Head of Wealth & Private Banking Communications

Citizens is seeking a Head of Wealth and Private Banking Communications to lead a strategic, highly integrated communications program to advance Citizens’ brand and reputation as the premier banking and wealth provider for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net worth individuals. This role supports the acceleration of Citizens’ Wealth business and build-out of Citizens Private Bank, which integrates wealth management and banking services to serve high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as commercial clients. 

In this new role, the ideal candidate will develop impactful strategic communications plans that help educate and inform key stakeholders about Citizens’ robust suite of Wealth Management and Private Banking capabilities, including financial planning, investment management, deposits & lending, estate & trust planning, insurance & asset protection, and tax planning and preparation, both internally and externally. This is both a strategic and executional role that includes building and leading a high-performance team.

The successful candidate will be comfortable managing external and internal communications for a brand with a strong level of media exposure and working directly with top-tier national, regional, local and trade press to positively position the Wealth Management and Private Bank lines of business, their capabilities, and their leaders. You will serve as a trusted advisor to the Wealth Management and Private Bank leadership teams along with other leaders within the organization.

We are seeking a passionate, experienced communications professional who is a dynamic storyteller and demonstrates a deep understanding of the high-net-worth marketplace and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy: Develop and implement an overarching and highly proactive communications strategy for the Wealth Management and Private Bank lines of business that is well aligned with corporate and business line objectives. Ensure the strategy is consistently articulated to all key stakeholders, including the media, consumers, leadership, employees, industry leaders/influencers, investors, community leaders, and the general public. 
• Team Management / Leadership: Lead and optimize the efforts of two external and internal communicators. Develop the team to employ a strategic and high-tempo campaign-focused approach and manage communication for key stakeholders across multiple businesses. Manage the day-to-day operations of the team, with the ability to drive excellent execution, pivot as needed, promote innovative thinking, and provide leadership as a “player/coach.”
• External Communications and Media Relations: Create and implement a strategic, proactive media relations program to position Citizens’ Wealth Management and Private Bank lines of business, their capabilities, and their leadership within top-tier national and regional press. Partner with key stakeholders across the Wealth business, including Chief Investment Officer and financial advisors to develop thoughtful and insightful approaches to earned media designed to build brand reputation and position Citizens as a trusted advisor and partner to clients.
• Executive Counsel and Communications: Serve as a trusted advisor to the heads of the Wealth Management and Private Bank lines of business and other key leaders. Contribute to the dialogue of their leadership teams by understanding the businesses, assessing implications and quickly making recommendations. Support and equip company leaders to be trustworthy, knowledgeable, and effective spokespeople for the enterprise and within the industry.
• Internal and Employee Engagement: Build and manage a strategic internal communications plan to educate, align and engage employees. Manage communications for the Wealth Management and Private Bank lines of business, including executive messages, business updates, success stories, and organization announcements. Create and deliver a consistent and engaging communications content pipeline for employees, utilizing various channels such as intranet, email, video, articles, in-person and virtual meetings, and social.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate across the broader Corporate Communications organization, Marketing, Social and Digital functions to ensure communication plans are holistic, innovative, and aligned with existing company-wide messages, standards and policies.

Experience and Professional Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience preferably within large and complex financial services organization with an understanding of how private wealth management businesses serve ultra-high-net-worth clients
• 10+ years demonstrated experience leading and motivating a team of professional direct reports and matrix r