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

Responsibilities

• 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.

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.

Benefits

• 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.