Corporate Communications Senior Manager, Caribbean and Central America

The Corporate Communications Sr. manager in CARCAM is a professional candidate with solid experience managing multi-country communication campaigns in the Caribbean and Central American subregions, plus additional needed support for Internal Communications.

This professional has a proven record of successful product launches, knows how to drive business communications plus can design, plan and execute key events to increase corporate visibility and reputation.

This professional has the ability and knowledge to coach high level executives and spokespeople. It will be a strong writer and a mature strategic thinker to develop numerous editorial contents on products innovation, human and business profiles, and press related materials.

The professional will have as a primary responsibility the planning, management and execution of external communications efforts in the Caribbean markets: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Northern and Southern Caribbean. The professional will also provide support to the CARCAM communications lead for needs in the Central American markets. Additionally, the role will be responsible of planning and executing employee communications in CARCAM in alignment with business priorities, best practices, recommended cadence of internal events and communications.

Main Responsibilities:

Overall Corporate Communications 80%

• Work in conjunction with the Caribbean and Central America regional team to ensure business communications innovation, solutions and Visa 2030 imperatives and priorities are delivered in alignment with corporate objectives.
• Plan and execute media relations, both proactive and reactive, in support of business goals and Country Manager CMs and SVPs needs.
• Strategic planning development and implementation of media relations initiatives intended to maximize Visa’s coverage with a specific focus on key media
• Expand the company’s corporate visibility among targeted audiences
• Protect Visa’s reputation and brand throughout proper intervention when issues and crisis management may rise.
• Develop and adapt media materials, as needed, based on research studies, issues briefs, statistics, fact sheets, bylines, among others.
• Develop story angles and content for possible media encounters and local announcements in accordance with Visa’s business objectives.
• Develop messaging platforms for speaking opportunities and corporate visibility activities.
• Provide executive briefing and facilitate interviews, media encounters as well provide guidance and strategic counseling, as necessary.

Editorial content development:

• Press release drafting and distribution
• Pitch letter notes
• Interview profiles
• Relevant messaging
• Editing and feedback for stand-by-statements for crisis management related issues
• Video scripts
• Social media posting
• Identify speaking opportunities for CARCAM regional and local executives and spokespeople to amplify Visa’s leadership in the digital payments space.
• Design, plan and execute press conferences, forums, product launches, educational media gatherings for innovation, consumer products, commercial and money movement solutions and value-added services.

Internal Communications 10%

• Plan and execute employee communications in the Caribbean and Central America, CARCAM in alignment with business priorities, best practices, recommended cadence of internal events and communications.
• Work with business functions and HR to edit and approve organizational announcements.
• Plan, create and execute established internal events and any new events that are needed.
• Draft, edit, produce and manage distribution of all internal communications in CARCAM including written and multimedia communications.
• Work in tandem with other functions to develop Linkedin posts on volunteerism activities and social impact initiatives.
• Manage relationships with corporate communications vendors, including public relations agencies and event management support.

Core Corporate Communications Project Management 10%

• Lead local agency network management and activities as well as budgeting functions.
• Manage implementation of policies and procedures to ensure successful execution of corporate communications initiatives in CARCAM markets, in alignment with regional/global objectives and guidance.
• Evaluate agency support periodically and propose reviews as necessary.
• Support CMs in addressing communications needs talking points, speeches, messaging and interviews preparation as requested.
• Provide status updates to team and senior management as needed.
• Support functional teams in the curation of content for social platforms like LinkedIn and other special projects.

Decision Making/Complexity
This position requires them to think quickly on their feet able to provide strategic thinking and expertise, while executing at all levels often beyond its communications scope. This position is often required to roll up the sleeves and do whatever is needed to achieve the desired outcome extremely hands-on.

Reporting
This position reports directly into the Senior Director of Corporate Communications for the Caribbean and Central America region.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager

Basic Qualifications:
8 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or at least 5 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 2 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications:
9 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or 7 or more relevant years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 3 or more years of experience with a PhD
Key Competencies
Excellent writing and storytelling skills in Spanish and English.
Excellent interpersonal skills proven team player.
Experience in production and distribution of multimedia content.
Outstanding interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Results-focused and resourceful.
Flexibility to adapt to changes in fast-paced environment.
Social media savvy.
Ability to lead and manage projects where both strategic thinking and tactical deployment is required.
Ability to implement initiatives from A to Z including conception of the idea, communications planning and execution.
Ability to resolve conflicts effectively.
Curious, creative, out of the box thinker.
Well established strong knowledge in media relations.
More than seven years of experience in Corporate Communications internal communications background preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or public relations.
Strong corporate background experience in managing corporate relationships and expectations at all levels.
High level of knowledge in all communications functions with expertise in media relations, issues management, communications strategy, marketing communications, product and executive positioning.
Experience in messaging and content development.
General knowledge of financial services industry or related global industry.
Strong knowledge in managing issues and crisis.
Skills Required
Written and Verbal English a must Bilingual Spanish and English.
Excellent writing skills especially in Spanish and English.
Good organization skills.
Flexibility to perform diverse tasks outside scope of work when projects or business goals require it.
Resourceful when it comes to performing on minimal resources.
Proven team player.
Corporate experience in dealing with executives at all levels savvy at managing expectations.
Solid multitasker must be able to work on more than one project at once while delivering strong results.
Some traveling to markets.

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.