Director - Communications (Austin, Texas hybrid in-person/remote)
UFCU
Remote
director
communications
remote
team
communications
communication
leadership
community
media
people
strategy
financial
senior
January 30, 2023
UFCU
Austin, Texas
Job Summary
The Director of Communications directs and oversees UFCU's external communications and internal Executive communications strategies and activities that support and promote our overall strategic priorities across business, products and media, as well as help UFCU manage its brand reputation with Members and employees. The Director is passionate about UFCU's mission and vision, has a firm grasp of communication, community and Public Relations strategy, and knows how to mine and engage in an evolving media landscape. This position is a creative, strategic problem-solver with an affinity for details.
The Director of Communications reports to the Vice President - Communications and Marketing and leads the Communications team.
About UFCU
As Austin's largest locally-owned financial institution, University Federal Credit Union is a financial institution owned by, dedicated to, and always working for our Members. Our mission at UFCU is simple: To advance opportunities for quality education, employment, and housing. We're proud to focus on people - not profits. We deliver fair and honest products and outstanding service, and we work collaboratively within our organization as well as our community to help Members achieve their personal and financial goals.
Consistently receiving awards as the Top Credit Union, Top Mortgage Company, Best Places for Working Parents, Healthiest Employer in Austin, and Gallup's Exceptional Workplaces, UFCU is proud of its people-first culture. We value our employees as much as our Members. We offer an environment where people care about each other - like family. If you want to love what you do, make an impact in your community, and have the power to help people change their lives - then we're glad you're here.
Essential Functions
Team Leadership and Development
Lead the team responsible for both internal executive communication and external corporate communication for UFCU.
Lead, inspire, motivate, and develop team members by providing guidance and development to attain departmental and individual development goals and support organizational needs.
Nurture environment of operational excellence and continuous improvement that rewards teamwork and collaboration.
Focus on leading and developing people relationships through UFCU core values.
Build a successful team to operate according to UFCU guiding principles, providing guidance and resources, and removing obstacles as needed.
Lead, motivate, and care for the team by creating a culture of openness, positivity, and transparency.
Serve as a role model in transparent communication, two-way dialogue, and proactive communication to the team.
Provide team leadership based on servant leadership principles, caring for the whole person.
Plan, monitor, and appraise job results with an emphasis on coaching and developing employees to achieve desired performance results.
Help teams achieve their career goals. Ensure team members understand how to have an impact and are aware of that impact when they've made it.
Communications Strategy Development and Planning
Contribute to and execute the strategy for effective internal executive and external corporate communication strategy, including crisis communication.
Work within the Community Impact business unit and across the organization to devise and implement impactful communications plans, earned media strategies and materials to secure positive press coverage across business and financial media, both for tent pole moments and ongoing.
Create systems to proactively identify and communicate Member and Community Impact stories, proactively identify, vet, secure, and respond to press opportunities and inquiries.
Ensure positive employee perception and brand awareness through aligned internal executive communication and external corporate communication messaging, processes, and systems.
Foster relationships and appropriately manage external vendor partners including Public Relations and other communication-related agencies, contractors, and freelancers.
Build strategic relationships with business and financial outlets and influencers that will engender open dialogue with journalists to shape and inform media coverage.
Implement executive placement strategies, including speaking engagements, profiles, and Op-Eds to successfully position UFCU leadership as visionaries and thought leaders in the Credit Union movement and in their respective fields.
Oversee and contribute to interview and speaking prep for executives, including the development of presentations, talking points, briefing documents, and other written and visual materials.
Draft written material for a variety of media including but not limited to pitches, announcements, press releases and talking points for wide range of business announcements.
Work closely with organizational leadership on key messaging and business announcements.
Coordinate with internal and external partners to align community relations and communication strategy with product launches, impact initiatives and corporate landmarks.
Partner with leadership to strategically prepare for and respond to crisis situations and issues management.
Strategic Business Partner
Serve as an advisor to and work in partnership with various business functions, including HR/OD, Community Impact, Member Experience, and Board Relations.
Cultivate and maintain a positive, strong, and meaningful relationship and connection with others, working collaboratively with peers across the organization.
Collaborate with multiple business partners across the organization to determine current and future needs for performance measurements and achieving strategies.
Facilitate joint brainstorming and team collaboration, working closely with peers to achieve organizational goals and strategies.
Budgetary Oversight and Expense Management
Establish Communications annual budget with identification of planned expenses for new or enhanced programs and services.
Ensure effective control of results. Take action to guarantee achievement of departmental objectives that fall within designated budgets.
Monitor expenses on a monthly basis to evaluate versus budget. Take action to make adjustments as needed based on organizational and department priorities.
Collaborate with senior leaders on development of organizational annual budget in alignment with strategic objectives.
Other
Perform other duties as assigned.
Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes
Complete required regulatory training as assigned.
Maintain strict adherence and compliance to all laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and internal controls specific to the role, including but not limited to Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC, and Fair Lending regulations.
Must be bondable.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Team Building and Leadership
Proven people leader with thoughtful management philosophy and approach.
Strong and demonstrable leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, coach, and motivate others.
Demonstrated enthusiasm and eagerness for innovatively building energetic and highly engaged teams.
Inspired to perform well by the ability to make an impact and contribute to the success of a project or the organization.
Proven ability to create a high-performance climate through talent identification, recruitment, and retention.
Proven ability to build a team of diverse talents that complement one another.
Proven ability to hold themselves to the highest standard of integrity and personal behavior.
Solid self-awareness with demonstrated emotional intelligence and professional maturity.
Building Relationships and Using Influence
Ability to work both independently and proactively, while also collaborating within a small enterprising team of communications professionals.
Confidence working with senior leadership.
Calm under pressure.
Great at organizational navigation and cross-functional collaboration at all levels.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the proven ability to influence senior level management and key stakeholders.
Ability to develop and effectively maintain strong relationships with senior leadership, executive team, and key stakeholders.
Strong ability to recognize nuances in others and leverage this understanding for a more influential impact on the team.
Effective communicator, listener, and presenter, with the ability to work effectively with various levels of the organization.
Adept at maintaining effective relationships with internal departments, external business and community partners, and other key stakeholders.
Ability to develop and present data-driven recommendations successfully, promote items persuasively, and diplomatically shape the opinions of others.
Executing for Results
Highly organized, great attention to detail and ability to dedicatedly prioritize.
Possess a proven delivery track record and exceptional service orientation.
Adept at translating the mission of the organization into actionable, quantitative plans.
Possess high levels of energy and persistence.
Rigorously hold oneself and others accountable for achieving high levels of individual and organizational performance.
Business Acumen
Experience doing scenario planning and crisis communications.
Proven record of pitching and securing business-focused stories.
Ability to flex with the needs/direction of the business.
Ability to bring new thinking and ideas to the Senior Leadership team.
Expert knowledge of own discipline, including strategies, concepts, and practices click apply for full job details
The Director of Communications directs and oversees UFCU's external communications and internal Executive communications strategies and activities that support and promote our overall strategic priorities across business, products and media, as well as help UFCU manage its brand reputation with Members and employees. The Director is passionate about UFCU's mission and vision, has a firm grasp of communication, community and Public Relations strategy, and knows how to mine and engage in an evolving media landscape. This position is a creative, strategic problem-solver with an affinity for details.
The Director of Communications reports to the Vice President - Communications and Marketing and leads the Communications team.
About UFCU
As Austin's largest locally-owned financial institution, University Federal Credit Union is a financial institution owned by, dedicated to, and always working for our Members. Our mission at UFCU is simple: To advance opportunities for quality education, employment, and housing. We're proud to focus on people - not profits. We deliver fair and honest products and outstanding service, and we work collaboratively within our organization as well as our community to help Members achieve their personal and financial goals.
Consistently receiving awards as the Top Credit Union, Top Mortgage Company, Best Places for Working Parents, Healthiest Employer in Austin, and Gallup's Exceptional Workplaces, UFCU is proud of its people-first culture. We value our employees as much as our Members. We offer an environment where people care about each other - like family. If you want to love what you do, make an impact in your community, and have the power to help people change their lives - then we're glad you're here.
Essential Functions
Team Leadership and Development
Lead the team responsible for both internal executive communication and external corporate communication for UFCU.
Lead, inspire, motivate, and develop team members by providing guidance and development to attain departmental and individual development goals and support organizational needs.
Nurture environment of operational excellence and continuous improvement that rewards teamwork and collaboration.
Focus on leading and developing people relationships through UFCU core values.
Build a successful team to operate according to UFCU guiding principles, providing guidance and resources, and removing obstacles as needed.
Lead, motivate, and care for the team by creating a culture of openness, positivity, and transparency.
Serve as a role model in transparent communication, two-way dialogue, and proactive communication to the team.
Provide team leadership based on servant leadership principles, caring for the whole person.
Plan, monitor, and appraise job results with an emphasis on coaching and developing employees to achieve desired performance results.
Help teams achieve their career goals. Ensure team members understand how to have an impact and are aware of that impact when they've made it.
Communications Strategy Development and Planning
Contribute to and execute the strategy for effective internal executive and external corporate communication strategy, including crisis communication.
Work within the Community Impact business unit and across the organization to devise and implement impactful communications plans, earned media strategies and materials to secure positive press coverage across business and financial media, both for tent pole moments and ongoing.
Create systems to proactively identify and communicate Member and Community Impact stories, proactively identify, vet, secure, and respond to press opportunities and inquiries.
Ensure positive employee perception and brand awareness through aligned internal executive communication and external corporate communication messaging, processes, and systems.
Foster relationships and appropriately manage external vendor partners including Public Relations and other communication-related agencies, contractors, and freelancers.
Build strategic relationships with business and financial outlets and influencers that will engender open dialogue with journalists to shape and inform media coverage.
Implement executive placement strategies, including speaking engagements, profiles, and Op-Eds to successfully position UFCU leadership as visionaries and thought leaders in the Credit Union movement and in their respective fields.
Oversee and contribute to interview and speaking prep for executives, including the development of presentations, talking points, briefing documents, and other written and visual materials.
Draft written material for a variety of media including but not limited to pitches, announcements, press releases and talking points for wide range of business announcements.
Work closely with organizational leadership on key messaging and business announcements.
Coordinate with internal and external partners to align community relations and communication strategy with product launches, impact initiatives and corporate landmarks.
Partner with leadership to strategically prepare for and respond to crisis situations and issues management.
Strategic Business Partner
Serve as an advisor to and work in partnership with various business functions, including HR/OD, Community Impact, Member Experience, and Board Relations.
Cultivate and maintain a positive, strong, and meaningful relationship and connection with others, working collaboratively with peers across the organization.
Collaborate with multiple business partners across the organization to determine current and future needs for performance measurements and achieving strategies.
Facilitate joint brainstorming and team collaboration, working closely with peers to achieve organizational goals and strategies.
Budgetary Oversight and Expense Management
Establish Communications annual budget with identification of planned expenses for new or enhanced programs and services.
Ensure effective control of results. Take action to guarantee achievement of departmental objectives that fall within designated budgets.
Monitor expenses on a monthly basis to evaluate versus budget. Take action to make adjustments as needed based on organizational and department priorities.
Collaborate with senior leaders on development of organizational annual budget in alignment with strategic objectives.
Other
Perform other duties as assigned.
Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes
Complete required regulatory training as assigned.
Maintain strict adherence and compliance to all laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and internal controls specific to the role, including but not limited to Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC, and Fair Lending regulations.
Must be bondable.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Team Building and Leadership
Proven people leader with thoughtful management philosophy and approach.
Strong and demonstrable leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, coach, and motivate others.
Demonstrated enthusiasm and eagerness for innovatively building energetic and highly engaged teams.
Inspired to perform well by the ability to make an impact and contribute to the success of a project or the organization.
Proven ability to create a high-performance climate through talent identification, recruitment, and retention.
Proven ability to build a team of diverse talents that complement one another.
Proven ability to hold themselves to the highest standard of integrity and personal behavior.
Solid self-awareness with demonstrated emotional intelligence and professional maturity.
Building Relationships and Using Influence
Ability to work both independently and proactively, while also collaborating within a small enterprising team of communications professionals.
Confidence working with senior leadership.
Calm under pressure.
Great at organizational navigation and cross-functional collaboration at all levels.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with the proven ability to influence senior level management and key stakeholders.
Ability to develop and effectively maintain strong relationships with senior leadership, executive team, and key stakeholders.
Strong ability to recognize nuances in others and leverage this understanding for a more influential impact on the team.
Effective communicator, listener, and presenter, with the ability to work effectively with various levels of the organization.
Adept at maintaining effective relationships with internal departments, external business and community partners, and other key stakeholders.
Ability to develop and present data-driven recommendations successfully, promote items persuasively, and diplomatically shape the opinions of others.
Executing for Results
Highly organized, great attention to detail and ability to dedicatedly prioritize.
Possess a proven delivery track record and exceptional service orientation.
Adept at translating the mission of the organization into actionable, quantitative plans.
Possess high levels of energy and persistence.
Rigorously hold oneself and others accountable for achieving high levels of individual and organizational performance.
Business Acumen
Experience doing scenario planning and crisis communications.
Proven record of pitching and securing business-focused stories.
Ability to flex with the needs/direction of the business.
Ability to bring new thinking and ideas to the Senior Leadership team.
Expert knowledge of own discipline, including strategies, concepts, and practices click apply for full job details
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