Head of Corporate Communications - Continental Europe

Visa is recruiting a Head of Corporate Communications to support our European markets (outside the UK and Ireland). The role will directly report to the Vice President, Corporate Communications, for Visa in Europe. The successful candidate will support the General Manager for Visa’s European business (outside the UK and Ireland), delivering a strategic corporate communications program that supports Visa’s business priorities and aligns with the marketing strategy across the European markets.

The role will be responsible to lead on all aspects of corporate communications including traditional and digital media engagement, executive visibility, employee communications, as well as supporting client communications and events.

We seek to hire a senior corporate communications professional with a minimum of 15 years’ experience in financial services/banking, fintech, retail or tech. The successful candidate will have both in-house and agency experience, as well as experience leading teams, managing integrated marketing communications programs, and hands on experience managing communications in a highly regulated market. We are looking for a professional who is an outstanding writer, has a digital-first mindset, is experienced in advising c-level executives and understands how to manage a high performing team. 

Summary of Responsibilities:

·       Lead Visa’s Corporate Communications program in support of all European markets outside the UK and Ireland. Raise Visa’s profile as the leader in payments in Europe, a company with purpose that has a positive impact on consumers and merchants. Responsibilities includes:

-      Serve as the head of the corporate communications team based in the Europe markets

-      Responsible for supporting all aspects of corporate communications, including digital media engagement, executive visibility, employee communications, as well as supporting client communications and events

-      Develop strategic communications plans, designed to support Visa’s key business priorities and driving Visa’s reputation as a key driver of economic growth (following Covid-19) and purpose driven brand.

-      Deliver communications programs that align with our regional and global corporate communications and marketing priorities – and our global mission “to help individuals, business and economies to thrive”

-      Partner with marketing and government relations to tell a consistent narrative across geographies and audiences

-      Partner with the Head of Reputation and Crisis Management for Europe, and provide communications support on all issues that arise in the Europe markets

-      Support and empower a successful team, and enable them to promote key initiatives, customers wins, product innovations, social impact programs, and brand sponsorship platforms

-      Develop and execute executive visibility program for the General Manager, Europe markets, that incorporate speaking engagements, paid and owned media engagements, as well as visibility in digital channels

-      Join a global team of corporate communications professionals driving Visa’s reputation in the Europe and across the world

-      Serve on the Corporate Communications Leadership Team for Visa in Europe

-      Serve on the Crisis Communications team for Visa in Europe, including weekend and evening on-call duties, to support Visa’s ability to communicate with key stakeholders during a crisis

-      Implement and maintain a robust measurement program, including media and social media measurement, and generate quarterly media and social media reports.

·       Bachelor’s degree; extensive public relations and communications experience.

·       Expertise developing corporate communications plans aligning internal, external and stakeholder communications against business priorities.

·       Track record of successfully managing communications during times of crisis in a global organisation with experience counseling executives in crisis situations. Attention to detail is critical.

·       Experience managing teams, with a passion for developing talent and building career paths.

·       Comfortable operating in a matrixed environment.

·       Understanding of how to use data and research to drive efforts.

·       Experience building integrated marketing communications programs, and driving outcomes across traditional media and social channels

·       Understanding of UK regulatory frameworks for financial services, data security and privacy

·       Experience in payments or financial services industry a plus.

·       Outstanding media relations skills and relationships, with experience engaging reporters on a regular basis on challenging issues.

·       Skilled at using social media, digital content creation to advance business priorities and amplify the corporate narrative

·       Ability to communicate information effectively and accurately, verbally or in writing across multiple disciplines. Can synthesize large amounts of data and distill key points clearly, succinctly and quickly.

·       Proven ability to think ahead, engage proactively and take initiative

·       Self-starter.  Able to work independently as needed.

·       Capable of achieving results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, often on short deadlines.