Purpose of Job
We are seeking a talented Lead Communications Director to join our Corporate Communications team.
USAA values a culture that is highly collaborative, and we have found that a hybrid work type helps employees gain the best of both worlds - collaborating in-person in the office and working from home. The actual onsite days are settled between each employee and the employee's manager. Candidates are expected to live a commutable distance from our office in San Antonio, TX.
Communication Managers lead and oversee strategic communications planning and implementation for enterprise-level communications through public relations, media communications, employee communication, and reputation and influencer network programs. Counsels and supports senior leadership with communications directives, executive positioning, and public relations activities related to reputation, crises, and issues management. Ensures communications plans, strategies, and/or tactics support business and enterprise goals.
Job Requirements
About USAA
USAA knows what it means to serve. We facilitate the financial security of millions of U.S. military members and their families. This singular mission requires a dedication to innovative thinking at every level.
Primary Responsibilities:
Provides regular counsel and insight to senior management, company leaders, subject-matter experts, and unit staff to develop highly complex effective communication strategies and tactics in support of enterprise strategic initiatives.
Prioritizes highly complex communication projects and ensures they support enterprise plans for employee, member, and public initiatives. Serves as a key influencer and integrator of strategic objectives across the enterprise.
Creates strategies that employ communications tactics such as press outreach, online advocacy, social networkinginternal and external social channels, leadership, and other internal and external communication channels, and , publications. Measures the effectiveness of communications strategies to ensure objectives are met.
Develops and implements highly complex communications plans in support of business objectives and collaborates with colleagues to support positive business outcomes, protect and enhance USAA's reputation, and engage the company's workforce.
Develops, manages and executes effective messaging, collateral, processes and strategies in support of business initiatives; craft key messaging for use with federal and local regulators .
Partners with various teams within the Marketing & Communications Organization (e.g. Social Business, Content Strategy & Development) and with key enterprise partners in the development of collateral to be used across all mediums, including print, web, email, video, and social media to help deliver the messages on the identified channels.
Maintains a command of USAA strategies and possesses in-depth knowledge of financial services industry issues and trends, and actively seekings to link those issues to ongoing or emerging employee, member and/or public communications opportunities.
In support of public affairs, leads and/or partners in the development and implementation of all communications to include crisis management, legislative, regulatory and litigation communications. Manages message development and builds relationships with third-party groups.
Develops and manages grassroots communications with influential groups. Develops relationships with the news media to leverage USAA's reputation.
In support of social media, partners with the Social Business team to plans, directs, and executes USAA's social media strategy to protect, sustain, and enhance USAA's reputation .
Develops and mentors junior team members.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related degree required OR 4 additional years of related experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
8 or more years of progressively responsible experience in internal and/or external communications (including employee communications), preferably within the financial services industry to include media relations experience working with media outlets at national, regional or local levels.
Subject matter expert writing and editing skills and excellent verbal communication skills.
Subject-matter-expert knowledge of the function/discipline and demonstrated application of knowledge, skills and abilities towards work products required.
Subject-matter-expert level in communication industry practices and emerging trends required.
Experience in translating business objectives into integrated communication strategies and tactics that drive business performance.
Project management and collaboration experience including managing cross-functional projects from inception to completion.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated experience moving at a fast pace creating comprehensive, innovative & creative communication strategies, plans and tactics.
Experience with promotional, risk mitigation and strategic change storytelling, FAQs, speech writing, video, and graphic design.
AP style expert.
Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, then deliver proven outcomes.
Passionate about the employee experience.
Able to articulate risks and deliver mitigation strategies.
Ability to influence all levels of the organization, including Senior Executives, and teammates.
Previous experience with workflow tools.
Ability to juggle competing priorities and deliver with pace, precision, while balancing client perspectives.
Move at a fast clip, carry significant workload, and deliver against it.
The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.
Compensation:
USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market position. The salary range for this position is: $117,600 - $211,700 *.
Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance or at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.
*Geographical Differential : Geographic pay differential is additional pay provided to eligible employees working in locations where market pay levels are above the national average.
Shift premium will be addressed on an individual basis for applicable roles that are consistently scheduled for non-core hours.
Benefits:
At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.
To see details on our outstanding benefits, visit USAA Total Rewards. (https://hrportal.ehr.com/usaa/Prospective-Employees)
Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
If you are an existing USAA employee, please use the internal career site in OneSource to apply.
Please do not type your first and last name in all caps.
Find your purpose. Join our mission.
USAA is unlike any other financial services organization. The mission of the association is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates and their families through provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services; in so doing, USAA seeks to be the provider of choice for the military community. We do this by upholding the highest standards and ensuring that our corporate business activities and individual employee conduct reflect good judgment and common sense, and are consistent with our core values of service, loyalty, honesty and integrity.
USAA attributes its long-standing success to its most valuable resource: our 35,000 employees. They are the heart and soul of our member-service culture. When you join us, you'll become part of a thriving community committed to going above for those who have gone beyond: the men and women of the U.S. military, their associates and their families. In order to play a role on our team, you don't have to be connected to the military yourself - you just need to share our passion for serving our more than 13 million members.
USAA is an EEO/AA Employer - applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
USAA is an EEO/AA Employer - applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
