CFP Board seeks a highly motivated Director, External Communications to lead the external communications department and promote awareness and build recognition of CFP Board and the CFP® certification among external stakeholders including the public, the media, thought leaders and policy makers. The ideal candidate will embrace open collaboration, possess intellectual curiosity and help the organization deliver results towards fulfilling our mission.

Essential Functions:

• Creates, implements and measures annual and long-term strategic external communications, media relations, and social media plan(s) to promote CFP Board, strategic outcomes, public policy initiatives and awareness of CFP® certification
• Develops messages and write stories that persuasively shapes how CFP Board presents its positions to the media, CFP® professionals, potential CFP® candidates and other audiences
• Coordinates a consistent organizational image in all external communications
• Develops and implements integrated communications strategies and tactics (earned media, consumer education via owned media, social media) to increase awareness of CFP® certification and financial planning among consumers as part of the Public Awareness Campaign
• Proposes strategy, creates messaging, and crafts industry responses for crisis communications, issues management and advances/protects reputation through earned media
• Manages media inquiries and interview requests, leverages existing media relationships and cultivates new contacts within business and industry media to raise the visibility of CFP Board, its CFP® professionals and leadership
• Serves as lead spokesperson and represents CFP Board on advisory and industry groups as required
• Oversees all of CFP Board’s social media accounts and implement strategies to grow the organization's social media presence, following, and overall traffic
• Provides strategic communications counsel to CFP Board’s leadership including media training and coaching
• Manages relationship with outside PR firm. Provides effective direction to consultants (including outside writers and Matte release distributors) and partner organizations
• Creates materials for staff in other departments with a communications eye for clarity and consistency.
• Provides editorial review and guidance on external communication deliverables.
• Analyzes media trends and makes strategic recommendations on CFP Board media activities.
• Develops and manages external communications events (e.g. media calls and salons, sponsorships, underwriting opportunities, and speaking opportunities) for volunteer leaders, CEO, senior staff and ambassadors/advocates to advance organizational outcomes and goals.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (“CFP Board”), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the certifying body for financial planning professionals. It is a non-profit organization that fosters professional standards in personal financial planning through its setting and enforcement of the education, examination, experience, ethics, and other requirements for the CFP certification.

CFP Board believes that diversity of experience and perspective are strengths and seeks to continue to grow a highly committed, skilled, and collaborative staff.

Background/Skills/Abilities Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications/Journalism or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of professional experience in public/media relations in corporate and/or agency
• Strong knowledge of the PR field including experience in media relations, press campaign development and execution of creative, strategic and well-thought communication plans
• Superb writing skills as well as ability to meet tight deadlines
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills; good judgment and instincts with problem-solving
• Experience managing a team, departments, or employees
• Experienced in editorial review and quality control of written communications
• Ability to develop and pitch ideas/stories to media and to communicate effectively and persuasively in a variety of environments
• Proven strategic thinking and analytical skills to drive successful public relations programs
• Adeptness at working with and meeting the needs of senior management; a willingness to provide counsel as well as listen and take direction
• Consensus builder with the ability to gain internal respect with superiors, peers, subordinates and volunteers—especially within a matrixed organization.
• Strong team player
• Ability to operate with a sense of urgency with rapid response capabilities
• An independent and strategic thinker, able to take initiative and follow through on projects
• Experience analyzing, distilling and communicating complex, technical, regulator or financial information
• Demonstrated success as a company spokesperson to the press and other outside organizations
• Must have experience in crisis communications
• Proven social media management experience
• Ability to build and manage budgets
• Some travel required