Sr. Director, Corporate Communications (External)

Description

The Sr. Director, Corporate Communications (External), will lead First Tech's external communications strategy. This role oversees public relations, member communications, and reputation management efforts to strengthen First Tech's brand visibility, credibility, and trust with external audiences.

Serving as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, this individual helps shape the organization's external narrative and strengthens relationships with members, media, community stakeholders, and industry influencers. The role plays a critical part in protecting and enhancing First Tech's reputation during periods of growth, transformation, and change. Working in close partnership with the Senior Director of Corporate Communications (Internal), this leader ensures alignment between internal and external messaging while advancing enterprise priorities and business objectives.

Here's what you can expect from the job and what you need to be successful:

What You'll Do:

Communications Strategy & Executive Counsel

• Develop and lead an enterprise-wide external communications strategy and narrative, ensuring alignment with brand, business priorities, member needs, and organizational values.
• Develop executive visibility and executive communications strategies that position First Tech leaders as trusted voices in financial services, technology, innovation, member experience, workplace culture, and community impact.
• Oversee the crisis and issuesmanagement communications framework, ensuring readiness, coordinated rapid response, and clear escalation pathways to protect trust and minimize risk.

Member Communications

• Lead member communications strategies supporting significant organizational changes, strategic initiatives, and business transformations. Ensure communications support transparency, trust, understanding, and positive member experiences.
• Own development of First Tech's Annual Report and communications strategy and execution for the Annual Membership Meeting.

Public Relations, Reputation & Executive Visibility

• Lead public relations and media relations, including proactive storytelling, relationshipbuilding with key journalists, media briefings, interview preparation, and ongoing press management.
• Own messaging, content creation, and editorial governance for press releases, statements, talking points, FAQs, opeds, and executive bylines, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and brand consistency.
• Lead integrated communications campaigns and public-facing event communications supporting product announcements, partnerships, community engagement, advocacy, and enterprise initiatives.
• Manage agency, vendor, and mediamonitoring partnerships, ensuring quality execution, cost efficiency, and alignment with enterprise standards.

Team Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead, coach, and develop a highperforming external communications team, fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and strategic capability.
• Establish KPIs and measurement frameworks, including share of voice, message pullthrough, sentiment, reach, and impact, using insights to guide continuous improvement.

Essential Skills:

• 8+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, and/or related fields
• 6+ years' experience leading a diverse team including hiring, coaching, and performance management
• Expert writing, editing, and storytelling; ability to translate complex topics for broad audiences
• Experience managing collaboration platforms and content operations
• Strong stakeholder management and executive partnering skills
• Program and project management discipline; budgeting and vendor oversight
• Required Education: Bachelor's degree in field relevant to role (or 4 additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree), advanced degree preferred.

Location: Hillsboro Corporate Office | Hillsboro OR 97124ORMarlborough Corporate Office | Marlborough, MA

Target Compensation: $146,500.00 to $176,000.00 annually + annual bonus

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