Director, Corporate Communications

bankatfirst; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

bankatfirst seeks a Director of Communications & Public Relations to steer enterprise communications strategy, executive messaging, and brand governance across the organization. The role will partner with HR, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, and operations to ensure clear, compliant communications with impact.

The position requires leading cross-functional teams, governance for internal platforms, and oversight of associate engagement and external reputation management.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, branding, or related field.
• Financial services or public company experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, public relations or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an enterprise communications strategy aligned with the Bank's objectives, culture, and brand.
• Advise executive leadership and partner with HR, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Retail, Operations, IT, and other leaders.
• Lead executive communications strategy: messaging, speeches, scripts, video messages, and town halls.

Skills

Strategic communications

Executive messaging

Media relations

Crisis communications

Internal communications

Brand governance

Cross-functional collaboration

Multimedia content

AI-enabled communications

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications, public relations

Job description

We do the right things, right now. We do them in a way that is relevant to our clients. Become a part of our history as it continues to be written!

The Director of Communications & Public Relations leads the Bank's enterprise communications, public relations, executive messaging, and key associate engagement communication strategies.

This role serves as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and partners closely with Human Resources, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Retail, Operations, IT, Facilities, and business line leaders to ensure communications are clear, consistent, timely, compliant, and aligned with the Bank's brand, culture, and strategic priorities.

The position is responsible for setting strategy, standards, governance, messaging direction, and quality expectations. The role will matrix manage cross-functional teams and partners responsible for execution across communications, events, internal platforms, multimedia content, and associate engagement programs.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an enterprise communications strategy that supports the Bank's strategic objectives, reputation, culture, associate engagement, client experience, and brand awareness.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to executive leadership, Human Resources, Marketing, Retail, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and other business partners.
• Lead executive communications strategy, including messaging, presentations, talking points, speeches, scripts, video messages, leadership updates, town halls, and enterprise announcements.
• Oversee internal communications strategy, including communication planning, editorial standards, message consistency, governance, and associate engagement communications.
• Support communication strategy, content standards, publishing cadence, and governance for The Path, the Bank's internal communications platform.
• Support enterprise brand governance to ensure consistent application of the Bank's brand voice, visual identity, templates, signage, branch materials, client letters, recruiting materials, presentations, event materials, and other key touchpoints.
• Partner with Marketing to align communications and brand governance with campaigns, advertising, product marketing, digital content, social media, and growth initiatives.
• Lead public relations and reputation management strategy, including media relations, press releases, public statements, external announcements, media protocols, and executive media preparation.
• Support the Bank's crisis communications plan in partnership with executive leadership, Legal, Compliance, Risk, HR, Operations, IT, Retail, and Marketing.
• Provide communications strategy and brand oversight for major corporate events, leadership forums, client events, community events, internal meetings, and recognition programs.
• Lead messaging, branding, presentation strategy, scripts, executive remarks, and communication planning for Leader's Circle quarterly and annual events recognizing top performers.
• Partner with Human Resources and Marketing to strengthen the Bank's recruiting brand and employer value proposition through job posting language, career materials, social content, associate stories, hiring event messaging, and onboarding communications.
• Establish standards for client letters, institutional notices, branch communications, signage, presentations, and other recurring communications to ensure materials are clear, accurate, compliant, client-friendly, and brand-aligned.
• Advance the Bank's use of multimedia, digital, social media, and AI-enabled communication capabilities, including video, graphics, digital storytelling, presentations, content planning, workflow efficiency, and communication measurement.
• Establish expectations for responsible and compliant use of AI in communications, including accuracy, confidentiality, data protection, approval workflows, and brand voice.
• Lead through influence and matrix management across Communications, Marketing, HR, Legal, Compliance, Retail, Operations, IT, Facilities, executive leadership, business lines, agencies, vendors, and external partners.
• Clarify communication roles, responsibilities, approval paths, and governance processes to improve consistency, speed, quality, and accountability.
• Monitor communications, PR, brand, social media, AI, and financial services trends to ensure the Bank's approach remains current and effective.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed to Perform Essential Functions of the Job

• 7-10+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, marketing communications, internal communications, brand management, or a related field.
• Financial services, banking, regulated industry, or public company experience are strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, public