Purpose & Core Values

The primarypurpose of any position is to assist Community Choice Credit Union to live out our purpose: we believe in helping our neighbors achieve the life they desire. A key component of this purpose is to provide outstanding service to both internal and external members by living our core values.

Position Summary

The Senior Communications Specialist is responsible for driving effective internal and external communications for Community Choice Credit Union and the Community Choice Foundation designed to engage and inform stakeholders, enhance the organization's reputation, and promote products and services and our commitment to community. They will develop and deliver plans and campaigns across multiple channels and systems in areas including but not limited to advertising and public relations, internal communications, executive communications, crisis communications and publications.

Reporting to the AVP of Marketing Engagement & Communications, the Senior Communications Specialist will assume ownership of the execution of communications plans and campaigns and provide insight and analytics on the performance. Additionally, they will use market and industry research, as well as proprietary data to identify new trends and customer insights to optimize communications strategies. In the spirit of collaboration, the Senior Communications Specialist will partner with internal departments including Marketing, Lending, Operations and others to effectively communicate organizational initiatives.

Core Competencies

• Core Values:
  1. Committed: We are committed to serving Michigan guided by the principles that underlie the credit union movement of service, integrity, and respect for every human being.
  2. Charitable: We Give Big every day to our membership, our communities, and each other. We are dedicated to supporting Michigan by giving our time and services to the communities we serve.
  3. Credible: We are our Members' trusted financial advisors; each Team Member plays an integral role in the well-being of our Members' financial lives and the success of Community Choice Credit Union.
  4. United: We are a Team. We unite to achieve success, celebrate success, and continually improve the service we provide to our members, our communities, and each other.

• Adaptability/Initiative: Adjusts quickly and effectively to changing conditions and demands, views change as a necessary and inevitable aspect of organizational life as well as an opportunity to learn new things. Is able to take on a variety of different tasks and roles in the organization. Can move in a relatively seamless manner from one task or focus to another and can fill in for other team members when they are absent or are experiencing work overload. Looks for new and productive ways to make an impact/value to the organization and/or team. Demonstrates a positive attitude when faced with organizational change and generates constructive feedback for continuous improvement. Demonstrates a professional demeanor.

Position Competencies

1. Communication: Communicates effectively and appropriately. Uses good judgment as to what to communicate to whom as well as the best way to get that accomplished. Speaks in a clear and credible manner, selecting the right tone for the situation and audience. Listens to others and allows them to make their point.

1. Delivers High Quality of Work: Has established a track record of producing work that is highly accurate, demonstrates attention to detail and reflects well on the organization. Is personally committed to high quality work and encourages others to have similar standards.

1. Role Mastery of Essential Duties: Able to perform essential duties as outlined in job description. Contributes productivity and value within role. Is willing to learn and improve performance.

Essential Duties

• Holding responsibility for timely and accurate execution of a robust suite of communication plans and campaigns for internal and external audiences utilizing a variety of channels and mediums.
• Designing and executing communications plans and messaging for internal stakeholders, including leadership, departments and team members.
• Coordinating the execution of strategic communication plans to inform and educate our members about big news, including new locations, service offering changes, and merger partnerships.
• Providing strategy and content for print and digital communication vehicles including enewsletters, member newsletters, impact reports and annual reports.
• Developing and supporting the organization's media relations strategies through managing media inquiries, drafting and distribution of press releases, advertorials, FAQs and coordination of interviews and follow-up.
• Providing communications support, including press releases, media pitches and story opportunities for the Community Choice Foundation
• Supporting the execution and maintenance of our Crisis Communication Plan in close partnership with senior leadership.
• Identifying storytelling opportunities around organizational goals, activities, events, and successes. Creating content to share stories on the website and in digital campaigns.
• Maintaining our digital "newsroom" with a steady flow of media releases and published stories, as well as key resources for partners and publications.
• Supporting the marketing leadership team in creating presentation content for our President & CEO and supporting other executive communication requests.
• Supporting strategic communications to organizational leaders and team members; including presentations, talking points, scripts for multi-media production, and content for our intranet.
• Recommending communication solutions to organizational leaders and project teams.
• Managing the annual review and maintenance of our organizational communications audit, organizational strategy documents, and crisis communication plan.

Job Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirement listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary for this position.

Remote Work Eligibility

This position is fully eligible for a Hybrid Work Arrangement

Reasonable Accommodations

The physical and mental demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of their job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job requirements, physical demands and do so within our work environment.

Education

Bachelor's Degree - Communications, public relations, or related field; or commensurate experience: Required

Experience

5+ years of experience in an organizational communications or public relations role.

Skills & Abilities

Demonstrated expertise in tailoring content and messaging to a variety of audiences.

Experience in generating PR opportunities and storytelling.

Experience in financial services and/or non-profit communications preferred.

Comfortable and effective public speaker preferred.

Proficient in Microsoft Word, and highly skilled in presentation development.

Mental Demands

The team member must be able to read and interpret documents or instruments, understand and/or follow complex written and oral instructions, make decisions, recall multiple policies or procedures, resolve problems or unique circumstances in a timely and efficient manner, be able to express oneself clearly and/or concisely, perform mathematical functions, and handle multiple, concurrent tasks.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

General Statement

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions.