Visa is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 215 billion payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive.

When you join Visa, you join a culture of purpose and belonging – where your growth is priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere. Your work will have a direct impact on billions of people around the world – helping unlock financial access to enable the future of money movement.

Join Visa: A Network Working for Everyone.

We are looking for an experienced public affairs and communications professional to join as Senior Director, North America Communications. In this role, you will drive communications programs that support our policy and legislative priorities at the U.S. federal and state levels. This includes serving as a point person for issues management in North America.

You will work in partnership with U.S. Government Engagement (focused on federal, state and regulatory affairs) on a cross functional team across the business, and in conjunction with clients. You will also be a bridge to and from Visa’s broader corporate communications, corporate affairs, media relations and content teams in region.

You will be working with top talent whose world-class educations and diverse professional backgrounds inform dynamic debate and collaboration. Critical to success will be a proven ability to work across teams and to develop relationships - both internally and externally with clients and industry partners.   

You are a thoughtful, well-rounded team player who loves to learn, can see around corners, and who is comfortable both helping design strategy and doing the work to execute it. You love to write, can start from a blank page and quickly bring persuasive arguments to life for any channel and any audience.

This position will be based in the Washington D.C. office and will report to the Vice President, North America Communications. The ideal candidate will have a blend of corporate communications, public affairs and issues management experience.

Responsibilities:
•    Create public affairs strategies and develop integrated communications to reach key stakeholders at the U.S. federal and state level, on complex subjects, in support of the company's business priorities.
•    Serve as point person for crisis management for the North America region.
•    Develop locally relevant, issue-based narratives to support policy priorities that resonate with policymakers, community leaders, issue-specific experts and the media.
•    Draft content that successfully activates those narratives: write/design everything from client memos and issue briefs, to executive briefing documents and presentations, to op-eds, blog posts and digital ads.  
•    Act as communications liaison with select trade associations, such as Electronic Payments Coalition, American Bankers Association, the Electronic Transaction Association and others that represent the industry’s interests in D.C. and in state capitals across the United States.
•    Maintain relationships with reporters that cover relevant policy issues in the U.S., particularly those based in D.C.
•    Prepare senior executives for media or other public appearances related to public policy.
•    Serve as day-to-day agency contact and lead agency teams to successfully support disparate programs and priorities at any given time.
•    Manage budgets and agency resources in support of key programs and initiatives.
•    Use data and metrics to both research development of communications plans and to report on outcomes and pivot accordingly.

This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both remote and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office 2-3 set days a week (determined by leadership/site), with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% or more of the time based on business needs.

Basic Qualifications:

• 12 or more years of work experience with a bachelor’s degree or at least 10 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g., Masters/MBA/JD/MD), or a minimum of 5 years of work experience with a PhD.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15 or more years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 12 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Masters, MBA, JD, or MD), PhD with 9+ years of experience. 
• Public affairs/communications experience at a corporation, trade association and/or agency – including crisis communications and issues management experience.  
• Political campaign and/or state government or Hill experience preferred.  
• Natural connector and influencer.  
• Deep understanding of the connection points between business and public policy.  
• Fluent in multi-channel campaigns including social, digital, earned and paid media.  
• Stellar writing, editing skills and oral communications skills, including interpersonal and presentation skills.  
• Experience working with events and managing events agencies preferred.  
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment and with blurry boundaries.  
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and manage multiple projects, often on short deadlines and under pressure.  
• Known to think ahead, engage proactively, take initiative and solve problems.  
• Calm under pressure.  
• Expert at communicating effectively and managing up.  
• Sense of humor is a must. 

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.