Media Relations Manager

Position Summary:

The media relations manager at TCF Bank will be responsible for managing relationships with media to enhance the reputation of the company, positively promote its products and services and raise awareness for its community support and engagement. This individual will play a critical role in developing, executing and measuring media relations plans that support corporate and business line goals and objectives while exemplifying the mission, vision and values of the company. The ideal candidate manages media relations as a collaborative and accountable self-starter who focuses on solutions and effectively manages multiple work streams simultaneously to achieve desired results. The person in this role will interact will all levels of the company and report to the vice president and director of corporate communications. Exceptional writing skills, strong media relationships (within the banking industry and mainstream media), a demonstrated track record of earning and placing favorable stories and strong integrity and adherence to ethical journalistic standards are all success factors for this role.

Major Areas of Accountability:

• Develop and execute media relations plans that successfully support corporate and business line goals and objectives. 
• Proactively generate earned media coverage and reactively respond to media requests. 
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with industry and regional media. 
• Identify storytelling opportunities while anticipating potential risks; capitalize on winning opportunities by securing positive coverage. 
• Compile and maintain media lists. 
• Compile and maintain an editorial calendar to anticipate future media and reputation-enhancing opportunities. 
• Manage speaking and award submissions. 
• Review and report on media coverage relevant to TCF, its brands, competitors, partners, and on relevant trends; provide real-time analysis. 
• Manage outside vendors providing support services to Corporate Communications, including media monitoring, video/multimedia production, and reputation measurement. 
• Support media training for company spokespersons and prepare briefing materials. 
• Manage the company newsroom. 
• Serve as a company spokesperson.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Preferred: Master’s degree, APR certification

Required Work Experience / Skills:

• Minimum 5 years of experience developing, executing and measuring comprehensive media relations plans that promote, advance, influence and defend the company’s reputation.
• Manage media relations: proactively pitch media to secure coverage, reactively respond to media requests, cultivate and maintain relationships with industry and regional media, manage speaking and award submissions, compile and maintain pitch lists, and report on media coverage. 
• Support media training for company spokespersons and prepare briefing materials. 
• Demonstrated experience in crisis and issues management involving consumers, including influencing negative coverage to neutral, suppressing negative coverage, and securing key messages in media coverage. 
• Serve as a company spokesperson. 
• Genuine interest in how news is made, and a proven record of capitalizing on news-making opportunities. 
• Exceptional writing skills, especially under tight deadlines, to develop effective external announcements, byline articles, presentations, talking points, and to contribute to social media and website content. 
• Experience using media relations tools: Business Wire, NewsHQ newsroom, Cision and Critical Mention or equivalents.

Preferred Work Experience / Skills:

• Consumer banking experience preferred, but not required. 
• Experience working in a regulated industry preferred, but not required. 
• Consumer media relations experience in Denver, Detroit, Chicago and/or Minneapolis/St. Paul. 
• Experience shooting headshots and producing videos and podcasts. 
• Experience working in a matrix organization.