Director, Communications

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Director, Communications

The lead of Mastercard's communications activities in the Central Europe Division is going to ensure that the integrated communications activities support Mastercard's business objectives and priorities both in the local market as well as at the European level, with a more specific focus on BtoB activities (banks, fintechs and merchants) and Mastercard ESG engagements.
To provide guidance, input, support and action in enhancing and protecting Mastercard's reputation and to work to the agreed vision of showcasing how Mastercard makes payments safe, simple and smart by leveraging expertise and technology around the world and within the country.

Major Responsibilities – a combination of strategic thinking and hands on execution:
• Strategic thinking
- Develop and implement country-specific communication plans - including communication goals, strategies and tactics - and determine the budget aligned with the Country Managers and in close cooperation with the Marketing and Communications Team Europe & Global, and with relevant communications functional partners.
- Work as an active member of an integrated – External communications, Internal communications and Public Affairs & Regulatory communications - team charged with creating, implementing and managing communications programs in support of Mastercard Europe's corporate objectives and business priorities, with a more specific focus on BtoB activities and ESG engagements.
- Further build and maintain an excellent and active relationship with external stakeholders including the traditional, digital and social media, influencers, thought leaders, communication departments of banks, fintechs, consumer unions and merchants.
- Identify speaking opportunities platform to position Mastercard executives as industry experts and thought leaders and update centrally in order to activate as part of the Speaker Bureau.
- Identify trends, risks and issues relevant to specific country as well as Mastercard Europe and provide advice

• Hands on execution
- Act as a valued and responsive source of PR & media relations excellence to the press as needed
- Prepare spokespeople for their interaction with media and other relevant internal and external stakeholders, providing trusted counsel on issues and matters related to communications, preparing executive briefing materials, developing messages and providing communications training
- Handle press inquiries and identify issues that could impact Mastercard’s reputation.
- Prepare and draft materials to be used such as – but not limited to: press releases, speeches, talking points, Q&As, FAQs, Internal articles, blog-posts, backgrounders, briefing materials, etc.
- Maintain contact with key journalists, conducting good-will meetings and relationship building activities.
- Organize and/or coordinate media relations activities as appropriate including press conferences, media tours, speaking engagements, trade shows and conferences
- Brief external communications agencies as appropriate following developed plans and programs and measure agencies effectiveness in delivering activities requested. Coordinate and closely monitor agency involvement in monthly execution of activities
- Deepen collaboration with the marketing team and active participation/coordination to some marketing activities such as launch of campaigns, on-site activations, sponsorship events, etc.
- Administrative support on communication/marketing processes.

Skills and competencies:
• Master's or Bachelor's Degree
• Communications experience is a must have
• Proven media and opinion former contacts in local markets
• Prior experience in crisis communications
• Previous experience or willingness to jump in marketing activities
• Understand Communications objectives and strategies, the differing emphasis of various markets and the implications of international/national media developments
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and creativity
• Flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong as an individual performer and as a team contributor, very achievement oriented, motivated and proactive
• Organizational planning and management
• Understanding of business environment and demonstrated capabilities to adapt to specific business circumstances at high speed
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Fluent written and spoken German and English is a must have

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.