Senior Communications Specialist

Senior Communications Specialist

Malvern, PA

This senior communications role serves as a strategic advisor to Vanguard's C-suite, leading the development, writing, and execution of high-impact, integrated communication strategies that advance enterprise priorities and elevate the company's brand and reputation. The ideal candidate combines deep business acumen with strategic foresight to craft compelling narratives for complex topics, guide executives across diverse external channels, and influence decisions at the highest levels. In addition to shaping messaging that protects and enhances Vanguard's position in the market, this leader maintains a strong internal and external network, partners closely with senior business leaders and cross-functional teams, mentors emerging communicators, and drives innovation in Executive Communications through industry best practices, rigorous measurement, and thoughtful risk anticipation.

Core Responsibilities

• Leads the development of integrated executive communications strategies to enable strategic business outcomes, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and marketing-communication strategies, and adapting plans as needed.
• Translates enterprise and business strategies into messaging and content, personally crafting narratives for complex topics and executive audiences that work across a range of channels. Oversees messaging consistency and alignment with Vanguard's positioning and key themes. Partners with cross-functional strategy, marketing, and creative teams to ensure broad use and execution.
• Protects and advances Vanguard's reputation through all communications across channels and platforms. Anticipates risks, balances risk/reward, and proactively sources and delivers strategic, business-critical communications.
• Drives the impact of collective communication strategies, ensuring execution of all phases-conception, implementation, and measurement. Partners closely with senior leaders to advise and influence decisions at the highest levels.
• Serves as Vanguard's authority on industry best practices and emerging trends, introducing innovative tactics and concepts to elevate Executive Communications. Balances external practice with internal brand and culture.
• Strengthens relationships with key influencers, executives, journalists across top-tier and trade outlets, and agency partners-leveraging a robust internal and external network to shape narratives and secure impactful coverage.
• Mentors and develops junior and mid-level team members, investing in team capability and challenging the status quo to advance Corporate Communications' evolution.
• Leads the development and oversight of practice area measurement framework tied to goals and KPIs, partnering closely with Centers of Excellence and analytics teams to enhance impact. Provides consistent transparency and accountability to managers and business partners.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

• Minimum eight years related work experience, with at least five years in Communications and PR preferred. Proven track record of leadership, influence, and enterprise impact required. Expertise in communicating technical topics within regulated environments. Proven ability to advise and influence C-suite leaders. Expertise in strategic narrative development across channels.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.
• Experience partnering closely with senior leaders to advise and influence decisions and media strategy.