Vice President, Corporate Communications

Benefits Overview

At CoBank, the Vice President manages the communications function within the bank’s Corporate Communications Division, with specific responsibility for shareholder and customer communications, customer meetings and conferences, publications, media relations, internal communications, executive speech writing, advertising, marketing communications, graphic design, social media and internal and external web sites. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists the SVP, Corporate Communications in delivering an overall corporate communications program that effectively positions the bank as a trusted, high-quality, dependable provider of financial services to its customers and other key stakeholders.
• Manages a team of professionals, as well as external public relations, graphic design and video agencies.  Sets standards of performance and evaluates performance of staff.  Communicates management’s goals and objectives to staff and monitors the progress.
• Oversees the production and distribution of annual reports, customer newsletters and other publications.
• Directs the bank’s media relations program, including local, trade and business media.
• Directs the bank’s marketing communications and advertising programs.
• Oversees the corporate intranet, as well as the bank’s external web sites and other digital platforms.
• Directs the bank’s creative services and graphic design function, including the work of in-house designers and external agencies, ensuring the delivery of high-quality creative services that are consistent with the bank’s brand standards.
• Supports the bank’s employee communications program, including drafting and distributing internal announcements and managing content on the employee intranet.
• Supports the bank’s customer meeting program, including drafting meeting scripts, writing bios and producing other meeting-related marketing materials.
• Provides public relations and communications support for the bank’s government relations function.
• Drafts high-quality presentations and speeches for bank executives.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or relevant discipline
• 15 or more years of experience in communications or related disciplines, including journalism.  Prior experience in a corporate environment strongly preferred.
• 5 or more years of experience managing a team of communications professionals, preferably in a corporate environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional writing skills and proven accomplishments in a variety of mediums including publications, speeches, presentations, web and video.
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to write authoritatively about banking, economics and other complex topics.
• Strong understanding of corporate brands and how to build brands through effective marketing and communications programs.
• Strong understanding of how to work effectively with the news media.
• Strong attention to detail, and an ability to execute with precision while juggling multiple projects and priorities.
• Ability to work effectively under deadline pressures, and adjust quickly to changing priorities with composure.
• Ability to think strategically, proactively offer solutions and provide practical knowledge for tactical execution.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of executives, team members, and the department’s internal customers across the bank.
• Ability to develop and manage processes to motivate staff to achieve desired results.
• Excellent general and financial management and decision making skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong understanding of and appreciation for graphic design and how design projects and elevates corporate brands

Special Requirements

•     Availability for occasional work outside normal business hours.
•     Ability and willingness to travel at least 10% of the time.  

About CoBank

CoBank stands strong as a $125 billion enterprise dedicated to the financial needs of rural communities. That means we help fund new ways to grow food, generate energy, access technology, and otherwise improve life in America.  When you choose a career with us, you make a difference by standing for something that matters. A career at CoBank can offer you the opportunity to make a personal impact on the people and communities where we do business. We also provide competitive compensation, health and wellness benefits, company-funded retirement plan, matching 401(k), and professional development programs.

CoBank will not sponsor a work visa (e.g. H1B, etc.) to fill this position.

CoBank is an Equal Opportunity Employer.