Vice President, Corporate Communications

Vice President, Corporate Communications

Ascensus powers the savings system across America for people saving for retirement, education and expenses for those living with a disability. For over 40 years, we've been guided by our noble purpose: to help more savers save more. Our 5000+ associates, serve nearly 16M savers with >$862B total assets under administration, administer 260,000+ retirement plans and support 37 states and the District of Columbia with their government savings plan needs.

The Vice President, Corporate Communications is a key commercial leader, elevating Ascensus' reputation with current and prospective associates, as well as those who influence and make decisions about critical savings goals: individual savers, asset and wealth managers, financial intermediaries, business owners, HR professionals, and government officials. We seek a trailblazing communications executive with top-tier background in financial services and/or financial technology communications.

This role requires a strategic thinker who has experience leading traditional media, social media, and internal communications, integrating all three into a cohesive and powerful communications system that drives measurable business value. The ideal candidate will have established relationships with top-tier traditional media and industry-specific publications, as well as experience influencing alternative channels (review sites, Reddit, influencers, industry blogs, etc.). The candidate should also have experience working side-by-side with CEOs and other executives to articulate and promote executive platforms through all communications channels, including high-profile speaking engagements. The candidate should have experience in Government Relations, influencing decision-makers in D.C. through executive and corporate communications, and leading internal communications for a rapidly growing and transforming company.

This role reports to Ascensus' Chief Marketing Officer and will be part of the Marketing, Analytics & UX leadership team.

Section 2: Job Functions, Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive corporate communications and measurement plan that aligns with business objectives and demonstrates reputational and commercial impact.
• Partner with C-suite and line of business leaders to inform industry-leading perspectives, platforms, and stories to be promoted internally and externally.
• Lead and innovate internal communications efforts to engage associates during company growth and transformation.
• Manage CEO and other C-suite communications platforms, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with reporters at top-tier and industry-specific publications.
• Elevate the CEO's platform through high-profile speaking engagements and media appearances.
• Accelerate utilization of social media (corporate, executive, associates) to enhance company reputation, improve commercial outcomes, and influence saving behaviors.
• Integrate traditional media, social media, and internal communications into a cohesive communications ecosystem.
• Monitor and influence new communications channels such as Reddit, review sites, and Substack to manage company reputation.
• Collaborate with Government Relations teams to influence decision-makers in D.C. through executive and corporate communications.
• Lead with our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity Always.
• Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients.
• At Ascensus we are guided by our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity Always. They inspire us every day to prioritize an environment of respect for those we serve and one another and should be visible in your actions on a day-to-day.

Supervision

• Inspire and lead a team of communications professionals with a client-obsessed and continuous improvement mindset.

Section 3: Experience, Skills, Knowledge Requirements

• Proven executive experience leading corporate communications and communications professionals in financial services and/or financial technology sectors.
• Ability to partner across organizational verticals, including proven success influencing others and working successfully in a highly collaborative team-oriented environment.
• Superior communication skills written and verbal.
• Demonstrated success in collaborating on and managing communications platforms with and for C-suite executives.
• Executive media training and presentation delivery training experience.
• Strong ties to reporters at top-tier and industry-specific publications.
• Expertise in social media strategy and execution.
• Experience in Government Relations and influencing decision-makers in D.C.
• Experience in leading internal communications and engaging employees.
• Strategic thinking and ability to develop innovative communication strategies.
• Strong leadership and team management skills that foster teamwork, inclusivity, collaboration, and positivity while cultivating accountability and ownership.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop and manage high-performing teams.
• Knowledge of new communications channels and how to leverage them for reputation management.
• Demonstrated resilience and ability to make decisions in challenging or ambiguous circumstances and comfort in shifting gears in response to emerging priorities.
• Effective decision-making, problem-solving, and follow-through skills.
• Strong commitment to personal development and continuous learning.
• Minimum 15 years of corporate communications experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

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