AVP, Corporate Communications - Functions

USAA•San Antonio, TX

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role leads communications strategy for USAA’s enterprise functions, serving as a strategic communications partner to leaders across Human Resources, Finance, Technology, Risk, and Legal. The AVP translates complex functional priorities into clear, compelling narratives that connect enterprise strategy, transformation, culture, risk discipline, technology, and the employee experience to USAA’s mission and business objectives. The role advises senior functional leaders on external and internal communications, executive visibility, reputation opportunities, and emerging issues, while ensuring messaging is coordinated across the Association. As the communications leader supporting these functions, this role brings an enterprise lens to issues that cut across organizational boundaries. It identifies opportunities to proactively tell the story of how USAA’s people, technology, risk management, and legal capabilities enable the business and serve members; builds understanding and engagement among employees and key stakeholders; and helps leaders communicate with clarity, credibility, and consistency during periods of change, transformation, and heightened reputational sensitivity. We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position must be based in San Antonio, TX. Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; OR 4 additional years of relevant education and/or experience.
10 years of progressive corporate communications experience providing external and internal communications advice to senior management and leading major communications programs.
6 years of people leadership experience building, managing, and/or developing high-performing teams.
Experience collaborating with key resources and stakeholders, influencing decisions, and managing work to achieve strategic goals.
Executive-level business acumen in business operations, industry practices, and emerging trends.
Strong writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and connect the dots.
Substance, confidence, and executive presence to work effectively with senior leaders throughout the organization.
Innovative, creative, and strategic thinking.
Demonstrated ability to be a collaborative team builder, leader, and motivator.

Nice To Haves

15 or more years of progressive experience across corporate communications, executive communications, reputation management, strategic storytelling, employee communications, and related areas described above, including experience advising senior executives on high-profile and complex business matters.
Deep experience serving as a strategic communications advisor to enterprise functions such as Human Resources, Technology, Risk, and Legal, with the ability to translate complex functional priorities into clear, compelling enterprise narratives.
A track record of leading communications through significant transformation, change, or reputationally sensitive moments while building confidence and alignment among employees and external stakeholders.
Exceptional executive presence and judgment, with demonstrated success counseling C-suite and senior functional leaders, constructively challenging thinking, anticipating issues, and influencing decisions.
A reputation for proactive, modern storytelling that connects business strategy, leadership priorities, culture, and mission across earned, owned, social, executive, and employee channels.
Proven success building and developing high-performing communications teams and creating strong partnerships across a highly matrixed, complex organization.
US military experience through military service or a military spouse/domestic partner.

Responsibilities

Own the development Function narratives, ensuring business priorities, member value, culture, mission, and leadership vision are translated into compelling stories externally and internally.
Ensure communications efforts move beyond information-sharing to create understanding, engagement, trust, and advocacy within the employee base.
Anticipate emerging issues, industry trends, and reputational risks, developing communications strategies that position the Association ahead of the conversation.
Develop executive communications strategies that strengthen leadership credibility and build trust among key audiences.
Partner closely with executive leadership to translate complex business priorities into compelling employee and member narratives that resonate externally and internally.
Create a team culture of strategic thinking, proactive storytelling, business partnership, and communications excellence, with strong process and rigor.
Lead through influence across a matrixed organization, building strong partnerships across corporate functions.
Build and oversee a team of employees for the assigned functional area through ongoing recruiting, development, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and managerial activities.
Ensure risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.