Public Relations Specialist

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Overview

The Specialist, Public Relations will promote Fifth Third Bank’s Consumer Bank strategies and leadership and protect and defend the Bank’s reputation. This individual will focus on proactive and reactive media relations and storytelling efforts across key areas including consumer product PR, lending, retail banking; crisis and issues preparedness and management; thought leadership; and special projects.

We are looking for a communications professional who thrives in a fast-paced, complex corporate environment and brings a collaborative mindset, strong writing skills, and a passion for integrated campaigns that span traditional and new media channels and engage multiple stakeholders including customers, employees and the media.

Responsible and accountable for risk by openly exchanging ideas and opinions, elevating concerns, and personally following policies and procedures as defined. Accountable for always doing the right thing for customers and colleagues and ensures that actions and behaviors drive a positive customer experience. While operating within the Bank's risk appetite, achieves results by consistently identifying, assessing, managing, monitoring, and reporting risks of all types.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic external communications plans for Fifth Third’s Consumer Bank including consumer products, retail and lending lines of business. Identify the course of action that efficiently balances strategy and execution; collaborate to implement solutions; and deliver PR solutions that elevate the Consumer Bank.  
• Serve as a company spokesperson and engage directly with the media on proactive, reactive and crisis response.
• Proactive media relations: identify opportunities to positively highlight the Consumer Bank’s products, strategy, and leadership with earned media coverage, across the Bank’s 12-state footprint. Strategize, build and maintain a bank of customer stories to increase local coverage in the regions we serve; develop and execute creative ‘evergreen’ pitches to secure continued consumer coverage and reviews of existing products.
• Reactive media relations: protect and defend the Consumer Bank’s reputation. Handle reactive media inquiries to mitigate reputation damage across the Bank’s footprint. 
• Crisis communications: prepare materials and implement strategies to manage a crisis. Seek to understand and navigate every situation to realize the best outcome for the company. Always bring a recommendation and a proposed solution.
• Build and maintain relationships with key reporters across top tier, trade and local publications, including both online/print and broadcast media.  
• Plan, edit, and create content for external communications channels, including press releases, media pitches, talking points, leadership presentations, video scripts and other PR materials.
• Develop creative campaigns that integrate social media, video, and marketing, and collaborate cross-functionally to elevate stories that support broader business goals.
• Develop and execute thought leadership strategies, including executive visibility and expert positioning across media and industry platforms.
• In collaboration with the full PR team, create a holistic award strategy for key Consumer Bank leaders to highlight key accomplishments. Prepare and execute award submissions. 
• Manage PR support for key Consumer Bank events, including planning, messaging, media outreach, and on-site coordination.
• Review and analyze available metrics/data to discover trends and make informed recommendations. 
• Build and maintain a network of cross-functional colleagues across the Bank.  
• Continually integrate new technology and best practices to increase impact and efficiency. 

Minimum Knowledge & Skills Required

• Bachelors’ degree required. Experience in banking and/or financial services strongly preferred.
• 2+ years of professional experience in public relations (agency or in-house).
• Proven media relations experience, ideally with a consumer-facing brand. Strong storytelling skills. Excellent attention to detail, along with superb writing and editing skills for original content as well as rewriting and optimizing content.
• Experience managing social media as part of integrated PR campaigns.
• Ability to work independently and lead projects from inception to execution.
• Strong intellectual ability and executive presence that earns the respect and attention of key internal partners.
• Creative thinker with a bias for action, grounded in exceptional judgment.
• Strategic problem solver who can look around corners to identify potential obstacles and design thoughtful, creative solutions.
• Ability to deliver against tight deadlines when they arise and resolve issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly flexible; able to quickly respond to changing or unanticipated needs and mobilize cross-functional teams accordingly.
• Innovative, organized, and self-motivated with a keen interest in driving strategic messages to key internal and external stakeholders.
• Bring order to chaos and get stuff done. Seek out constant improvement. Positive, can-do attitude balanced with a sense of humor.

Public Relations SpecialistTotal Base Pay Range 53,400.00 - 109,500.00 USD Annual

At Fifth Third, we understand the importance of recognizing our employees for the role they play in improving the lives of our customers, communities and each other. Our Total Rewards include comprehensive benefits and differentiated compensation offerings to give each employee the opportunity to be their best every day.

The base salary for this position is reflective of the range of salary levels for all roles within this pay grade across the U.S. Individual salaries within this range will vary based on factors such as role, relevant skillset, relevant experience, education and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan, with any such payment based upon company, line of business and/or individual performance.

Our extensive benefits programs are designed to support the individual needs of our employees and their families, encompassing physical, financial, emotional and social well-being. You can learn more about those programs on our 53.com Careers page at: https://www.53.com/content/fifth-third/en/careers/benefits.html or by consulting with your talent acquisition partner. 

LOCATION -- Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention search firms and staffing agencies: do not submit unsolicited resumes for this posting.  Fifth Third does not accept resumes from any agency that does not have an active agreement with Fifth Third.  Any unsolicited resumes – no matter how they are submitted – will be considered the property of Fifth Third and Fifth Third will not be responsible for any associated fee.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is proud to have an engaged and inclusive culture and to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity in all employment decisions regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other legally protected status.