cycle, including rapid response and crisis communications.
  • Innovative thinking, not afraid to take risks and advance Lumen’s public policy positions, ensuring the company’s freedom to operate and innovate.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and adapt in a fast-paced, dynamic environment—ideally within a company undergoing significant transformation, modernization, or organizational change.
  • Communication Skills: Exceptional communication capabilities, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate nuanced issues, strategies, and briefs clearly.
  • Inherent curiosity, looking for an exciting opportunity on a fun, collaborative team.

Compensation \n

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$149,084 - $198,779 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY
$156,539 - $208,718 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
$163,993 - $218,657 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. We're able to answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process. Learn more about Lumen's:BenefitsBonus Structure

 

 

#LI-Remote

What to Expect Next \n

Requisition #: 339362

Background Screening

If you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page. Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.


Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

 

Equal Employment Opportunities

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.

 

Disclaimer

The job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.

 

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

 

Please be advised that Lumen does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Lumen, they are not for employment with us, but may relate to another company with a similar name.

Application Deadline
08/19/2025

Job Tags

Temporary work, Work experience placement, Local area, Remote work,

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