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Director, Communications

Betterment HQ - New York City

About Betterment

Betterment is a leading, technology-driven financial services company that offers investing, savings and retirement solutions for retail investors and investment advisors as well as financial wellness solutions, including a 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses. Our team is passionate about our mission, to empower people to build wealth with confidence and ease.  We’re headquartered in NYC and offer hybrid NY-based positions (four days/ week in-office, with no required office days during the summer and winter holidays).

About the Role

The Communications team builds and protects Betterment’s brand position, tells our story in earned media, and supports growth across our three lines of business: retail investing, retirement (401(k)), and RIA custody. 

As Director, Communications, you will own the strategic direction for external communications, manage an internal team and two external PR agency partnerships, and serve as a senior communications counselor to leadership. Reporting to the VP, Strategy & Communications, you'll shape how Betterment shows up in the market — from the narratives we pitch to reporters, to media appearances for our CEO, to how we launch products and respond in moments of crisis. 

This is a highly cross-functional, highly visible role. The right person is both a sharp strategist and a hands-on executor who thrives in a fast-moving, regulated environment and knows how to translate complex financial topics into stories that resonate with consumers, business partners, advisors, and plan sponsors.

This role is based out of our NYC office. Below we've reflected the base salary range for this position. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of Betterment’s total compensation package for employees. 

  • New York City: $160,000 - $180,000

This job may also be eligible for variable compensation in the form of a company incentive bonus. 

A Day in the Life

  • Own the overarching communications strategy across all three lines of business, ensuring messaging is cohesive, differentiated, and aligned with company OKRs.
  • Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the leadership team on brand reputation, public positioning, and narrative development.
  • Manage relationships with external PR agencies; collaborate to shape press strategy, identify and prioritize opportunities, and brief them on launches, company news and proactive storylines. 
  • Lead media relations, expanding relationships with top-tier reporters, driving PR campaigns and product launches, and identifying earned media opportunities.
  • Craft and quality-control press releases, talking points, bylines, and media responses; ensure tone, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Legal, Compliance, and Product on product launches, brand campaigns and social media amplification.
  • Drive executive visibility programs including speaking engagements, conference strategy, and award submissions.
  • Support internal communications efforts in partnership with our People team. 
  • Help oversee compliance review for all public-facing communications content.

What We’re Looking For 

  • 10+ years of experience in communications or public relations either in-house or at an agency, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
  • Deep understanding of the financial services or fintech media landscape, with established journalist relationships.
  • Proven track record developing integrated communications strategies spanning media relations, internal comms, crisis management, executive positioning and thought leadership.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; an ability to find the perfect phrase to inspire an audience or position a product.
  • Experience managing external agency relationships and balancing in-house vs. outsourced resources.
  • Track record supporting C-suite executive communications, spokesperson programs, and media training.
  • Experience in a regulated industry (financial services, fintech, or similar) strongly preferred.
  • A collaborative leader with outstanding judgment and high EQ.

Join a team built on these core values

We change lives

Be a part of a community of innovators working to transform financial outcomes for real people. Your work will make an impact, always laddering up to our mission; to empower people to build wealth with confidence and ease.

We set audacious goals

We set them for the company, our customers, and ourselves, and we won’t stop until we reach them. We don’t just show up; we give our all, then celebrate our wins.

We value all perspectives

When we collaborate, we're at our best. We believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes and strive to uphold our supportive and inclusive community.

We simplify financial services

We’re financial services pioneers, always finding new ways to improve, optimize, and enhance. Constant improvement is in our DNA.

 Our Commitment to Your Total Well-being:

  • We offer a competitive suite of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; infertility support and WPATH-aligned transgender health benefits; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); transit benefits and FSA and HSA options
  • Ownership: Equity for all employees, including new hire and refresher grants.
  • Time: Flexible paid time off, paid parental leave, and a fully paid four-week sabbatical in your sixth year.
  • Growth: Company-paid professional coaching for all employees.
  • Wealth: Day-one 401(k) match plus matching on qualified student loan payments.

What happens next

We’ll take a few weeks to review all applications. If we’d like to spend more time with you, we’ll reach out to arrange next steps, which will include 3-4 sets of meetings with your future colleagues.

In the interview process, we’ll look to learn more about your skills, experiences, capabilities, and motivators. Many of our questions will be aimed at understanding how you might operate here at Betterment. Depending on the role, we may ask you to complete a case study exercise or technical assessments, as we want to collect a robust set of data points to better inform our decisions.

On average, it takes us around 3-5 weeks to make a hiring decision, depending on your availability and sense of urgency. As a best practice, we aim to interview at least 2-3 final round candidates before making a hiring decision. Please note that, as we usually receive an overwhelming number of  applications for open positions, we’re unable to offer individual feedback during the interview process. 

We recognize that interviewing for a new role is a big deal. We appreciate you considering Betterment as the next step in your career, and our Recruiting Team is here to support and advocate for you through the interview process!

Betterment is dedicated to providing accommodations to candidates upon request. If you need accommodations at any point throughout the interview process, please reach out to your recruiter. 

Please note that in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Come join us! 

We’re an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, predisposing genetic characteristic, domestic violence victim status, arrest records, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

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