Director, Core Payments Communications

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, Core Payments Communications
Overview
Mastercard is seeking a dynamic, strategic communications leader for consumer products, serving as communications partner to the Chief Consumer Product Officer and wider consumer payments leadership team.
The role will shape how Mastercard's consumer payments innovations are understood by customers, partners, consumers, media and employees. Working across credit, debit, prepaid, ESG and affluent product offerings - including World, World Elite, World Legend and The Mastercard Collection - the Director will develop narratives that connect products to human outcomes, customer value and business impact.
The ideal candidate combines strategic communications expertise, business acumen, creativity and strong storytelling. They will translate complex technologies and partner solutions into clear, engaging narratives that show how Mastercard powers economies, empowers people and creates meaningful experiences.
Success requires a modern communicator who can build influence across audiences, platforms and communities, using earned, owned, social, digital and experiential channels to maximize relevance, reach and impact.
Role Purpose
• Develop and execute integrated communications strategies that elevate Mastercard's consumer product portfolio and advance its reputation for innovation, trust, growth and impact.• Serve as strategic communications lead for the Chief Consumer Product Officer and priority consumer product initiatives, creating thought leadership, customer engagement and storytelling platforms that bring Mastercard's innovation agenda to life.• Translate product strategy into accessible narratives that resonate with customers, issuers, consumers, partners and industry stakeholders while supporting business growth.
Key Responsibilities
Product Communications, Storytelling & Narrative Development:• Lead communications strategy and execution for Mastercard's consumer product portfolio, ensuring messaging clearly articulates customer value, consumer relevance and business impact.• Develop integrated programs supporting product launches, announcements, customer storytelling, thought leadership, executive visibility and market activations.• Translate complex products, platforms and technologies into simple, human-centered stories that show how Mastercard improves everyday experiences, helps businesses grow and creates opportunity.• Build narratives around World, World Elite, World Legend and The Mastercard Collection, highlighting tangible value for consumers, issuers and partners.• Ensure product communications align with Mastercard's corporate narrative, innovation agenda, trust leadership and purpose-driven business strategy.
Customer & Partner Engagement:• Identify and activate communications opportunities that strengthen relationships with issuers, merchants, fintechs, technology partners and strategic customers.• Support customer-facing engagements, executive meetings, product showcases, Experience Center activations and major industry events through messaging, presentations, briefings and engagement plans.• Showcase partner success stories and demonstrate Mastercard product value through authentic customer and consumer experiences.• Collaborate with regional and market communications teams to tailor narratives for key audiences while maintaining global message consistency.
Innovation, Creative Channels & Audience Engagement:• Champion innovative communications approaches that reach audiences in meaningful and unexpected ways.• Develop integrated content strategies across earned media, social, digital, creator ecosystems, experiential activations, emerging technologies and nontraditional channels.• Explore new storytelling formats and audience engagement models that make payments and commerce topics accessible, relevant and culturally resonant.• Use data, insights, cultural trends and audience behavior to inform communications strategies and content development.
Media Relations & Communications Execution:• Manage consumer payments news flow across earned, owned, social, digital, employee and executive communications channels, ensuring clear sequencing and message consistency.• Create and oversee high-quality materials including press releases, messaging frameworks, FAQs, briefings, speeches, talking points, bylines, op-eds, social content, videos and executive presentations.• Develop proactive media strategies that elevate Mastercard's leadership in consumer payments, experiences, loyalty and innovation.• Prepare and coach spokespeople and, where appropriate, serve as corporate spokesperson on consumer payments topics; anticipate issues, trends and competitive dynamics.
Executive Thought Leadership & Industry Influence:• Serve as primary communications advisor to the Chief Consumer Product Officer, developing an executive visibility, thought leadership and influence strategy.• Build a roadmap of speaking engagements, media opportunities, customer forums, industry conferences, analyst engagements and executive visibility moments.• Develop signature points of view on the future of consumer commerce, payments, loyalty, security, personalization, identity, affluent experiences and emerging consumer behaviors.• Create executive content including keynotes, customer presentations, bylines, LinkedIn posts, videos, thought leadership articles and industry commentary.
Strategic Counsel & Cross-Functional Leadership:• Provide strategic counsel to the Chief Consumer Product Officer and senior Consumer Product leaders on positioning, messaging, thought leadership, executive visibility, customer engagement, media strategy, industry participation and reputation management.• Partner with Product, Marketing, regional communications and enterprise stakeholders to develop coordinated communications aligned with customer and business priorities.• Advise senior stakeholders on reputation opportunities and risks related to product innovation, customer engagement and market developments.• Establish measurement frameworks and foster strong cross-functional relationships to assess impact and drive alignment.
Success Profile
The ideal candidate is:• A strategic storyteller who can translate technical products, payment innovations and business strategies into compelling human-centered narratives.• An experienced executive communications and thought leadership practitioner who has supported senior business leaders.• Deeply curious about consumer behavior, innovation, technology and the future of commerce.• Creative, audience-focused and willing to challenge conventional communications approaches.• Skilled at developing integrated campaigns across earned, owned, social and experiential channels.• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, visible environment with multiple senior stakeholders.
Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.
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.

In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.
Pay Ranges
Purchase, New York: $174,000 - $286,000 USD