Media Relations Manager

Company

Federal Reserve Bank of ChicagoFederal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS) Product and Relationship Management

Are you interested in working in the dynamic and fast-paced U.S. payments industry to support and advance key Federal Reserve payments services and initiatives, including the popular new FedNow® Service for instant payments?

The Federal Reserve System plays a critical role in the economy by operating a nationwide electronic payments and information delivery network that has over 9,000 financial institution customers and transacts more than 70 million payments daily, valued at more than $4 trillion.

As part of its mission to ensure the integrity, efficiency and accessibility of the payment system, the Federal Reserve also actively engages a broad array of stakeholders in collaborative efforts to improve and modernize the nation’s payment capabilities.

To support these roles, Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS), through the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, has national responsibility for Product and Relationship Management, including product development, customer relations, industry relations and marketing.

The Media Relations Manager leads the strategic direction and planning process for earned media for Federal Reserve Financial Services, a high-profile, enterprise-wide function.

This includes earned media responsibilities for all FRFS strategic initiatives and business lines, including the new FedNow Service.

This role supervises a small team of media relations specialists within the Marketing Communications area of FRFS.

Specifically, this role :

• Develops, executes, and oversees comprehensive media relations plans to publish and garner news coverage across owned and earned media channels.
• Actively collaborates with a broad range of internal stakeholders in the creation of integrated internal / external communications campaigns, messaging and media materials, ensuring that subject matter experts and senior staff are prepared to interact effectively with reporters.
• Cultivates and manages press relationships to ensure coverage surrounding FRFS programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects.

Solicits media opportunities and prepares strategic messaging, talking points and other materials as needed.

• Actively identifies and develops media and messaging narratives to support proactive product promotion and executive thought leadership.
• Contributes as a copywriter, editor, and creative producer for owned channels, with end user or target audiences in mind.
• Serves as communications counselor and coach to FRFS leadership and staff who serve as spokespeople and representatives of the organization.

Ensures that subject matter experts and senior executives are prepared to interact effectively with reporters and other external audiences.

• Serves as a lead point person on media interactions that help promote the organization. Collaborates with internal colleagues across the Federal Reserve to consult on and support crisis and outage communication efforts.
• Provides information by responding to reporter inquiries about FRFS, recommends appropriate Bank officials to speak to reporters;

briefs spokespeople, provides guidance, and participates in interviews.

• Improves and develops tools, processes, metrics and key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of the Bank’s media.
• Identifies reputational challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization, working with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions, and to define and execute appropriate strategies to support them.
• Leads issues management and crisis communications in collaboration with business continuity team and oversight authorities.

Manages service disruption communications, including incident response, media monitoring, message development, and coordination with internal stakeholders and external agency.

• The Manager will mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis, establish and monitor staff performance and development goals.
• This position reports directly to the Assistant Vice President, Marketing Communications. The level of work required is considered advanced and staff must be able to work under tight deadlines with minimal supervision.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field is or equivalent work experience required.
• 10-15 years media relations experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in crisis or issues communications.
• Proven experience working with and leading teams in a complex, geographically diverse, and matrixed organization.
• Expertise and experience in financial services, banking, and / or payments desired.
• Minimum 5 years of people and leadership experience required.

Knowledge & Skills

Superior communication, writing and editing skills. Ability to synthesize complex streams of information and interpret complex issues.

Ability to effectively interface with and influence FRFS senior executives, peers and staff and external stakeholders

Understands and has a keen interest in payments, financial services, economics, and financial matters. Collaborative, works well with others, and can exist comfortably in a team environment.

Demonstrated ability to coach, develop and motivate others.

• Demonstrated experience and leadership in developing and managing comprehensive strategic communications and media relations programs to advance an organization's mission and goals, incorporating innovative approaches, technologies and channels
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements
• Track record of successful people leadership to drive results, with the ability to develop strategies and initiatives that continually improve the FRFS.

Demonstrated ability for strong execution and accountability for the results.

Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs. Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive;

a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical success.

Travel

Approximately 10%.

Full Time / Part Time

Full time

Regular / Temporary

Regular

Job Exempt (Yes / No)

Job Category

Sales / Marketing

Work Shift

First (United States of America)