Sr. Director, Corporate Communications (External)

About the Role

This role leads First Tech’s external communications strategy, overseeing public relations, member communications, and reputation management to strengthen brand visibility, credibility, and trust with external audiences. As a strategic advisor to executive leadership, this individual shapes the organization’s external narrative and strengthens relationships with members, media, community stakeholders, and industry influencers. The role ensures alignment between internal and external messaging while advancing enterprise priorities and business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Communications Strategy & Executive Counsel
  • Develop and lead an enterprise-wide external communications strategy and narrative, ensuring alignment with brand, business priorities, member needs, and organizational values.
  • Develop executive visibility and communications strategies that position First Tech leaders as trusted voices in financial services, technology, innovation, member experience, workplace culture, and community impact.
  • Oversee the crisis and issues-management communications framework, ensuring readiness, coordinated rapid response, and clear escalation pathways to protect trust and minimize risk.
• Member Communications
  • Lead member communications strategies supporting significant organizational changes, strategic initiatives, and business transformations.
  • Ensure communications support transparency, trust, understanding, and positive member experiences.
  • Own development of First Tech’s Annual Report and communications strategy and execution for the Annual Membership Meeting.
• Public Relations, Reputation & Executive Visibility
  • Lead public relations and media relations, including proactive storytelling, relationship-building with key journalists, media briefings, interview preparation, and ongoing press management.
  • Own messaging, content creation, and editorial governance for press releases, statements, talking points, FAQs, op-eds, and executive bylines, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and brand consistency.
  • Lead integrated communications campaigns and public-facing event communications supporting product announcements, partnerships, community engagement, advocacy, and enterprise initiatives.
  • Manage agency, vendor, and media-monitoring partnerships, ensuring quality execution, cost efficiency, and alignment with enterprise standards.
• Team Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing external communications team, fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and strategic capability.
  • Establish KPIs and measurement frameworks, including share of voice, message pull-through, sentiment, reach, and impact, using insights to guide continuous improvement.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, and/or related fields.
• 6+ years’ experience leading a diverse team including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• Expert writing, editing, and storytelling; ability to translate complex topics for broad audiences.
• Experience managing collaboration platforms and content operations.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive partnering skills.
• Program and project management discipline; budgeting and vendor oversight.
• Bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the role (or 4 additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree); advanced degree preferred.

Location

Hillsboro Corporate Office | Hillsboro, OR 97124
Marlborough Corporate Office | Marlborough, MA

Pay

Target compensation: $146,500.00 to $176,000.00 annually + annual bonus.

Benefits

• Traditional medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous 401(k) match.
• Paid Time Off: Up to 15 days accrued in your first year, plus 40 hours of sick time and 3 personal days (refreshed annually).
• Paid federal holidays.
• Special employee pricing on lending products such as mortgage, auto, and personal loans (eligibility subject to standard account requirements and underwriting criteria).

About First Tech

First Tech and DCU were founded on the belief that financial solutions should put people first. This principle has driven decades of innovation and service, rooted in the tech sector and expanding to support members from all walks of life.