Director, Strategic Business Communications- Market and Regulatory Services and Technology

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

FINRA seeks a Director of Strategic Business Communications within Corporate Communications to lead external communications strategies for Market and Regulatory Services and Technology. You will partner with business-unit leaders to craft messaging, engage executives, and shape narratives that align with enterprise priorities and risk considerations.

The role requires deep understanding of technology in financial services, market structure, and regulatory landscape, with experience translating

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field is required.
• Proven ability to develop, execute, and measure strategic communications plans.
• Experience advising senior executives on high‑profile initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develops external communications strategies aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Serves as strategic liaison between business units and Corporate Communications.
• Identifies narratives, proof points, and stakeholder needs for clear messaging.
• Advances reputation management and engagement across key audiences.

Skills

Strategic communications

Executive advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Writing and editing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field

Job description

The Director of Strategic Business Communications - Market and Regulatory Services and Technology serves as a primary liaison between assigned FINRA business units, subject‑matter portfolios, and Corporate Communications. The Director partners with business unit leaders and subject‑matter experts from the business unit to develop and execute external communications strategies that advance FINRA's enterprise messaging, mission‑focused narrative, business priorities, and audience engagement goals. Operating within the Corporate Communications team, the Director leverages enterprise tools, channels, and expertise to expand reach, influence, and impact across key audiences while helping shape communications strategies, positioning, and stakeholder engagement approaches. This position is a senior individual contributor who serves as a trusted advisor to Business Unit and Corporate Communications leadership, providing strategic counsel on communications opportunities, reputational considerations, and complex, high‑profile initiatives. The ideal candidate for this role has a strong understanding of technology and its role in financial services, including market infrastructure, data analytics, and emerging technologies, with experience communicating complex technical initiatives to diverse audiences. Additionally, candidates should have fundamental understanding of financial markets, including market structure, trading and the regulatory landscape, with the ability to apply that knowledge to strategic communications. For more information about MRS and Technology, visit the How We Operate page on FINRA.org.

Essential Job Functions:

Partners with assigned business units to develop and execute external communications strategies, go-to-market plans, executive engagement, messaging, communications materials and events aligned to enterprise priorities, contributing insights that drive and shape broader enterprise communications objectives. Serves as a strategic liaison between assigned business units and the Corp Comm Center of Excellence, ensuring consistent, comprehensive communications support and a unified enterprise voice, while independently resolving complex, cross-functional communications challenges with limited oversight. Develops communications plans to support business unit goals by gaining early visibility into annual plans, priorities, strategies, and challenges, and identifies implications for FINRA's reputation and external stakeholder engagement. Participates in cross-functional Corp Comm reviews with subject matter experts in media, executive communications, web, social, creative, and internal communications to align on strategy and approach for new initiatives, products, and milestones, providing strategic recommendations on communications approach, positioning, and potential reputational considerations. Advances FINRA’s communications priorities by identifying compelling narratives, proof points, research, and subject-matter expertise from assigned business units and translating them into clear, audience-focused communications across appropriate organic and paid channels, helping strengthen FINRA's external reputation and strategic messaging.

Surfaces and applies business unit expertise to significantly enhance and formalize enterprise-level storytelling and gold source messaging owned by Corp Comm. Establishes and maintains regular touchpoints with key business unit points of contact and engages directly with SMEs and senior business leaders to shape external strategies and identify new communications opportunities, serving as a recognized trusted communications advisor with broad influence on high‑profile initiatives and external engagements. Represents Corp Comm in partnering with business units on proposed new publications and key events, including those with heightened visibility, reputational considerations, or enterprise impact. Manages reputation risk proactively by anticipating and preparing for criticism, negative coverage, and issues management in partnership with the broader Corp Comm team, recommending communications strategies to mitigate potential reputational risk and support organizational objectives. Guides and mentors business unit colleagues through consultation on communications techniques, processes, best practices, and may provide guidance on communications approaches for complex or sensitive business issues. Demonstrates FINRA’s values. Collaborates, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity.

Education/Experience Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or a related field, and a minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in communications. Proven ability to develop, execute, and measure strategic communications plans that advance business objectives and enterprise priorities. Significant corporate, agency, financial services, and/or Capitol Hill experience preferred. Demonstrated experience providing strategic communications counsel to senior executives and business leaders on high‑profile initiatives and sensitive matters. Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex business, regulatory, and technical information into clear, compelling communications. Strong ability to evaluate communications opportunities, risks, and stakeholder considerations and recommend effective communications strategies. Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and drive results across multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, highly matrixed environment. Ability to operate effectively and credibly within a large, complex corporate environment. Proven ability to influence and build effective relationships across all levels of an organization, including senior leadership, subject matter experts, and cross‑functional partners. Demonstrated sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive, confidential, and reputationally significant matters. Ability to leverage data, audience insights, and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness and continuously improve communications strategies and outcomes.

Working Conditions:

Hybrid work environment, with defined in‑person presence requirements. Extended hours may be required. For work that is performed in CO, CT, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, WA, DC, NY, NJ, WA please refer to the chart below for the salary range for the corresponding location. FINRA complies with all state and local pay transparency laws and regulations requiring the disclosure of salary ranges for the position. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations.

• Boston, MA: $154,400 - $299,600
• Chicago, IL: $147,600 - $286,500
• Denver, CO: $134,400 - $260,400
• Jericho, NY: $154,400 - $299,600
• Jersey City, NJ: $161,200 - $312,600
• Philadelphia, PA: $147,600 - $286,500
• New York, NY: $161,200 - $312,600
• Rockville, MD: $154,400 - $299,600
• Tysons, VA: $154,400 - $299,600
• Washington, DC: $154,400 - $299,600
• Woodbridge, NJ: $154,400 - $299,600
• Connecticut State: $134,400 - $312,600
• Washington State: $134,400 - $312,600

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non‑exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law. As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short‑and long‑term disability, long‑term care, business travel accident, disability and legal. FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA‑funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.

• Time Off and Paid Leave* FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time‑off program starting at 15 days of paid time off (increasing with years of service, up to 25 days), 5 personal days, and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro‑rated in the first year).
• Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full‑time schedule).
• Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment).
• Full‑time employees receive nine paid holidays.

*Based on full‑time schedule

Important Information

FINRA’s Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker‑dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code’s investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions—including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA’s Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President—by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e‑feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e‑feed within three months of beginning employment. You can read more about these restrictions here. As standard practice, employees must also execute FINRA’s Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company’s policy on nepotism. Washington state applicants: click here for required notice(s). Search Firm Representatives Please be advised that FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place before any resumes are submitted to FINRA. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FINRA without a valid written agreement and task order in place will be deemed the sole property of FINRA and no fee will be paid in the event that person is hired by FINRA. FINRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected category, including race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex, or any other status or classification protected by state or local law. FINRA strives to make our career site accessible to all users. If you need a disability‑related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA’s Employee Relations team at 240‑386‑4865 or by email at [e-mail]. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding accommodations in the application process.

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