Director, Communications

CFSI is seeking a Director, Communications to join our growing Marketing and Communications team. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, the Director of Communications will be primarily responsible for leading the development and execution of strategic, integrated communications programs in support of CFSI’s mission to promote consumer financial health.

LOCATION

Flexible: This position can be based in Chicago, New York, or D.C.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Defines and executes on CFSI’s annual communications goals including, but not limited to, the consistent placement of CFSI-driven messaging across identified media distribution platforms, the proactive attribution of CFSI in critical stories on U.S. consumer financial health, and a growth in awareness of CFSI as a leader and influencer on topics related to our mission and vision. 
• Manages all media outreach on behalf of CFSI, cultivating and managing relationships with key reporters and influencers, securing placements, identifying opportunities for strategic content contribution (op-eds, bylines, etc), and tracking activity. 
• Serves as CFSI’s Marcom liaison with critical Financial Solutions Lab partner JPMorgan Chase, providing PR direction and insight to drive the CFSI/JPMC relationship forward and broaden the potential of FinLab. 
• Manages the strategy and execution of communications plans that support and promote CFSI’s work with Network members, strategic partners, and funders. 
• Positions and trains CFSI senior executives and subject matter experts for critical speaking engagements, interviews, and commentary in relation to topics relevant to organizational goals. 
• Drives the communications and media strategy for key CFSI events, including the annual EMERGE conference. 
• Participates, as a key member, in the Marcom Management Team with responsibilities relating to organizational planning, prioritization, and positioning. 
• Influences, as a primary relationship manager, internal stakeholders by identifying key communications opportunities and promoting consistent talking points across the organization. 
• Manages relevant communications budgets, ensuring proper planning and reporting against regular forecasts. 
• Provides critical input into the organizational Editorial Calendar, ensuring that communications initiatives are communicated to stakeholders and reflected in integrated marketing campaigns. 
• Advises and edits content and commentary in support of key media placement opportunities. 
• Manages communications agency and/or contract resources aligned to CFSI objectives, ensuring proper resourcing, conducting regular check-ins, and extracting engagement data.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of strategic communications experience, including media outreach, and media figure relationship management. 
• Exemplary written and oral communications skills with editorial experience 
• Ability to develop and communicate annual strategic communication plans, aligned to organizational objectives, and supported by key engagement goals. 
• Must be highly organized, deadline-oriented and show strong attention to detail 
• Must be experienced in crafting strategic talking points, responding to media inquiries, fielding and managing crisis communications, and training spokespeople for targeted engagements. 
• Previous experience in the financial services field required; experience with fintech strongly preferred. 
• Must have experience engaging with C-level executives, with a demonstrated ability to influence media outcomes with a high level of polish and professionalism. 
• People management skills strongly desired; ability to develop and nurture a team to achieve optimum output and progression within individual members.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree or comparable experience.