Lead Communications Director - CEO Communications

Why USAA?

Let’s do something that really matters.

At USAA, we have an important mission: facilitating the financial security of millions of U.S. military members and their families. Not all of our employees served in our nation’s military, but we all share in the mission to give back to those who did. We’re working as one to build a great experience and make a real impact for our members.

We believe in our core values of honesty, integrity, loyalty and service. They’re what guides everything we do – from how we treat our members to how we treat each other. Come be a part of what makes us so special!

The Opportunity

This role will lead the conceptualization, development, and execution of several CEO engagements and large-scale communications programs. S/he will be responsible for understanding the internal and external landscape and developing CEO-level messages that motivate and inspire teammates, enhance understanding of the business, and reinforce USAA’s commitments to the mission, our members, and our teammates.

The person in this role will collaborate with teams across the association to ensure connectivity and consistency in the CEO’s messaging. S/he will also work closely with other members of the CEO Communications team to identify mission-centric stories and develop compelling content that can be syndicated across channels.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in: San Antonio TX. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:

• 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 networking internal 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 seeking 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.

What you have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing or related field; OR 4 years of related experience beyond the minimum years of experience required) may be substituted in lieu of degree (12 years without 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.

What sets you apart:

• Ability to synthesize a high volume of complex information and translate it into speaking points for an executive.
• Experience creating content in the voice of an executive-level leader.
• Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Utilize exceptional professional judgement, knowing what to share and when with executive-level leaders.
• Comfortable operating through ambiguity, seeking out the details needed while continuing to progress the work.
• US military experience through military service or a military spouse/domestic partner.

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job Experience and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

What we offer:

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 data of the position. The actual salary for this role may vary by location. The salary range for this position is: $120,550 - $230,400.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

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.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, please visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

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.