Director, Communications

About Betterment

Betterment is a leading, technology-driven financial services company offering investing, savings, and retirement solutions for retail investors and investment advisors, as well as financial wellness solutions, including a 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses. Our team is passionate about empowering people to build wealth with confidence and ease. We are headquartered in NYC and offer hybrid NY-based positions (four days/week in-office, with no required office days during the summer and winter holidays).

About The Role

The Communications team builds and protects Betterment's brand position, tells our story in earned media, and supports growth across our three lines of business: retail investing, retirement (401(k)), and RIA custody. As Director, Communications, you will own the strategic direction for external communications, manage an internal team and two external PR agency partnerships, and serve as a senior communications counselor to leadership.

• Own the overarching communications strategy across all three lines of business, ensuring messaging is cohesive, differentiated, and aligned with company OKRs.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the leadership team on brand reputation, public positioning, and narrative development.
• Manage relationships with external PR agencies; collaborate to shape press strategy, identify and prioritize opportunities, and brief them on launches, company news and proactive storylines.
• Craft and quality-control press releases, talking points, bylines, and media responses; ensure tone, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Legal, Compliance, and Product on product launches, brand campaigns and social media amplification.
• Drive executive visibility programs including speaking engagements, conference strategy, and award submissions.
• Help oversee compliance review for all public-facing communications content.

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in communications or public relations either in-house or at an agency, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of the financial services or fintech media landscape, with established journalist relationships.
• Proven track record developing integrated communications strategies spanning media relations, internal comms, crisis management, executive positioning and thought leadership.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; an ability to find the perfect phrase to inspire an audience or position a product.
• Experience managing external agency relationships and balancing in-house vs. outsourced resources.
• Track record supporting C-suite executive communications, spokesperson programs, and media training.
• Experience in a regulated industry (financial services, fintech, or similar) strongly preferred.
• A collaborative leader with outstanding judgment and high EQ.

Our Core Values

• We change lives.
• We set audacious goals.
• We give our all, then celebrate our wins.
• We value all perspectives.
• We simplify financial services.
• We offer a competitive suite of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; infertility support and WPATH-aligned transgender health benefits; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); transit benefits and FSA and HSA options.
• We provide equity for all employees, including new hire and refresher grants.
• We offer flexible paid time off, paid parental leave, and a fully paid four-week sabbatical in your sixth year.
• We support employee growth with company-paid professional coaching for all employees.
• We offer a wealth of benefits, including a day-one 401(k) match plus matching on qualified student loan payments.

What Happens Next

We’ll take a few weeks to review all applications. If we’d like to spend more time with you, we’ll reach out to arrange next steps, which will include 3-4 sets of meetings with your future colleagues. In the interview process, we’ll look to learn more about your skills, experiences, capabilities, and motivators. Many of our questions will be aimed at understanding how you might operate here at Betterment. Depending on the role, we may ask you to complete a case study exercise or technical assessments, as we want to collect a robust set of data points to better inform our decisions. On average, it takes us around 3-5 weeks to make a hiring decision, depending on your availability and sense of urgency. As a best practice, we aim to interview at least 2-3 final round candidates before making a hiring decision. Please note that, as we usually receive an overwhelming number of applications for open positions, we’re unable to offer individual feedback during the interview process. We recognize that interviewing for a new role is a big deal. We appreciate you considering Betterment as the next step in your career, and our Recruiting Team is here to support and advocate for you through the interview process!

Equal Opportunity Employer

We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, predisposing genetic characteristic, domestic violence victim status, arrest records, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.