Director of Public Relations

Overview Rate is one of the nation’s top retail mortgage lenders, delivering a seamless, tech-driven experience that helps customers reach their homeownership and financial goals. Founded in 2000 and based in Chicago, Rate is licensed in all 50 states and D.C. and has helped over 2 million homeowners with a wide range of loan products, competitive rates and personalized service. With 5,000+ employees across 300+ offices and 12+ subsidiaries, Rate’s Loan Officers rank among the best in the country. From purchases and refinances to tapping into equity, Rate makes financing faster, simpler and less stressful. Our technology — including Same Day Mortgage, the Rate App, FlashClose℠, MyAccount and the Language Access Program — has earned recognition from HousingWire, Scotsman Guide, NerdWallet, the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business. Learn more at rate.com. Job Profile Director, Content and Communications Responsibilities Develop and execute an integrated public relations strategy aligned with Rate’s business objectives, brand identity, and growth priorities. Build distinct earned media strategies across corporate reputation, business press, trade media, consumer PR, product storytelling, executive visibility, wellness initiatives, and industry leadership. Identify and package compelling stories across the business, including product innovation, homeownership, customer experience, community impact, company culture, wellness initiatives, partnerships, market trends, and leadership perspectives. Build and manage relationships with top-tier journalists, editors, producers, and media outlets across national business, financial services, real estate, fintech, mortgage, personal finance, lifestyle, consumer, wellness, and trade media. Drive executive visibility for Rate’s leadership team through thought leadership programs, media placements, speaking opportunities, awards, contributed content, and timely commentary. Own external messaging frameworks, media narratives, press materials, executive talking points, briefing documents, reactive statements, and communications guidance. Lead proactive media strategy, including trend commentary, data-driven storylines, executive POVs, product narratives, consumer insights, wellness-adjacent brand stories, and timely responses to relevant industry and cultural moments. Manage all aspects of proactive and reactive media relations, including media outreach, interview preparation, inbound press inquiries, issues management, and crisis communications. Lead reputation management efforts, including media monitoring, scenario planning, response strategy, cross-functional alignment, and executive counsel. Partner with Marketing, Brand, Social, Product, Growth, Recruiting, Legal, Compliance, and Executive Leadership to align earned media with company priorities, campaigns, product launches, milestones, wellness initiatives, and reputation-sensitive moments. Collaborate with Legal and Compliance to ensure all external communications meet regulatory requirements and reflect appropriate business, consumer, and industry context. Oversee PR agency relationships, including strategy, execution, budgets, timelines, deliverables, and performance expectations. Monitor the media landscape, competitor coverage, industry trends, consumer conversations, wellness and lifestyle conversations, and cultural shifts to identify opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership. Define and report on PR performance, including quality of coverage, sentiment, message pull-through, share of voice, executive visibility, media relationships, and contribution to broader brand and business goals. Partner with internal communications teams or stakeholders to ensure major company news, executive narratives, wellness-related initiatives, and external media moments are clearly communicated across the organization. Qualifications 8+ years of progressive public relations, corporate communications, or integrated communications experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. Demonstrated success securing meaningful coverage across national business, consumer, trade, industry, lifestyle, and/or wellness-adjacent media. Experience managing both corporate/business press and consumer-facing media strategies. Experience in financial services, mortgage, fintech, real estate, personal finance, technology, consumer brands, wellness, or another highly regulated or complex industry is a strong plus. Proven ability to develop and execute executive communications, thought leadership, and media visibility programs. Strong understanding of how earned media supports brand trust, consumer relevance, executive authority, reputation, recruiting, and business growth. Ability to translate complex business, financial, product, industry, or brand information into clear, compelling stories for different audiences. Established media relationships across business, trade, real estate, fintech, personal finance, lifestyle, consumer, wellness, and/or national media. Strong crisis communications and issues management experience; able to stay calm and move quickly when it matters most. Exceptional writing and storytelling with sharp editorial instincts, good judgment, and the ability to identify newsworthy and brand-building opportunities. Experience advising senior executives and preparing leaders for interviews, speaking opportunities, presentations, and reputation-sensitive moments. Experience managing agencies, vendors, budgets, timelines, and cross-functional internal teams. Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work across Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Product, Social, Brand, Recruiting, and Executive Leadership. Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field. Benefits and Equal Opportunity Rate is committed to providing a competitive and equitable total rewards package. The compensation for this role is designed to attract, retain, and motivate top talent. The expected base salary range for this position is $140,000 to $160,000 annually. Additional Information Rate is an Equal Opportunity Employer that welcomes and encourages all applicants to apply regardless of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy or other reason protected by law. The company offers a comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits; life insurance and death benefits; critical care insurance; personal accidental insurance; commuter benefits; pet insurance; and other wellness resources. Washington State benefit information is available via the provided link. Rate also invites introductions to our recruiting team for future opportunities. #J-18808-Ljbffr