How will this role impact First Command?

This position directs and implements First Command's overall media relations, internal communications, and reputational strategies across earned and owned communications channels, with a primary focus on traditional media, executive visibility, and enterprise-level issues management. The Vice President serves as the organization’s senior strategic leader responsible for external reputation, media engagement, and public narrative.

The Vice President directs the response to all media inquiries and serves as the liaison between the company and news organizations. Provides counsel to corporate executives and field leadership, helping to enhance the company's success by applying proactive and reactive communications strategies and tactics. The Vice President is the owner of crisis communications management, working cross-functionally on responses and advising executive leadership during high-stakes events.

This role is responsible for anticipating reputational issues, shaping narratives, and mitigating reputation risks. The Vice President integrates data, analytics, and emerging technologies (including AI-enabled insights) into communications planning, issue monitoring, and effectiveness measurement. Ensures the organization’s voice is consistent, credible, and trusted across all external communications.

What will the employee do in this role?

• Leads enterprise issues identification, risk assessment, and response planning
• Shapes long-term external narrative aligned with business strategy
• Acts as senior spokesperson and spokesperson strategist
• Prepares executives for high-stakes media engagements
• Supports executive-level reputational risk discussions
• Partners closely with military affairs to align protocols, recognition and awards as well as partnerships affecting the company’s brand and reputation Leads internal communications team and strategy, ensuring consistent, timely, and transparent messaging that aligns employees and Advisors with corporate priorities, supports change management initiatives and reinforces the company’s culture, mission, and reputational objectives.
• Collaborates closely with the brand and campaign teams to leverage and align traditional, online and social media strategies
• Advises leadership on external perception of corporate strategy
• Directs First Command’s media relations efforts in support of the corporate strategic goal to strengthen the company’s voice in the marketplace and industry through proactive efforts designed to ensure fair and accurate representation by the news media
• Directs proactive outreach efforts to news organizations as well as reactive responses to unsolicited requests.
• Counsels and advises executive leadership in national media relations efforts and field leadership and Advisors in their local efforts
• Manages crisis communications efforts, including ongoing monitoring of external media.
• Owns media-related risk escalation protocols and decision authority
• Plans and oversees design, production and dissemination of all media relations content (news releases, fact sheets, white papers, talking points and other support content) in consultation with Chief Marketing Officer and Corporate Marketing team to ensure that key brand values are integrated into media relations messaging.
• Undertakes a broad range of external and internal marketing- and communications-related projects and duties consistent with the general level of responsibility of this position.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position has direct performance management responsibilities for the Internal (and Field) Communications and reputation management teams.

Skills & Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, media relations, marketing or other writing-related major required

Work Experience

• 15+ years experience in communications, corporate affairs, media relations or journalism with emphasis on news writing and story idea creation
• Experience advising C-suite and enterprise leadership
• Demonstrated leadership in regulated industries
• Experience managing complex reputational issues at scale         

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Solid writing, editing and proofreading skills
• Team-oriented, hands-on manager with direct management experience; Operates as player/coach as both an operator and a leader
• Awareness of the financial industry’s regulatory requirements and restrictions governing communications with the public is preferred
• Strong communication/interpersonal skills
• Must be able to resolve problems and deal effectively with internal and external customers at all levels
• Work independently, quickly and under deadline pressure
• Troubleshoot and manage multiple projects simultaneously

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