Sr. Strategic Communications Specialist

Verve, a Credit Union; Oshkosh (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Verve, a Credit Union, seeks a Senior Strategic Communications Specialist to lead internal communications, align priorities, and guide enterprise storytelling. You will partner with senior leaders, translate priorities into clear plans, and manage the intranet strategy to keep team members connected and informed.

You will shape communications for organizational change, sponsor engagement, and culture-building initiatives, ensuring timely, meaningful updates across channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, business, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible communications experience.
• Five (5) years leading internal, corporate, or enterprise communications initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing communication strategies for organizational initiatives and business priorities.
• Experience supporting organizational change, employee engagement, and leadership communications.
• Experience managing digital communication channels, intranet platforms, or content management systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Verve's internal communications strategy to support business priorities and organizational goals.
• Create communication plans for strategic initiatives, organizational change, and enterprise-wide priorities.
• Partner with leaders across the organization to identify communication needs, opportunities, and risks.
• Establish communication standards and best practices that promote clarity, consistency, and effectiveness.
• Monitor communication effectiveness and recommend improvements to strengthen understanding and engagement.
• Lead communication planning for organizational change, business initiatives, and major projects.
• Partner with project teams and leaders to build awareness, understanding, and readiness for change.
• Identify communication risks and recommend approaches that support successful adoption and implementation.
• Ensure team members receive timely, meaningful communication during periods of change.
• Own Verve's intranet strategy, governance, content standards, and editorial calendar.
• Ensure the intranet serves as a trusted and engaging destination for team members.
• Write, edit, and publish intranet articles, organizational updates, leadership messages, and culture stories.
• Continuously improve content effectiveness, user experience, and channel performance.
• Identify the most effective channels to deliver communications and reach intended audiences.
• Bring Verve's purpose, values, culture, and strategic priorities to life through meaningful storytelling.
• Partner with HR, Learning & Development, and business leaders to support engagement, recognition, and culture-building initiatives.
• Highlight stories that celebrate team members, reinforce desired behaviors, and showcase impact across the organization.
• Develop communication resources and talking points for leaders as needed.
• Serve as a trusted communications partner to leaders across the organization.
• Develop organizational announcements, leadership talking points, presentations, communication toolkits, and key messages.
• Translate complex concepts and business initiatives into communications that are clear, relevant, and easy to understand.
• Support communication efforts that increase transparency, alignment, and connection to Verve's strategic direction.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strategic communications

Internal communications

Intranet management

Content creation

Leadership communications

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field

Tools

Content Management Systems

Job description

This position is located on-site at our Corporate Headquarters in Oshkosh, WI.

Position Summary

The Senior Strategic Communications Specialist serves as Verve's lead internal communications partner, helping connect team members to our purpose, priorities, and direction. This role develops and executes enterprise communication strategies that build understanding, alignment, and engagement across the organization.

Partnering closely with senior leaders, this role translates business priorities, organizational change, and strategic initiatives into clear, meaningful communications that help team members understand the "why" behind the work. The Senior Strategic Communications Specialist also leads Verve's intranet strategy and content, ensuring it remains a trusted source of information, connection, and storytelling across the credit union.

Key Position Responsibilities

Enterprise Communications

• Develop and execute Verve's internal communications strategy to support business priorities and organizational goals.
• Create communication plans for strategic initiatives, organizational change, and enterprise-wide priorities.
• Partner with leaders across the organization to identify communication needs, opportunities, and risks.
• Establish communication standards and best practices that promote clarity, consistency, and effectiveness.
• Monitor communication effectiveness and recommend improvements to strengthen understanding and engagement.

Change Communications

• Lead communication planning for organizational change, business initiatives, and major projects.
• Partner with project teams and leaders to build awareness, understanding, and readiness for change.
• Identify communication risks and recommend approaches that support successful adoption and implementation.
• Ensure team members receive timely, meaningful communication during periods of change.

Intranet & Content Strategy

• Own Verve's intranet strategy, governance, content standards, and editorial calendar.
• Ensure the intranet serves as a trusted and engaging destination for team members.
• Write, edit, and publish intranet articles, organizational updates, leadership messages, and culture stories.
• Continuously improve content effectiveness, user experience, and channel performance.
• Identify the most effective channels to deliver communications and reach intended audiences.

Organizational Storytelling & Culture

• Bring Verve's purpose, values, culture, and strategic priorities to life through meaningful storytelling.
• Partner with HR, Learning & Development, and business leaders to support engagement, recognition, and culture-building initiatives.
• Highlight stories that celebrate team members, reinforce desired behaviors, and showcase impact across the organization.
• Develop communication resources and talking points for leaders as needed.

Leadership & Organizational Communications

• Serve as a trusted communications partner to leaders across the organization.
• Develop organizational announcements, leadership talking points, presentations, communication toolkits, and key messages.
• Translate complex concepts and business initiatives into communications that are clear, relevant, and easy to understand.
• Support communication efforts that increase transparency, alignment, and connection to Verve's strategic direction.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Business, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible communications experience.
• Five (5) years of experience leading internal, corporate, or enterprise communications initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing communication strategies for organizational initiatives and business priorities.
• Experience supporting organizational change, employee engagement, and leadership communications.
• Experience managing digital communication channels, intranet platforms, or content management systems.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Connect communication strategies to organizational priorities and desired business outcomes.
• Creates compelling, authentic communications that simplify complexity and inspire action.
• Build trusted relationships and work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Supports successful change through thoughtful communication, planning, and stakeholder engagement.
• Understands organizational priorities and translates them into relevant and meaningful communication.
• Uses the right message, channel, and approach to maximize effectiveness and engagement.
• Balances multiple priorities while delivering high-quality, timely, and polished work.
• Exercises professionalism, discretion, and good judgment when handling sensitive information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work Environment: Business office, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to sit or stand at a desk the majority of the day; talk or hear; stand or walk occasionally. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is typically utilizing a computer, keyboard, and phone. May occasionally reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, and crouch.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by persons within this job this job classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of persons assigned to this job. Additional duties may be required to perform the job effectively.