Corporate Communications Director

At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle®, Paze℠, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses. Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment. Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship. Overall Purpose As a member of the Communications team, the Director of Corporate Communications will support the development and implementation of corporate Communications initiatives to enhance and protect the reputation of Early Warning Services. Reporting to the Senior Director of Corporate Communications, this position is responsible for helping to shape the company’s external narrative and position Early Warning Services and its umbrella of brands as the most trusted name in payments. Essential Functions Collaborate with senior leadership and key corporate functions (Human Resources, Tech, Marketing, Operations, Government Relations) to inform the development of PR initiatives and align messaging with company priorities. Support issues management efforts by developing and executing strategies to protect and advance the company’s reputation. Respond to media inquiries and serve as an effective company spokesperson. Help prepare leaders for communications events, including media interviews and conference opportunities. Collaborate with product PR team to ensure alignment on messaging and positioning of products and services. Help shape company narrative and implement transformation agenda. Develop and execute PR plans that position the company as a great place to work and good corporate citizen. Cultivate and manage relationships with the media to generate positive coverage. Produce high-quality and engaging content that resonates with target audiences. Measure and report ROI. Support the company’s commitment to risk management and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data. Minimum Qualifications Education or experience is typically obtained through the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in public relations, corporate communications, or a related field Proven track record in corporate communications, including strategic and integrated planning, media relations, and issues/crisis management Experience as a company spokesperson with strong media training and coaching skills Superb written and verbal communication skills, with expertise in creating messaging, talking points, speeches, and presentations, and proficiency in AP style. Familiarity with the latest digital trends in social media strategy, tools, and analytics - including generative AI tools. Prior experience working within the Corporate Communications function of an enterprise organization. Ability to build trust and interact with executives and teams with confidence and credibility, proactively driving communications outcomes and providing insightful counsel Ability to work through ambiguity and define a path forward through strategic planning and partnerships to drive high-quality outcomes Thrives under pressure and can handle multiple projects in a demanding, deadline-oriented environment. Experience creating issues and crisis preparedness programs (e.g., protocol, scenario plans, simulations drills, workshops and media trainings). Ability to see around corners and adapt plans to capitalize on opportunities and/or minimize risk Working knowledge of monitoring, measurement and reporting tools (Meltwater, etc.) Background and drug screen. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in public relations or communications. Experience working for a high-growth tech organization, preferably in the payments industry. Financial services or payments industry experience. Crisis and issues management experience. Existing relationships with consumer and business press. The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow instructions and perform other related duties as assigned by their supervisor. Physical Requirements Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers. Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation. The base pay scale for this position in: New York, NY in USD per year is: $180,000 - $200,000. This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate’s education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers). The business actively supports and reviews wage equity to ensure that pay decisions are not based on gender, race, national origin, or any other protected classes. Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary bonus, and benefits. Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness Healthcare Coverage – Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses. 401(k) Retirement Plan – Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility. Paid Time Off – Unlimited Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day. 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave Maven Family Planning – provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work. And SO much more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure to check our Benefits page here for the latest. Our team can share more during the interview process! Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees. CURRENT EMPLOYEES: Internal applicants will need to apply for open positions through their Workday account. Click on the "Careers" worklet and complete the internal application. For questions, please contact the recruiter listed on the open position. Early Warning Services® delivers innovative payment and risk solutions to financial institutions nationwide. For over 25 years, Early Warning has been a leader in technology that helps protect and advance the financial system. We serve a diverse network of approximately 2,500 financial institutions, government entities and payment companies. Our product solutions enable real-time funds availability for a variety of payment types through our payments network. Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees. Early Warning Services® aims to make our recruitment process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or a special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, please email recruiting@earlywarningservices.com for an assistance request. View supplemental EEO is the law poster Early Warning has developed and maintains a written AAP and upholds pay transparency nondiscrimination. Privacy Notice Effective: May 29, 2024 This privacy notice is intended to inform California residents of the personal information we collect, how it’s used and disclosed, and the rights you have in regard to such information. Click below for the full privacy notice https://www.earlywarning.com/privacy-notice-employment-applicants