Director, Communications, Central Europe

Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Director, Communications, Central Europe
The Director, Communications, Central Europe leads Mastercard's communications strategy across 12 markets within the Central Europe Division. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving a consistent Mastercard narrative while adapting communications to local market priorities, stakeholder environments, and business needs.
The Director leads and connects a distributed communications team, including direct reports and colleagues aligned through matrix reporting structures. The role focuses on setting priorities, fostering collaboration, sharing expertise across markets, and ensuring high-quality communications outcomes that support business objectives and strengthen Mastercard's reputation.
As a trusted adviser to Central Europe leadership, Country Managers, and senior business stakeholders, the Director translates business priorities into impactful communications strategies while balancing divisional, European, and global priorities.
Key responsibilities:
Lead Communications Across Central Europe
Develop and implement the communications strategy for the Central Europe Division, aligned with Mastercard's business objectives and broader European and global communications priorities.
Provide leadership across communications activities in all Central Europe markets, ensuring consistent messaging and effective local execution.
Build and lead a high-performing communications community across multiple reporting lines.
Coach and develop team members while fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and accountability.
Prioritize resources and investments to maximize business impact.
Act as a Strategic Business Partner
Serve as a trusted communications adviser to division leadership and Country Managers.
Develop a deep understanding of Mastercard's strategy, customers, competitive landscape, and growth priorities.
Translate business objectives into communications programs that enhance reputation and support business growth.
Provide counsel on emerging trends, opportunities, and reputational risks.
Influence stakeholders across local, divisional, regional, and global teams within a complex matrix organization.
Build and Protect Mastercard's Reputation
Strengthen Mastercard's reputation and positioning across Central Europe.
Identify and deliver strategic communications opportunities that support business priorities.
Lead executive communications and media engagement activities.
Provide guidance on reputational issues, issues management, and crisis communications.
Position Mastercard executives as credible external voices on topics relevant to customers, partners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
Drive Integrated Communications
Champion integrated communications across corporate communications, employee communications, public policy, marketing, and business functions.
Align Central Europe communications efforts with broader European and global initiatives.
Ensure strong planning, execution, measurement, and accountability across markets.
Manage agency partnerships, budgets, and resources to deliver maximum value and impact.
Promote innovation and continuous improvement across communications activities.
Maintain Communications Excellence
While primarily a strategic leadership role, the Director is expected to provide hands-on support in high-profile or sensitive situations, including:
Executive communications and media relations.
Crisis and issues management.
Development of key messaging and narratives.
Major announcements and business milestones.
Ensuring consistently high standards across all communications activities.
Experience and Capabilities
The successful candidate will be a commercially minded communications leader with significant experience operating in complex international environments.
Key qualifications include:
Extensive experience in corporate communications within multinational or matrixed organizations.
Proven success leading communications across multiple countries or markets.
Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams through both direct and indirect reporting relationships.
Excellent business acumen and ability to align communications strategies with commercial objectives.
Strong executive presence and experience advising senior leaders.
Expertise in reputation management, media relations, and crisis communications.
Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills.
Ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, complex environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Fluency in German and English.
Leadership Profile
The ideal candidate:
Leads through influence and empowers others to succeed.
Balances divisional priorities with local market realities.
Creates clarity and alignment within a complex matrix organization.
Builds trust and credibility with senior leaders and communications teams.
Makes effective decisions and establishes clear priorities.
Understands the business drivers behind the communications agenda.
Connects local, regional, and global priorities.
Fosters a collaborative, high-performing communications culture.
Maintains high standards of execution and accountability.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.