📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Director, Communications Germany & Switzerland
🔹 Company: Mastercard
🔹 Location: Frankfurt, Germany (with travel to Munich, Germany and Switzerland)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Communications
🔹 Date Posted: April 9, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (with periodic travel)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing communication strategies for Mastercard in Germany and Switzerland
- Serving as an advisor to senior executives on internal and external communication engagements
- Positioning senior executives as thought leaders through various channels
- Crafting compelling content for diverse audiences and platforms
- Acting as a spokesperson during major issues and providing real-time messaging guidance
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic and dynamic communications professional with a strong background in corporate communications, agency leadership, or journalism.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Serve as an advisor to senior executives on internal and external communication engagements
✅ Partner with internal teams and key business units to ensure consistent messaging
✅ Strategically position senior executives as thought leaders through speaking engagements, editorial content, and social media amplification
✅ Craft compelling internal and external content, including podcasts, blog posts, articles, webinars, presentations, and executive messaging
✅ Act as a spokesperson during major issues and provide guidance on real-time messaging and engagement strategies
✅ Collaborate with external partners, industry organizations, non-profits, and media to enhance Mastercard’s reputation
✅ Oversee internal communication in the markets to drive positive employee engagement and culture
✅ Monitor industry trends, emerging threats, and regulatory developments to ensure communications remain relevant and impactful
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and content creation across various channels and audiences.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field (Master's degree preferred)
Experience: 10+ years of experience in communications, with a proven track record in corporate communications, agency leadership, or journalism
Required Skills:
- Exceptional writing, storytelling, and messaging skills in both German and English
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a curiosity for solving business challenges
- Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, capable of building trust and consensus among stakeholders at all levels
- Experience managing teams and influencing across a matrixed organization
- Proven track record in crisis and issues management, with the ability to navigate complex, high-pressure situations
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with excellent project management skills
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in the payments industry
- Fluency in additional languages (e.g., French, Italian)
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in communications, exceptional language skills, and experience managing teams in a matrixed organization are most likely to succeed in this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: €120,000 - €160,000 per year (based on experience and market rates for a Director-level role in Germany)
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and employee discounts
- Opportunities for professional development and career growth
- Flexible work arrangements and a hybrid work model
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with occasional overtime during high-pressure situations
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market rates for a Director-level role in Germany. Actual compensation may vary based on experience and performance.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Mastercard operates in the global digital payments and technology industry, with a focus on providing secure, simple, smart, and accessible transactions worldwide.
Company Size: Mastercard is a large, publicly-traded company with over 10,000 employees globally. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and teams.
Founded: Mastercard was founded in 1966 and has since grown into a leading global payments and technology company.
Company Description:
- Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in over 200 countries and territories worldwide
- The company supports a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible
- Mastercard's technology and innovation, partnerships, and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses, and governments realize their greatest potential
Company Specialties:
- Global digital payments and commerce
- Technology and innovation
- Innovative mobile payment solutions
- Processing
Company Website: www.mastercard.com
ASSUMPTION: Mastercard's large size and global presence offer applicants a unique opportunity to work on diverse projects and gain exposure to various aspects of the payments industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the Director level, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Communications, Europe.
Reporting Structure: The Director will oversee the Communications function in Germany and Switzerland, managing a team of communications professionals.
Work Arrangement: This role is primarily on-site, with periodic travel to support Mastercard initiatives, industry events, and stakeholder engagements.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to expand the role's scope and impact as Mastercard continues to grow and evolve in the region
- Opportunities to work on high-profile projects and collaborate with senior leadership
- Access to professional development and training opportunities
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity for a communications professional to make a significant impact on Mastercard's presence in Germany and Switzerland, with potential for career growth and development.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Mastercard's offices in Germany and Switzerland are modern, collaborative workspaces that foster innovation and creativity.
Office Location(s): Frankfurt, Germany (primary office) and Munich, Germany, with occasional travel to Switzerland
Geographic Context:
- Frankfurt is a major financial hub and the fifth-largest city in Germany, offering a vibrant business environment and cultural scene
- Munich is the capital of Bavaria and a major economic center, known for its high quality of life and strong job market
- Switzerland is a small, landlocked country in Central Europe, with a highly developed economy and a strong focus on finance and technology
Work Schedule: The work schedule is primarily Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend work or evening hours during high-pressure situations or events.
ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Mastercard is dynamic, collaborative, and focused on driving innovation and growth in the payments industry.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume screening
- Phone or video call with the hiring manager
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other stakeholders
- Final interview with the Senior Vice President of Communications, Europe
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills and ability to craft compelling content
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Stakeholder management and interpersonal skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Mastercard's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your communication work, demonstrating your ability to craft compelling content for various audiences and platforms
- Research Mastercard's business and industry trends to show your understanding of the company and its challenges
ATS Keywords: communications, director, Germany, Switzerland, corporate communications, agency leadership, journalism, writing, storytelling, messaging, crisis management, project management, interpersonal skills, diplomatic skills, team management, stakeholder engagement, content creation, thought leadership, industry trends monitoring, employee engagement, public relations, social media
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's communication skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit with Mastercard.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
- Social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
ASSUMPTION: The tools and technologies required for this role are standard for communications professionals and can be learned or adapted to as needed.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Doing the right thing
- Staying true to our roots
- Innovating for our customers
- Collaborating and winning together
- Embracing change
Work Style:
- Dynamic and fast-paced
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Focused on driving innovation and growth
- Adaptable and responsive to change
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you embody Mastercard's values in your daily work?
- Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your role or organization. How did you handle it?
- How do you approach collaborating with diverse teams and stakeholders to achieve common goals?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with Mastercard's values and a collaborative, adaptable work style are most likely to thrive in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple stakeholders and balancing competing priorities
- Adapting to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
- Navigating a large, matrixed organization
- Balancing the demands of internal and external communications
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong project management skills, excellent communication, and a proactive, adaptable approach.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a Director of Communications or Head of Communications position in a large, global organization
- However, this role has a specific focus on Germany and Switzerland, requiring language skills and regional expertise
- Career progression in this role could lead to a broader regional or global communications leadership position
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain regional expertise and make a significant impact on Mastercard's presence in Germany and Switzerland.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a communications strategy for a major product launch or event
- Crafting a thought leadership article or speech for a senior executive
- Managing a crisis communications situation, including real-time messaging and stakeholder engagement
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and challenges faced by the Director of Communications, Germany & Switzerland.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the broader communications strategy for Mastercard in Europe?
- What are the most pressing communications challenges facing Mastercard in Germany and Switzerland?
- How does Mastercard support the growth and development of its communications professionals?
- What is the expected timeline for this role to make a significant impact on Mastercard's presence in the region?
- How does this role collaborate with other functions and business units within Mastercard?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you understand the role's context, expectations, and opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare examples of your communication work, demonstrating your ability to craft compelling content for various audiences and platforms
- Research Mastercard's business and industry trends to show your understanding of the company and its challenges
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
