About the position

In this compelling leadership position on our Corporate Communications team, you will lead the company’s media relations initiatives and help shape the strategies, messaging, and engagement plans that support Fannie Mae’s business priorities and reputation. The Director will be responsible for setting media relations strategy, overseeing media engagement, and serving as a trusted advisor to senior executives on communications strategies and messaging. This role also will interface regularly with regulators and work across the organization to support coordinated, thoughtful, and effective communications. Reporting to the Vice President of Corporate Communications, the Director will lead a team that develops communications plans and provides strategic counsel to Fannie Mae’s largest business units.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Fannie Mae’s media relations strategy in support of enterprise priorities.
• Oversee proactive and reactive media relations initiatives, including external messaging, press engagement, and issue response.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to senior executives on messaging, media strategy, and reputational considerations.
• Interface regularly with regulators and help ensure communications are aligned with business, policy, and regulatory considerations.
• Partner with leaders across Corporate Communications and key internal stakeholders to support major business initiatives, announcements, and issues management.
• Help identify and manage reputational risk through clear messaging, strong coordination, and disciplined execution.
• Mentor, develop, and lead a high-performing team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and strong results.

Requirements

• 8 years of experience in public relations, communications, and/or media relations.
• Corporate or PR agency experience required.
• Demonstrated success working with the media and leading media relations strategies and initiatives.
• Proven success leading and developing a high-performing team.
• Strong strategic judgment and experience advising senior executives on communications strategy and messaging.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to influence at senior levels of the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex business issues into clear, effective messaging.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly visible, and regulated environment.
• Sound judgment and discretion in managing sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across functions and business teams.
• Experience supporting complex organizations with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Shows curiosity and adaptability in learning and responsibly applying new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to reimagine how we work.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; Master's degree preferred.
• Financial services or housing industry experience.

Benefits

• Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle, and other benefits and perks that enhance an employee's physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.