Director of Communications

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has an exciting opportunity for a Director of Communications to join our team. The Director of Communications is responsible for managing the organization's communication strategies and services to enhance member engagement, advance state-based insurance regulation, and protect the NAIC brand. This position reports to the Chief Member Experience Officer and works closely with internal leaders, state insurance regulators, and stakeholders to support and promote the NAIC's mission, goals, and objectives. This is a full time position, working a hybrid schedule based out of our Kansas City, Missouri or Washington D.C. office.

Responsibilities:

• Crafts and maintains a compelling, inspiring, and cohesive brand identity that emphasizes the strength of the state-based system of insurance regulation. Ensures message consistency and continuity, representing the collective views of our members.

• Leads strategic communication practices and initiatives. Anticipates future opportunities, challenges, and needs of members and the organization and implements work products accordingly. Drives strategic thinking across the team, fostering a culture of proactive service and innovation.

• Manages media relations by developing compelling stories that align with the members' mission throughout the NAIC and cultivates strong relationships with journalists and/or public relations firms to shape the conversation about insurance regulation in the United States. Effectively communicates key messages, oversees prompt responses to media inquiries, and anticipates potential crises and proactively manages them, while maintaining a high level of integrity and trust with the media and our membership. Coordinates and prepares members to engage in NAIC media opportunities.

• Fosters partnerships with insurance departments and supports public information officers (PIOs) in promoting the work of state insurance regulators.

• Leads the creation of high-quality content for NAIC reports, press releases, websites, social media, email campaigns, publications, videos, and digital and print materials. Oversees writing and copy editing, and personally performs these duties when necessary while ensuring factual accuracy, the appropriate voice and tone, and the quality of the team's work.

• Oversees multichannel communications and marketing materials to drive engagement across the NAIC's various programs and efforts, such as meetings, events, publications, and educational offerings. Ensures clear, timely member communications and appropriate social media engagement. Designs and oversees websites, mobile applications, signage, and multimedia.

• Provides expert advice and support to the executive, committee, and senior leaders through professional workflows, talking points, presentation resources, and preparation for speaking events. Acquires the necessary subject matter insights to draft messaging in the appropriate tone based on the leaders' style, subject, intended audience, and communication goals.

• Develops and implements the department's operation plan and budget to align with the NAIC's mission and leadership needs. Leads a high-performing team, sets goals, and provides coaching and performance reviews. Establishes metrics and uses data-driven insights to improve effectiveness, processes, and services.

• Stays attuned and engaged in state, federal, and international insurance and regulatory-related issues to provide communications expertise and support to NAIC team members and insurance regulators. Stays abreast of evolving committee work, trending policy matters, legislation, and financial regulation operations to ensure consistent messaging, branding, and service across the organization.

• Manages team members responsible for functions such as media management, marketing and design, copy editing, editorial, and internal support.

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, business, public relations, or a related field, or relevant practical experience.

• Experience in insurance or insurance regulation.

• Minimum of 10 years of people management experience with progressively greater responsibility managing team size, budget, and project scope and scale.

• Experience working with a variety of vendors and agencies to deliver services.

• Experience with content management systems (CMS), email marketing software, design software, and business technology systems such as Microsoft 365 applications

Preferred Experience:

Experience in customer relationship management (CRM) platforms

Compensation:

Starting at $153,287 up to $220,000, to be commensurate with experience and location.

Travel:

Travel up to 60% of the time throughout the United States.