External Communications Leader

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: External Communications Leader

🔹 Company: Equifax

🔹 Location: USA - Georgia - Atlanta - Midtown 30309

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-05-11

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Leading corporate public relations activities to align with company values and strategic priorities
• Implementing and managing an integrated corporate external communications program
• Partnering with senior leadership to meet their ongoing communications needs
• Building and maintaining a cohesive public relations strategy across global teams
• Serving as an Equifax media contact and spokesperson

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, strong media relations skills, and the ability to manage cross-functional projects alongside senior leadership.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead the Corporate public relations team, providing strategic counsel and external communications planning for Equifax senior leadership

✅ Take a hands-on role in the oversight and creation of written materials for external use

✅ Build trusted relationships with leadership across the organization and with the broader global Communications team

✅ Build and maintain a cohesive public relations strategy working in conjunction with Business Unit and Center of Excellence Partners

✅ Understand global public relations challenges and opportunities and collaborate with Equifax international public relations teams

✅ Collaborate with the Investor Relations team, Finance, Legal, and the Office of the Corporate Secretary on the release of quarterly earnings announcements

✅ Develop issues response plans and lead communications workstreams related to significant corporate events, including M&A

✅ Serve as an Equifax media contact and spokesperson

✅ Foster positive relationships and work collaboratively with global colleagues across Corporate Communications and Marketing functions

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective relationships with various stakeholders.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field

Experience: 10+ years of corporate communications experience, or experience working in a communications agency with a focus on technology and/or financial services

Required Skills:

• Strong personal curiosity for technology and the ability to make technical content accessible to non-technical audiences
• Conceptual fluency in earnings/financial communication fundamentals
• Demonstrated ability to lead narrative development for external communications
• Exceptional executive level writing and editing skills with a deadline-driven approach to content creation
• Hands-on understanding of M&A communications and related integration/change management initiatives
• Proven ability to navigate a global corporate environment and manage cross-cultural internal communications
• Track record of leading and managing teams, with strong interpersonal and team-building skills

Preferred Skills:

• Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese
• Advanced degree in Communications, Business Administration, or a related field
• Previous experience working in a large, heavily matrixed organization
• Previous communications experience in technology, financial services, credit reporting and/or government policy
• Strong working knowledge of G-Suite

ASSUMPTION: Given the global nature of this role, candidates with experience working in a multinational corporation or agency would be highly desirable.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 (Based on industry standards for a Marketing Director/VP level role in Atlanta, GA)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive compensation and healthcare packages
• 401k matching
• Paid time off
• Organizational growth potential through online learning platform with guided career tracks

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with the flexibility to work remotely two days a week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Equifax operates in the financial services industry, focusing on credit reporting, data analytics, and technology solutions. The company plays a crucial role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence.

Company Size: Equifax is a large organization with over 10,000 employees worldwide. This size offers opportunities for career growth and exposure to diverse projects and teams.

Founded: Equifax was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations or investments in 24 countries across North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

Company Description:

• Equifax is a global data, analytics, and technology company that helps its customers navigate an increasingly complex world
• The company's unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions and move people forward
• Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region

Company Specialties:

• Risk modeling
• Credit reporting
• Marketing data
• Identity protection
• HR compliance
• Employment verification
• ACA compliance
• Technology
• Fraud prevention
• Artificial intelligence
• Machine learning
• Financial literacy
• Blockchain
• Cloud-based platforms
• Big data
• Trended data
• Data mining
• Cybersecurity
• Financial services
• Fintech
• Data analytics
• Cloud
• Talent solutions

Company Website: https://www.equifax.com

ASSUMPTION: As a large, global organization, Equifax offers numerous opportunities for career growth and development within its various business units and centers of excellence.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the Director/VP level, reporting directly to the Vice President of Internal and External Communications and working closely with the Equifax Senior Leadership Team.

Reporting Structure: The External Communications Leader will oversee the Corporate public relations team and collaborate with global colleagues across Corporate Communications and Marketing functions.

Work Arrangement: This role offers the flexibility to work remotely two days a week or from the state-of-the-art global Headquarters located in Midtown, Atlanta.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to advance to a more senior role within the Communications department or other business units
• Opportunities to work on high-profile, cross-functional projects alongside senior leadership
• Access to an online learning platform with guided career tracks for professional development

ASSUMPTION: Given the global nature of Equifax and the strategic importance of this role, there are ample opportunities for career growth and development within the organization.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Equifax's global headquarters is a state-of-the-art facility located in Midtown, Atlanta, offering a modern and collaborative work environment.

Office Location(s): 11710 Plaza America Dr, Reston, VA 20190, USA (Primary); 140 William St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AU; 100 Walker St, Sydney, NSW 2060, AU; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374, USA; 1 Angel Court, London, UK EC2R 7HJ, GB; 1 Angel Court, London, UK EC2R 7HJ, GB; Zona Franca Metropolitana, Heredia, Costa Rica 40140-280, CR; Anjou, Quebec QC H1M 0A3, CA; North York, Ontario ON M2M 4G8, CA; Urbanizacion Colón, San José, San José Province 10108, CR

Geographic Context:

• Atlanta, GA: A vibrant, multicultural city with a thriving business community and numerous amenities
• Reston, VA: A suburban area near Washington, D.C., offering a mix of urban and rural living with easy access to major transportation hubs
• Melbourne and Sydney, Australia: Major cities with strong financial services industries, offering a high quality of life and numerous cultural attractions
• London, UK: A global financial hub with a diverse and multicultural population
• Heredia, Costa Rica: A city with a growing technology and business sector, offering a tropical climate and lower cost of living compared to the United States
• Montreal, Canada: A bilingual city with a strong financial services industry, offering a high quality of life and numerous cultural attractions

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week) with the flexibility to work remotely two days a week

ASSUMPTION: The work environment at Equifax's global headquarters is designed to foster collaboration and innovation, with state-of-the-art facilities and a focus on employee well-being.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application and resume submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• In-depth interview with the hiring manager and other team members
• Final interview with the Vice President of Internal and External Communications
• Background check and offer extension

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and communication skills
• Media relations and issues management experience
• Ability to work collaboratively with global teams
• Understanding of financial communication fundamentals

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience in corporate communications, media relations, and issues management
• Tailor your resume to emphasize skills and experiences that match the job requirements
• Prepare a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of the role and your fit with Equifax's company culture
• Be prepared to discuss your personal curiosity for technology and how you've applied it in previous roles

ATS Keywords: Corporate Communications, Public Relations, Strategic Counsel, Media Relations, Writing, Editing, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Issues Response, M&A Communications, Team Management, Interpersonal Skills, Financial Communication, Technology Understanding, Global Corporate Environment, Change Management

ASSUMPTION: As a large organization with a global presence, Equifax's application process may involve multiple rounds of interviews and assessments to ensure the best fit for the role and the company.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• G-Suite (Google Workspace)
• Media monitoring and analytics tools (e.g., Mention, Brand24)
• Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
• Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)

ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies used by Equifax may vary depending on the role and the team's needs.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Knowledge drives progress
• Power decisions that move people forward
• Collaborate with curiosity
• Act with integrity
• Innovate responsibly

Work Style:

• Equifax fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment
• The company encourages curiosity, innovation, and continuous learning
• Equifax values diversity and inclusion, with a strong commitment to equal opportunity and accessibility

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you align with Equifax's company values, particularly 'Knowledge drives progress' and 'Power decisions that move people forward'?
• How do you approach working collaboratively with global teams, and how have you demonstrated this skill in previous roles?
• How do you balance strategic thinking with a strong attention to detail, particularly when it comes to writing and editing?

ASSUMPTION: Equifax places a strong emphasis on cultural fit and seeks candidates who align with the company's values and work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a global team with varying time zones and cultural backgrounds
• Balancing strategic thinking with tactical execution in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Navigating a large, heavily matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders
• Adapting to changes in the external communications landscape, including emerging technologies and evolving media trends

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong communication skills, adaptability, and a strategic mindset.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other corporate communications roles, this position places a greater emphasis on financial communication fundamentals and M&A communications
• Equifax's global presence and diverse business units offer unique opportunities for career growth and development
• This role requires a higher level of strategic thinking and cross-functional collaboration than many other corporate communications positions

ASSUMPTION: Given the unique nature of this role, it is essential to consider the specific requirements and responsibilities when comparing it to similar positions in the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a comprehensive communications plan for a major corporate acquisition or divestment
• Managing a global team to coordinate a coordinated response to a significant media inquiry or crisis
• Creating and distributing a quarterly earnings announcement, including supporting materials and media outreach

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and tactical nature of the role, requiring strong communication skills, adaptability, and attention to detail.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does this role fit into the broader communications strategy for Equifax, and how will my work contribute to the company's overall goals?
• What are the most pressing communications challenges facing Equifax in the next 12-24 months, and how can this role help address them?
• How does Equifax support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the communications department?
• What is the dynamic like working with the Equifax Senior Leadership Team, and how can this role help drive their ongoing communications needs?
• How does Equifax foster a culture of collaboration and innovation, and how can this role contribute to that environment?

ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate your interest in the role and its strategic importance to Equifax, while also providing insight into the company's culture and priorities.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience in corporate communications, media relations, and issues management
• Prepare a cover letter that demonstrates your understanding of the role and your fit with Equifax's company culture
• Be prepared to discuss your personal curiosity for technology and how you've applied it in previous roles
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and reiterate your interest in the position

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.