Senior Manager, Media Relations Strategist
Vestwell, New York, NY, United States
Senior Manager, Media Relations Strategist
New York, NY
Vestwell is the financial technology company powering the new savings economy. The New York City‑based fintech platform redefines how people save for the critical aspects of life across retirement, education, and healthcare savings needs. Today, Vestwell enables over 350,000 businesses and nearly 1.5 million active savers, with over $30 billion in assets saved across all 50 United States.
Vestwell offers a range of products, including workplace‑delivered retirement plans, employer‑offered student loan repayment benefits, and various savings accounts for education, emergencies, and individuals with disabilities.
Vestwell's platform serves a diverse clientele, including financial advisers, employers, third‑party administrators, financial institutions, payroll providers, government agencies, and individual savers.
Who Are We Looking For? We’re looking for a hands‑on Senior Manager of Media Relations Strategist who can bring an established communications strategy to life through disciplined planning, execution, and measurement. This role is ideal for a seasoned communications strategist who loves owning the day‑to‑day of media relations, content development, and executive visibility programs, and who is energized by close, in‑person partnership with the C‑suite.
As a key member of our Brand Team, you will execute and administer the PR roadmap defined in partnership with senior leadership, ensuring our messages are consistently delivered across audiences and channels.
What Will You Be Doing?
Translate the company’s PR and communications strategy—set by the SVP, Head of Marketing—into clear annual, quarterly, and campaign‑level plans that advance brand visibility, thought leadership, and business objectives.
Own the day‑to‑day execution of corporate and product PR initiatives across earned, owned, and shared channels, ensuring consistent messaging and strong cross‑functional coordination.
Lead the development of thought leadership programs, including original research, surveys, and insight‑driven narratives that increase brand authority, support earned media, and create opportunities for executive visibility.
Build and manage a leadership speaker strategy, including proactive speaker bureau initiatives, conference opportunities, award submissions, and executive platform development.
Expand and operationalize a broader earned and influence channel strategy across media, podcasts, YouTube, newsletters, and other high‑value platforms relevant to our audiences.
Maintain an integrated communications calendar spanning launches, announcements, awards, executive speaking, research moments, and key industry tentpoles.
Media Relations & Brand Visibility
Increase brand awareness through targeted, corporate, and product‑focused PR programs.
Build and manage relationships with key media contacts in the financial services, fintech, and retirement industries.
Proactively identify PR opportunities, develop compelling story angles, and pitch relevant narratives to media.
Respond to inbound media inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and on‑message responses.
Research, write, and edit high‑quality communications materials including press releases, media pitches, talking points, bylines, blog posts, FAQs, and Q&As.
Partner with senior leaders to craft clear, compelling messaging that reflects our brand, positioning, and differentiated value.
Support the development of thought leadership content (e.g., articles, commentary, reports, speaking points) that elevates our presence with key audiences.
Executive Visibility & Industry Presence
Manage award submissions from end‑to‑end, including sourcing opportunities, drafting submissions, and tracking results.
Identify, evaluate, and coordinate executive speaking opportunities at industry conferences, webinars, and events.
Prepare executives for external engagements through briefing documents, messaging frameworks, and rehearsal support.
Internal Communications
Support internal communications initiatives that keep employees informed, aligned, and connected to company priorities.
Draft internal memos, announcements, and leadership communications that translate complex topics into clear, accessible updates.
Partner closely with HR, Marketing, and the broader leadership team to reinforce company values, culture, and key business initiatives.
Measurement, Insights & Operations
Define and track KPIs for PR and communications programs (e.g., share of voice, media coverage quality, message pull‑through, engagement).
Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and relevant policy or regulatory developments to inform communications plans.
Synthesize results and insights into regular reporting for senior leadership, recommending adjustments to improve impact.
Manage relationships with agencies and vendors as needed, ensuring alignment with strategy, brand standards, and timelines.
Requirements – The Necessities
3‑5 + years in public relations, corporate communications, or related fields, with meaningful experience in financial services, fintech, retirement, or adjacent industries.
Demonstrated success executing PR and communications programs—owning planning, content creation, media outreach, and reporting.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill complex financial or technical topics into clear, engaging narratives tailored to professional audiences.
Proven ability to build and manage media relationships; experience securing coverage in trade and/or business outlets.
Experience partnering directly with senior leaders (VP/C‑suite) on messaging, thought leadership, and speaking engagements.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment.
Track record of working cross‑functionally with Marketing, Product, Sales, Legal/Compliance, and HR to ensure aligned, compliant messaging.
Proficiency with common communications and collaboration tools (e.g., media monitoring platforms, newsroom/PR distribution tools, project management and productivity suites).
The expected base salary range for this position is $120K – $135K base. This role is eligible to participate in the Company Bonus Pool and may receive new‑hire equity in the Company. Salary bands are based on NY and other similar metro areas and may differ if the role is ultimately hired elsewhere.
Benefits We’re an innovative, high‑growth company with many exciting milestones ahead. We value health and wellness and offer competitive health coverage, a generous vacation policy, a dedicated Employee Wellbeing Committee, a 401(k) plan, and a hybrid office policy that welcomes employees in our Midtown Manhattan, Austin, King of Prussia, and Phoenix locations.
As set forth in Vestwell’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
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Vestwell is the financial technology company powering the new savings economy. The New York City‑based fintech platform redefines how people save for the critical aspects of life across retirement, education, and healthcare savings needs. Today, Vestwell enables over 350,000 businesses and nearly 1.5 million active savers, with over $30 billion in assets saved across all 50 United States.
Vestwell offers a range of products, including workplace‑delivered retirement plans, employer‑offered student loan repayment benefits, and various savings accounts for education, emergencies, and individuals with disabilities.
Vestwell's platform serves a diverse clientele, including financial advisers, employers, third‑party administrators, financial institutions, payroll providers, government agencies, and individual savers.
Who Are We Looking For? We’re looking for a hands‑on Senior Manager of Media Relations Strategist who can bring an established communications strategy to life through disciplined planning, execution, and measurement. This role is ideal for a seasoned communications strategist who loves owning the day‑to‑day of media relations, content development, and executive visibility programs, and who is energized by close, in‑person partnership with the C‑suite.
As a key member of our Brand Team, you will execute and administer the PR roadmap defined in partnership with senior leadership, ensuring our messages are consistently delivered across audiences and channels.
What Will You Be Doing?
Translate the company’s PR and communications strategy—set by the SVP, Head of Marketing—into clear annual, quarterly, and campaign‑level plans that advance brand visibility, thought leadership, and business objectives.
Own the day‑to‑day execution of corporate and product PR initiatives across earned, owned, and shared channels, ensuring consistent messaging and strong cross‑functional coordination.
Lead the development of thought leadership programs, including original research, surveys, and insight‑driven narratives that increase brand authority, support earned media, and create opportunities for executive visibility.
Build and manage a leadership speaker strategy, including proactive speaker bureau initiatives, conference opportunities, award submissions, and executive platform development.
Expand and operationalize a broader earned and influence channel strategy across media, podcasts, YouTube, newsletters, and other high‑value platforms relevant to our audiences.
Maintain an integrated communications calendar spanning launches, announcements, awards, executive speaking, research moments, and key industry tentpoles.
Media Relations & Brand Visibility
Increase brand awareness through targeted, corporate, and product‑focused PR programs.
Build and manage relationships with key media contacts in the financial services, fintech, and retirement industries.
Proactively identify PR opportunities, develop compelling story angles, and pitch relevant narratives to media.
Respond to inbound media inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and on‑message responses.
Research, write, and edit high‑quality communications materials including press releases, media pitches, talking points, bylines, blog posts, FAQs, and Q&As.
Partner with senior leaders to craft clear, compelling messaging that reflects our brand, positioning, and differentiated value.
Support the development of thought leadership content (e.g., articles, commentary, reports, speaking points) that elevates our presence with key audiences.
Executive Visibility & Industry Presence
Manage award submissions from end‑to‑end, including sourcing opportunities, drafting submissions, and tracking results.
Identify, evaluate, and coordinate executive speaking opportunities at industry conferences, webinars, and events.
Prepare executives for external engagements through briefing documents, messaging frameworks, and rehearsal support.
Internal Communications
Support internal communications initiatives that keep employees informed, aligned, and connected to company priorities.
Draft internal memos, announcements, and leadership communications that translate complex topics into clear, accessible updates.
Partner closely with HR, Marketing, and the broader leadership team to reinforce company values, culture, and key business initiatives.
Measurement, Insights & Operations
Define and track KPIs for PR and communications programs (e.g., share of voice, media coverage quality, message pull‑through, engagement).
Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and relevant policy or regulatory developments to inform communications plans.
Synthesize results and insights into regular reporting for senior leadership, recommending adjustments to improve impact.
Manage relationships with agencies and vendors as needed, ensuring alignment with strategy, brand standards, and timelines.
Requirements – The Necessities
3‑5 + years in public relations, corporate communications, or related fields, with meaningful experience in financial services, fintech, retirement, or adjacent industries.
Demonstrated success executing PR and communications programs—owning planning, content creation, media outreach, and reporting.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill complex financial or technical topics into clear, engaging narratives tailored to professional audiences.
Proven ability to build and manage media relationships; experience securing coverage in trade and/or business outlets.
Experience partnering directly with senior leaders (VP/C‑suite) on messaging, thought leadership, and speaking engagements.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment.
Track record of working cross‑functionally with Marketing, Product, Sales, Legal/Compliance, and HR to ensure aligned, compliant messaging.
Proficiency with common communications and collaboration tools (e.g., media monitoring platforms, newsroom/PR distribution tools, project management and productivity suites).
The expected base salary range for this position is $120K – $135K base. This role is eligible to participate in the Company Bonus Pool and may receive new‑hire equity in the Company. Salary bands are based on NY and other similar metro areas and may differ if the role is ultimately hired elsewhere.
Benefits We’re an innovative, high‑growth company with many exciting milestones ahead. We value health and wellness and offer competitive health coverage, a generous vacation policy, a dedicated Employee Wellbeing Committee, a 401(k) plan, and a hybrid office policy that welcomes employees in our Midtown Manhattan, Austin, King of Prussia, and Phoenix locations.
As set forth in Vestwell’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
#J-18808-Ljbffr