What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director - Enterprise Communications position at Edward Jones?
This job posting is anticipated to remain open for 30 days, from 29-Apr-2026. The posting may close early due to the volume of applicants.
Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500¹ company where people come first. With over 9 million clients and 20,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we’re proud to be privately-owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns.
Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging.
People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career.
View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.
¹Fortune 500, published June 2024, data as of December 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. We are an innovative, flexible, and inclusive organization that attracts, develops, and inspires performance excellence and a sense of belonging.
People are at the center of our partnership. Edward Jones associates are seen, heard, respected, and supported. This is what we believe makes us the best place to start or build your career.
View our Purpose, Inclusion and Citizenship Report.
¹Fortune 500, published June 2024, data as of December 2023. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
Team Overview:
As a Director in Enterprise Communications within the External Communications and PR (ECPR) team, part of the firm’s External Affairs division, you will lead a critical function focused on enterprise reputation, crisis, and issues management. This role sits at the center of the firm’s response to complex, high‑risk, and high‑visibility situations that could impact trust, credibility, or business outcomes.
What You'll Do:
You will be responsible for anticipating and managing reputational risk, monitoring the external environment, and leading communications strategies during sensitive or rapidly evolving situations. The role requires exceptional judgment, strong instincts, and the ability to act with speed and confidence, mobilizing cross‑enterprise partners—including Legal, Finance, Compliance, Social Media, Business Resilience, and Risk—to deliver clear, coordinated, and effective communications.
In addition to reactive and proactive reputation management, this role oversees enterprise awards strategy and execution, ensuring recognition efforts strengthen credibility, support firm priorities, and reinforce the brand.
Here are a few of the Key Responsibilities:
As a Director in Enterprise Communications within the External Communications and PR (ECPR) team, part of the firm’s External Affairs division, you will lead a critical function focused on enterprise reputation, crisis, and issues management. This role sits at the center of the firm’s response to complex, high‑risk, and high‑visibility situations that could impact trust, credibility, or business outcomes.
What You'll Do:
You will be responsible for anticipating and managing reputational risk, monitoring the external environment, and leading communications strategies during sensitive or rapidly evolving situations. The role requires exceptional judgment, strong instincts, and the ability to act with speed and confidence, mobilizing cross‑enterprise partners—including Legal, Finance, Compliance, Social Media, Business Resilience, and Risk—to deliver clear, coordinated, and effective communications.
In addition to reactive and proactive reputation management, this role oversees enterprise awards strategy and execution, ensuring recognition efforts strengthen credibility, support firm priorities, and reinforce the brand.
Here are a few of the Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the vision, strategy, and outcomes for a team within Enterprise Communications, with primary accountability for crisis preparedness, issues management, and enterprise reputation protection across internal and external audiences.
- Serve as a senior communications leader during high‑risk situations, providing calm, decisive leadership and expert counsel to executives when the firm faces reputational, regulatory, or public scrutiny.
- Monitor and assess the media, social, and broader external environment to identify emerging risks, issues, and narratives, and recommend timely and appropriate communications responses.
- Partner closely with Legal and Compliance to manage sensitive communications, ensure alignment with regulatory and governance requirements, and support informed decision‑making in complex situations.
- Collaborate with Social Media, Business Resilience, Risk, and other enterprise teams to align messaging, escalation protocols, and response strategies across channels and stakeholders.
- Design and execute integrated enterprise communications strategies that balance proactive reputation-building with effective response to crises, issues, and sensitive developments.
- Provide trusted counsel and thought leadership to senior leaders, helping them navigate ambiguity and risk with strong judgment and clear communications.
- Oversee enterprise awards strategy and execution, ensuring submissions, positioning, and recognition support reputational goals and reinforce the firm’s leadership and credibility.
- Lead and develop a high‑performing team, cultivating impeccable judgment, collaboration, and a possibility mindset that prioritizes solutions over red tape.
- Manage team resources and budgets, ensuring readiness, scalability, and effectiveness across crisis, issues, and awards programs.
- Contribute to External Affairs strategy, bringing a crisis‑ and risk‑informed lens to enterprise communications priorities.
What You'll Need:
**Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office four days per week effective June 1, 2026. Before June 1, 2026, candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office three days per week, with preference for Tuesday through Thursday.**
Current INTERNAL home-based associates: While this role is posted as hybrid, if selected and accepted, you may retain your home-based status. Edward Jones intends in good faith to continue offering the role as home-based, though future business or regulatory needs may require on-site work.
- 12 years of experience in communications, journalism, or marketing, with significant experience in crisis, issues, and reputation management.
- 6 years of experience leading or coaching teams in large, complex, or highly matrixed organizations.
- Demonstrated experience across internal and external communications, including executive‑level counsel.
- Proven ability to exercise impeccable judgment and instincts, particularly in high‑pressure, fast‑moving, or ambiguous situations.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with executive presence and confidence advising senior leaders and navigating sensitive matters.
- Demonstrated ability to quickly mobilize diverse stakeholders, align competing priorities, and drive action without unnecessary process or bureaucracy.
- Strong collaboration skills and a possibility mindset—comfortable operating beyond rigid playbooks while remaining grounded in sound risk management.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to identify patterns, forecast reputational risk, and understand the broader enterprise implications of communications decisions.
- Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries, with strong familiarity working alongside Legal and Compliance.
- Agency experience and deep understanding of media relations, issues escalation, and response dynamics.
**Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office four days per week effective June 1, 2026. Before June 1, 2026, candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office three days per week, with preference for Tuesday through Thursday.**
Current INTERNAL home-based associates: While this role is posted as hybrid, if selected and accepted, you may retain your home-based status. Edward Jones intends in good faith to continue offering the role as home-based, though future business or regulatory needs may require on-site work.
At Edward Jones, we are building a place where everyone feels like they belong. We're proud of our associates' contributions to the firm and the recognitions we have received.
Check out our U.S. awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones
Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones
Check out our U.S. awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones
Check out our Canadian awards and accolades: Insights & Information Blog Postings about Edward Jones
Edward Jones does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Edward Jones' compensation and benefits package includes medical and prescription drug, dental, vision, voluntary benefits (such as accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness), short- and long-term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage. Short- and long-term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage are provided at no cost to associates. Edward Jones offers a 401k retirement plan, and tax-advantaged accounts: health savings account, and flexible spending account. Edward Jones observes ten paid holidays and provides 15 days of vacation for new associates beginning on January 1 of each year, as well as sick time, personal days, and a paid day for volunteerism. Associates may be eligible for bonuses and profit sharing. All associates are eligible for the firm's Employee Assistance Program. For more information on the Benefits available to Edward Jones associates, please visit our benefits page.