Director of Public Relations

Overview

Rate is one of the nation’s top retail mortgage lenders, delivering a seamless, tech-driven experience that helps customers reach their home ownership and financial goals. Founded in 2000 and based in Chicago, Rate is licensed in all 50 states and D.C. and has helped over 2 million homeowners with a wide range of loan products, competitive rates and personalized service. With 5,000+ employees across 300+ offices and 12+ subsidiaries, Rate’s Loan Officers rank among the best in the country.

From purchases and refinances to tapping into equity, Rate makes financing faster, simpler and less stressful. Our technology — including Same Day Mortgage, the Rate App, Flash Close℠, MyAccount and the Language Access Program — has earned recognition from Housing Wire, Scotsman Guide, Nerd Wallet, the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business. Learn more at

Director, Content and Communications

• Develop and execute an integrated public relations strategy aligned with Rate’s business objectives, brand identity, and growth priorities.
• Build distinct earned media strategies across corporate reputation, business press, trade media, consumer PR, product storytelling, executive visibility, wellness initiatives, and industry leadership.
• Identify and package compelling stories across the business, including product innovation, home ownership, customer experience, community impact, company culture, wellness initiatives, partnerships, market trends, and leadership perspectives.
• Build and manage relationships with top-tier journalists, editors, producers, and media outlets across national business, financial services, real estate, fintech, mortgage, personal finance, lifestyle, consumer, wellness, and trade media.
• Drive executive visibility for Rate’s leadership team through thought leadership programs, media placements, speaking opportunities, awards, contributed content, and timely commentary.
• Own external messaging frameworks, media narratives, press materials, executive talking points, briefing documents, reactive statements, and communications guidance.
• Lead proactive media strategy, including trend commentary, data-driven storylines, executive POVs, product narratives, consumer insights, wellness-adjacent brand stories, and timely responses to relevant industry and cultural moments.
• Manage all aspects of proactive and reactive media relations, including media outreach, interview preparation, inbound press inquiries, issues management, and crisis communications.
• Lead reputation management efforts, including media monitoring, scenario planning, response strategy, cross-functional alignment, and executive counsel.
• Partner with Marketing, Brand, Social, Product, Growth, Recruiting, Legal, Compliance, and Executive Leadership to align earned media with company priorities, campaigns, product launches, milestones, wellness initiatives, and reputation-sensitive moments.
• Collaborate with Legal and Compliance to ensure all external communications meet regulatory requirements and reflect appropriate business, consumer, and industry context.
• Oversee PR agency relationships, including strategy, execution, budgets, timelines, deliverables, and performance expectations.
• Monitor the media landscape, competitor coverage, industry trends, consumer conversations, wellness and lifestyle conversations, and cultural shifts to identify opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Define and report on PR performance, including quality of coverage, sentiment, message pull-through, share of voice, executive visibility, media relationships, and contribution to broader brand and business goals.
• Partner with internal communications teams or stakeholders to ensure major company news, executive narratives, wellness-related initiatives, and external media moments are clearly communicated across the organization.

• 8+ years of progressive public relations, corporate communications, or integrated communications experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated success securing meaningful coverage across national business, consumer, trade, industry, lifestyle,…