Head of Public Relations & Executive Communications

Rate; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) participation

Vacation benefits

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Flexible benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

Rate, a leading retail mortgage lender based in Chicago, seeks a Director of Public Relations to shape external communications across business, consumer, and executive channels.

The role requires translating complex priorities into compelling narratives, landing meaningful coverage, and guiding media strategy with cross-functional, senior-level collaboration.

Applicants should bring strong writing, media relationships, and experience managing agencies and budgets in a highly regulated industry.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in PR, corporate or integrated comms, with 3+ years in leadership.
• Demonstrated success securing coverage across national business, consumer, trade, industry and wellness media.
• Experience managing both corporate/business and consumer media strategies.
• Experience in financial services, mortgage, fintech, real estate or regulated industries is a strong plus.
• Proven ability to develop executive communications, thought leadership, and media visibility programs.
• Strong understanding of earned media to support brand trust, consumer relevance and growth.
• Ability to translate complex business or industry information into clear stories.
• Established media relationships across business, trade, real estate, fintech, personal finance, lifestyle and national media.
• Crisis communications and issues management experience; calm, quick, decisive.
• Excellent writing, editorial judgment, and storytelling abilities.
• Experience advising executives for interviews, speaking opportunities and media prep.
• Experience managing agencies, vendors, budgets, timelines and deliverables.
• Strong collaboration with Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Product, Social, Brand, Recruiting and Leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an integrated PR strategy aligned with Rate’s objectives.
• Build earned media across corporate reputation, business press, trade media, consumer PR and leadership.
• Identify and package stories across product, homeownership, customer experience, culture and wellness.
• Build relationships with journalists and media outlets nationwide.
• Drive executive visibility through thought leadership, media placements and speaking opportunities.
• Own external messaging frameworks, press materials and briefing documents.
• Lead proactive media strategy with data-driven storylines and timely responses.
• Manage media relations, inquiries, issues and crisis communications.
• Define PR performance: coverage quality, sentiment, share of voice and executive visibility.
• Partner with Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Product and Leadership to align with campaigns.
• Oversee PR agency relationships, budgets, timelines and deliverables.

Skills

Public relations

Corporate communications

Strategic storytelling

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Agency management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or related field

Job description

Rate, a leading retail mortgage lender based in Chicago, seeks a Director of Public Relations to shape external communications across business, consumer, and executive channels.

The role requires translating complex priorities into compelling narratives, landing meaningful coverage, and guiding media strategy with cross-functional, senior-level collaboration.

Applicants should bring strong writing, media relationships, and experience managing agencies and budgets in a highly regulated industry.