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.

This role will sit either in Washington, D.C. (remote), or our New York City office.

Overall Purpose

The Senior Public Affairs and Crisis Communications Director serves as an integral leader of the Communications team, driving the development of Early Warning's communication strategy and approach in the public affairs arena. This position will develop a world-class communications plan for these important audiences and will drive communications activities that promote, enhance, and protect the organization's reputation. The role is responsible for both strategy and tactical execution of the public affairs program. Reporting to the vice president of Communications, this role will act as one of Early Warning's lead spokespeople.

Essential Functions - Manage Early Warning's public affairs and crisis communications. The successful candidate will:

• Understand the external communications environment, where it currently stands and how it's evolving. Advise the business about the external environment.
• Manage issues and crisis impacting the company, anticipate and prepare for issues with a focus on media relations and stakeholder communications.
• Mitigate issues from becoming crisis situations for the benefit of the organization, whenever possible. Possesses keen ability to see "around corners".
• Align and collaborate with key stakeholders across Early Warning and the broader financial services ecosystem. Collaborates with marketing, product, and sales teams to ensure consistency to drive extensive media coverage in broadcast, print and online outlets.
• Provide thoughtful and substantive guidance to key spokespeople, ahead of external engagements. Media train spokespeople.
• Provide a guiding media strategy to maintain focus on external communication - -whether it's to stay the course or pivot, as appropriate. Establish notification and response process for rapidly evolving issues, including emerging news stories and real-time events.
• Craft clear, compelling messages around nuanced issues to reach key audiences including policymakers and policy influencers.
• Develop and promote content across key external channels - media, online, social, podcast, conferences; develop new campaigns, strategic content and thought leadership pieces. Set the calendar, in coordination with key stakeholders.
• Direct and work with various internal teams to develop and implement plans against key business initiatives, product innovation and campaigns. Create briefing documents, statements, and playbooks.
• Oversee and manage public relations agencies to ensure agencies are true strategic partners. Plans are executed in accordance with strategy and on budget.
• Recommend process improvement.
• Measure campaign ROI.
• Support the company's commitment to risk management and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education or experience typically obtained through the completion of a bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of 12 years of professional experience in public relations, corporate communications, crisis communications, journalism public policy or a related field.
• Experience with policy-focused campaigns, reputation management, and crisis management.
• Prior experience working for a company with a strong, household brand and a distinct culture.
• Proven leadership skills in consensus-building among diverse stakeholders. Produce desired results under pressure, and without supervision.
• Proven track record in corporate communications and culture management in a technology-driven organization.
• Ability to translate strategic thinking into actionable and measurable plans.
• Possess highly effective interpersonal skills with the ability to develop effective relationships and trust throughout all levels of the organization. Possess a high level of personal and professional integrity, sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Develop goals, KPIs and report on campaigns.
• Pass the background and drug screen.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education and experience typically obtained through completion of a master's degree in communications, journalism or public policy.
• Experience working for a high-growth organization is a plus.
• Experience representing organizations in national media interviews, policy meetings, webinars, conferences and podcasts and executing high-profile corporate events.
• Experience training senior executives for national media interviews, policy meetings, webinars, conferences and podcasts.
• Experience crafting compelling corporate narratives.
• Track record of success, activating stakeholders and influencing narratives.
• Excellent writing and communication skills. Knowledge of AP style.
• Be intellectually curious about the financial services industry, the payments landscape, and the external communications function.

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 pay scale for this position in:

Washington DC/NYC in USD per year is: $230,000 - $260,000.

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.

AndSOmuch more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure tofor the latest. Ourteamcan 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.