Vice President of Investor Relations at First Student in Cincinnati, OH

Job description

The Vice President of Investor Relations leads the company's engagement with the investment community, including institutional shareholders, prospective investors, sell-side analysts, and, in partnership with Treasury, debt investors. This role shapes and communicates the company's equity story, ensures the market understands the company's strategy and financial performance, and brings investor perspectives back to senior management and the Board. The VP of IR is a trusted advisor to the CEO and CFO on market expectations, valuation, and shareholder sentiment. Key Responsibilities Strategy and Equity Story Develop and refine the company's investment thesis and equity story, aligned with corporate strategy and capital allocation priorities. Design and execute a proactive IR strategy, including targeting of long-term institutional investors that fit the company's profile. Benchmark valuation, performance, and disclosure practices against peers and advise management on how the market views the company. Earnings and Financial Communications Lead the quarterly earnings process, including the press release, earnings call script, slide presentation, and Q&A preparation. Coordinate closely with the CFO, Controller, FP&A, Legal, and Corporate Communications to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timely release. Manage financial guidance practices and help shape how guidance is set, communicated, and updated. Contribute to the investor-facing sections of the 10-K, 10-Q, proxy statement, and annual report. Investor and Analyst Engagement Serve as the primary point of contact for institutional investors and sell-side analysts. Plan and execute non-deal roadshows, investor conferences, site visits, and one-on-one and group meetings for the CEO, CFO, and other executives. Manage analyst models and consensus estimates, and monitor coverage to ensure the market's expectations are well-informed. Lead planning and execution of Investor Day events. Market Intelligence and Feedback Monitor shareholder base, trading activity, ownership changes, short interest, and peer developments. Provide regular reporting to the CEO, CFO, and Board on investor sentiment, perception studies, and market feedback. Identify and assess activist investor risk, and maintain an activism preparedness plan in partnership with Legal, the Corporate Secretary, and outside advisors. Governance, ESG, and Shareholder Engagement Partner with the Corporate Secretary and Legal on proxy season outreach, shareholder proposals, and say-on-pay engagement. Coordinate ESG and sustainability messaging to investors, including engagement with ESG rating agencies and stewardship teams at large asset managers. Compliance and Disclosure Controls Ensure compliance with Regulation FD, SEC disclosure rules, insider trading policies, and stock exchange requirements. Serve on or support the company's Disclosure Committee. Maintain IR policies, quiet period practices, and spokesperson guidelines. Corporate Transactions Support communication of major corporate events such as M&A, divestitures, spin-offs, restructurings, capital returns, and leadership changes. Develop investor messaging and Q&A for material announcements. Leadership Build and develop a high-performing IR team. Manage IR budget and relationships with outside vendors (IR website, webcast providers, perception study firms, surveillance and proxy solicitation firms). Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. 12–15+ years of experience in investor relations, equity research, corporate finance, investment banking, or buy-side investing, including significant IR leadership experience at a public company. Strong understanding of financial statements, valuation methods, and capital markets. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex information into clear, compelling messages. Executive presence and credibility with senior management, the B