Chief Communications Officer

At OceanFirst Bank, each one of our employees plays an important role in delivering value to our customers and executing daily tasks in accordance with our core values. We recognize that our employees are essential to our success, making OceanFirst a great place to work and do business. Great benefits include: employee perks & discount programs, tuition assistance, incentive compensation program, professional development opportunities, and more! THE OPPORTUNITY: This is an opportunity to lead the next chapter of communications for a growing, respected financial institution. The Chief Communications Officer will serve as the Bank's senior communications strategist and trusted advisor to the CEO, Chief of Staff, executive team, and Board. This highly visible role will shape how the Bank tells its story, engages stakeholders, strengthens its reputation, and supports continued growth. The successful candidate will unite corporate, executive, employee, customer, media, community impact, ESG, reputation, and crisis communications under a clear enterprise strategy, ensuring communications actively advance the Bank's priorities. This leader will translate strategy into compelling narratives, coordinate stakeholder engagement, and help the Bank anticipate growth‑related opportunities and risks. The role also offers the opportunity to build the communications function, establishing standards, an operating model, stronger capabilities and talent, and more sophisticated measurement, analytics, and AI‑enabled approaches. For an accomplished communications executive, this is a chance to shape the Bank's voice, reputation, and trajectory at an important point in its evolution. THE MANDATE Define the communications strategy for the enterprise. Develop and own a multi‑year communications strategy that supports the Bank's business plan, growth objectives, reputation, brand, and value proposition. Be a strategic partner to the CEO. Serve as the CEO's principal communications advisor and partner with the Chief of Staff to develop an integrated CEO communications strategy, annual plan, and rolling 90‑day calendar. Elevate executive visibility. Develop integrated stakeholder and thought‑leadership strategies for the CEO and senior leadership, spanning customers, prospects, employees, investors, media, community, industry, and digital channels. Lead through moments that matter. Establish the communications framework for crises, issues, regulatory developments, M&A, and other high‑stakes corporate events. Serve as the senior communications decision‑maker and escalation point when the Bank's reputation or stakeholder relationships are at risk. Crisis Strategy. Sets the strategic framework for crisis and issues management and serves as the senior decision‑maker and escalation point during high‑stakes events such as mergers, acquisitions, regulatory matters, and crises. Build a high‑performing function. Lead, coach, and develop the broader communications team. Build the talent, capabilities, processes, and resources required to support an increasingly sophisticated enterprise. Bring the enterprise together. Partner across the Office of the CEO, Marketing, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Finance, Legal, ESG, and the lines of business to ensure a coordinated approach and a unified enterprise voice. Bring the enterprise together. Defines and manages the CEO's integrated stakeholder‑engagement strategy and schedule, including customer and prospect meetings, employee communications, investor engagements, media appearances, LinkedIn and social content, community events, and industry. Directs executive visibility and thought‑leadership strategy for the CEO and C‑suite, aligned to the Bank's strategic priorities. Partner across the Office of the CEO, Marketing, Investor Relations, Human Resources, Finance, Legal, ESG, and the lines of business to ensure a coordinated approach and a unified enterprise voice. Strengthen reputation and stakeholder intelligence. Establish a disciplined approach to media, reputation, and public‑sentiment monitoring and translate intelligence into actionable recommendations for executive leadership and the Board. Senior Representation. Serves as the Bank's senior communications representative with key media, industry, regulatory, investor, and community stakeholders. Modernize how communications are measured and delivered. Build a rigorous approach to communications measurement and leverage AI, analytics, automation, dashboards, and emerging technologies to improve content, identify trends and risks, understand stakeholder sentiment, and demonstrate the impact of the function. AI, Data Analytics & Communications. Uses AI and data analytics tools to create and optimize content, integrate communications data, identify trends and emerging risks, and measure media quality, message penetration, stakeholder sentiment, and program ROI. Own the operating model. Manage the communications budget, resource allocation, agency and vendor relationships, performance measurement, and overall effectiveness of the function. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE Established a clear and differentiated communications strategy aligned with the Bank's business strategy and growth ambitions. Built a trusted partnership with the CEO, Chief of Staff, executive leadership team, and Board. Elevated the CEO and senior leadership team as credible and visible voices with priority stakeholders. Created greater consistency and discipline across internal and external communications. Built a strong, scalable communications function with the right talent, capabilities, and operating rhythm. Strengthened the Bank's reputation and ability to anticipate and manage emerging issues. Created a more sophisticated, data‑driven approach to communications measurement and decision‑making. Demonstrated the tangible business and reputational value of communications. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR We are looking for an accomplished communications executive who combines strategic perspective, executive presence, exceptional judgment, and the ability to execute. You will be someone who: Has the credibility and executive presence to serve as a trusted advisor to a CEO and Board of Directors. Thinks beyond communications as a function and understands how communications can advance business strategy, growth, reputation, and stakeholder relationships. Can quickly assess complex situations, identify reputational implications, and recommend a clear course of action. Is calm and decisive under pressure and has experience navigating crises, high‑stakes issues, and challenging stakeholder environments. Is an exceptional writer, editor, storyteller, and communicator who can move comfortably between strategy and execution. Builds strong relationships across executives, boards, regulators, media, investors, agencies, employees, and community leaders. Has a track record of building and developing high‑performing teams. Can establish structure and discipline without creating bureaucracy. Is comfortable operating in an environment where priorities can change quickly and where discretion, responsiveness, and sound judgment are essential. Understands the opportunities presented by AI and data analytics and can apply these tools thoughtfully to improve the effectiveness of communications. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, business, or a related field; Master's degree or MBA preferred. 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, or a related discipline, including enterprise‑level strategy development. 7+ years of senior leadership experience managing teams and enterprise‑wide programs. Experience in financial services or another highly regulated industry strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience with executive communications, media relations, reputation management, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement. Experience with generative AI, content management, media monitoring, social listening, analytics, and communications measurement tools. THE ROLE The Chief Communications Officer will have broad exposure across the organization and regular interaction with the Board, CEO, executive leadership, business leaders, employees, and key external stakeholders. External relationships will include national and trade media, PR and marketing agencies, industry and regulatory organizations, investors and shareholders, and community organizations and leaders. The role is primarily office‑based and requires the ability to travel throughout the Bank's footprint and participate in external meetings, events, and stakeholder engagements as needed. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Office environment. Ability to operate computer. Ability to communicate in order to exchange simple to complex information with individuals and groups. Ability to travel throughout Bank footprint. #J-18808-Ljbffr