The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is seeking a Vice President to lead our External Communications team that includes executive communications, media and messaging, marketing, and digital in the development and execution of critical communications strategies. As a part of the broader External Engagement team, which also includes the community development and outreach functions, the incumbent will collaborate closely with senior leaders to maximize the impact of the Bank’s outreach efforts. This position reports directly to the Senior Vice President of External Engagement.
A key focus for this role is to lead the evolution of the Bank’s voice in the world – building a modern, connected, and digitally fluent communications ecosystem that is digital first, data-informed, and tells the organization’s story across channels with authenticity, agility, and impact.
This role may be based at one of our onsite locations to include Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland or Pittsburgh.
Responsibilities
Manage the work of highly skilled, motivated communications professionals. Support a culture of innovation, results-oriented impact and professional growth.
Oversee and support the external communications team’s work in the following areas:
Development and execution of a principal positioning strategy, which includes a bank-wide news media and messaging strategy (local, national, global), executive communications (e.g. speechwriting) strategy, and a bank-wide social media engagement plan.
Development and distribution of public-facing content, including web, special reports, multi-media content – across all Bank channels.
Close coordination with leadership of other functions (e.g. Research, IT, Supervision, Legal, Community Development, Regional Executives, etc.) across the Bank to help them communicate externally with key stakeholders.
Partnership with our Office of the President function to support the work of Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack.
Work closely with the Bank’s most senior leaders to support and continually refine external communications efforts. Advise senior leaders on communications positioning, messaging, and storytelling opportunities.
Serve as the Bank’s Public Information Officer (PIO), overseeing media relations and crisis communications.
Collaborate with other external communications leaders across the Federal Reserve System to support their work and share best practices.
Continually explore new ways to maximize the Bank’s communications efforts, including the use of generative AI, as well as new content formats (video, podcasts, interactive features) to reach new audiences.
Stay up to date about issues and trends that could affect our work. Lead discussions about those topics and our approach among leaders across External Engagement and the Bank.
Develop and implement a digital-first external communications strategy aligned to organizational priorities and audience needs. Use analytics and audience insights to drive decision making, measure impact, and continuously optimize strategy.
Model curiosity, creativity, and inclusivity, encouraging experimentation and innovation.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, public affairs or a related field or commensurate experience.
10 + years leading teams focused on external communications strategies, message development, news media relations, content development and distribution, social media, and website engagement.
Deep understanding of stakeholders served by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
Demonstrated success in leading complex external communications functions, including managing multi-disciplinary teams, navigating high-stakes or ambiguous issues, and aligning messaging across multiple audiences, platforms and stakeholders.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to executive audiences and prepare written plans.
Experience advising principals/c-suite leaders on speeches, thought leadership and external positioning.
Understanding and experience in news media relations, digital and paid media.
Strong people leadership and talent management skills.
Strong project management and operations management abilities, including the ability to manage multiple highly visible initiatives concurrently.
Ability to work cross-functionally to solve complex problems, manage change and improve quality and service.
Strong organizational agility skills; demonstrated personal resilience when faced with challenges and setbacks.
Strong track record of inspiring teams, fostering collaboration, and leading cultural change.
Demonstrated ability and willingness to have direct conversations to address and resolve issues at all levels of the organization.
Emotionally intelligent, collaborative, and empowering leader.
Hands-on enough to engage in content and strategy discussions, but strategic enough to empower staff and focus time on transformation and outcomes.
Ability to develop and leverage a strong external network including contacts in other Reserve Banks and in other external organizations.
Travel (15-20%)
The expected starting salary range for the VP of External Communications is between $220k-300k annually. Final salary, and offer will be determined by the applicant’s background, experience, skills, internal equity, and market data.
The Cleveland Fed offers benefits to support overall health and financial security. Learn more about our benefits here: https://www.clevelandfed.org/careers
Citizenship requirements
In addition, all candidates must undergo an enhanced background check and comply with all applicable information handling rules, and all non-U.S. citizens must sign a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen and pursue a path to citizenship.
Physical Demands and General Working Conditions
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, standards or requirements, efforts, skills or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland reserves the right to revise this or any job description at any time.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement - The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an email to clev.4d.benefits.specialist@clev.frb.org.
Bank’s Ethics Rules and Drug Testing:
As a condition of employment, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland employees must comply with the Bank’s ethics rules which generally prohibit employees, their spouses/domestic partners, and minor children from owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, any debt or equity interest in a depository institution or an affiliate of a depository institution. A "depository institution" means a bank, a trust company, or any institution that accepts deposits, including a bank chartered under the laws of a foreign country. In addition, employees (and their spouses/domestic partners, and minor children) may not own shares of mutual funds, unit investment trusts or ETFs that have a policy, as stated in the prospectus, of concentrating in the financial services industry and that have underlying investments in banks or other depository institutions. If you or your spouse/domestic partner or minor child own such securities and would not be willing or able to divest them if you accepted an offer of Bank employment, you should raise this issue with the recruiter for this posting.
In addition, as a condition of employment, candidates must undergo a background check and will be tested for all controlled substances prohibited by federal law, to include marijuana, prior to hire and for certain safety sensitive positions during employment.
Always verify and apply to jobs on Federal Reserve System Careers or through verified Federal Reserve Bank social media channels
The Federal Reserve Banks are committed to equal employment opportunity for employees and job applicants in compliance with applicable law and to an environment where employees are valued for their differences.
Always verify and apply to jobs on Federal Reserve System Careers (https://rb.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/FRS) or through verified Federal Reserve Bank social media channels.