VP, External Communications – Michigan Region

Fifth Third Bank • Detroit, MI

12d • Onsite

About The Position

Make banking a Fifth Third better® We connect great people to great opportunities. Are you ready to take the next step? Discover a career in banking at Fifth Third Bank.

Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic external communications plan for Fifth Third in Michigan, spanning every line of business operating in the region — including Consumer, Commercial, Wealth & Asset Management, and the corporate and investment bank — as well as enterprise-wide issues that intersect with the market. Identify the course of action that efficiently balances strategy and execution, collaborate to implement solutions, and focus on delivering effective communications that elevate Fifth Third's presence and leadership in Michigan.

Serve as the lead communications partner to the Michigan Region, starting with the Region President, providing strategic counsel, message development, speech and talking-point support, and visibility planning to position the Region President and other local Fifth Third leaders as trusted voices in Michigan's business community.

Build and maintain strong relationships with key reporters across Detroit and Michigan top-tier and trade publications, including print, digital, and broadcast media, as well as relevant national outlets covering the region.

Proactive media relations: identify opportunities to build awareness of Fifth Third's Michigan strategy, investments, leadership, and community impact through earned media coverage in Detroit and statewide outlets, as well as relevant national press.

Reactive media relations: protect and defend Fifth Third's reputation in Michigan by navigating complex situations, including matters tied to the Comerica integration, branch and operations footprint changes, and other sensitive regional issues.

Crisis communications: prepare materials and implement strategies to manage a crisis. Always come with a recommendation and a proposed solution that puts the firm in a position of strength.

In collaboration with the full PR team, create a holistic award strategy for Michigan leadership and the region's businesses to highlight key accomplishments. Prepare and execute award submissions.

Lead Michigan PR for special projects as they arise, including but not limited to the ongoing Comerica integration, the new Michigan headquarters and regional hubs, real estate and footprint announcements, community investment commitments, litigation defense, sponsorship agreements and other business matters requiring strategic communications support.

In close partnership with Government Affairs and the Community Impact team, build and sustain trusted civic and stakeholder relationships and a deep understanding of Michigan's political, legislative, and civic environment. Translate that fluency into communications strategies protect the Bank's reputation across earned, owned, and paid channels.

Partner closely with the full Communications team, and cross-functional deportments including Investor Relations, Legal, Government Affairs, Community Impact Managers and Marketing teams to ensure Michigan-specific messaging is consistent, coordinated, and aligned with enterprise priorities. Seek to understand and navigate every situation to realize the best outcome for the company. Collaborate with leadership and peers to support business objectives, ensuring alignment with existing priorities and standard processes.

Plan, edit, and create content for a variety of external communications channels, leadership presentations, newsletters, key messages / scripts, speeches, video, among other work products. Review and analyze available metrics/data to discover trends and make informed recommendations on the region's external communications performance. Continually integrate new technology and best practices to increase impact and efficiency, internally and externally.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of experience in proactive and reactive media relations, corporate positioning, thought leadership, and social media.
• Excellent attention to detail, along with superb writing and editing skills for original content as well as rewriting and optimizing content.
• Ability to deliver against tight deadlines when they arise, resolve issues, and propose solutions in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly flexible; able to quickly respond to changing or unanticipated needs and mobilize cross-functional teams accordingly.
• Strategic problem solver who can look around corners to identify potential obstacles and design thoughtful, creative solutions.
• Strong intellectual ability and presence that earns the respect and attention of key internal partners — including the Region President and his/her leadership team — balanced with a sense of humor.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in banking and/or financial services strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of the Michigan market — particularly Detroit's media, civic, and business landscape — strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of Michigan's political, legislative, and civic environment — including state and local government, regulators, and the business and community organizations that shape opinion in Metro Detroit and across the state — and a proven ability to convert that fluency into effective communications strategy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic external communications plan for Fifth Third in Michigan.
• Serve as the lead communications partner to the Michigan Region, providing strategic counsel, message development, speech and talking-point support, and visibility planning.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key reporters across Detroit and Michigan top-tier and trade publications.
• Proactive media relations: identify opportunities to build awareness of Fifth Third's Michigan strategy, investments, leadership, and community impact.
• Reactive media relations: protect and defend Fifth Third's reputation in Michigan by navigating complex situations.
• Crisis communications: prepare materials and implement strategies to manage a crisis.
• Create a holistic award strategy for Michigan leadership and the region's businesses.
• Prepare and execute award submissions.
• Lead Michigan PR for special projects as they arise.
• Build and sustain trusted civic and stakeholder relationships and a deep understanding of Michigan's political, legislative, and civic environment.
• Translate that fluency into communications strategies to protect the Bank's reputation across earned, owned, and paid channels.
• Partner closely with the full Communications team, and cross-functional departments including Investor Relations, Legal, Government Affairs, Community Impact Managers and Marketing teams.
• Plan, edit, and create content for a variety of external communications channels, leadership presentations, newsletters, key messages / scripts, speeches, video, among other work products.
• Review and analyze available metrics/data to discover trends and make informed recommendations on the region's external communications performance.
• Continually integrate new technology and best practices to increase impact and efficiency, internally and externally.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings
• Eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan
• Extensive benefits programs designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior