Communications Manager/Team Leader

Gesa Credit Union•Richland, WA

About The Position

The Communications Manager leads the day-to-day work of Gesa Credit Union’s internal communications, external communications, and public relations functions, and supervises the team members responsible for them. Reporting to the AVP of Strategic Communications, this role turns communications strategy and messaging frameworks into team plans and deliverables, advises department leaders, plans and edits content, and reviews sensitive communications before release. The manager also serves as a recognized voice of Gesa to team members, supports executive communications and media preparation, and develops the team’s capabilities in support of Gesa’s Strategic Plan and goals. The role oversees communications priorities, workloads, request workflows, quality, and deadlines. It develops messages and narratives for organizational priorities; plans storytelling and content for internal and external audiences; and reviews communications for different audiences and channels in line with Gesa’s Corporate Communications Playbook and brand standards. The manager assesses sensitive and high-visibility communications for message, timing, audience, and risk, escalating them under Gesa’s governance processes. The Communications Manager hosts or appears in podcasts, videos, town halls, and leadership visibility programs, prepares participating leaders, and drafts executive messaging, remarks, presentations, and media briefing materials. The role plans culture and change communications, manages the Frontline Newsroom contributor network and measurement, collaborates with Content & Video and Gesa Productions, supports crisis and incident communications, and coordinates daily work with the public relations team. The manager builds annual and quarterly communications plans, tracks and reports KPIs, and adjusts plans and priorities based on results. The role uses AI tools and automated workflows to improve capacity and quality while retaining human judgment over published work, and complies with applicable laws, regulations, and credit union policies and procedures. The position requires approved travel for credit union training, strategic initiatives, and career development.

Requirements

Two-year college degree required.
At least three years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience writing and editing content for internal, external, media, and executive audiences.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, SharePoint or comparable intranet platforms, and communications analytics tools.
Expert writing and editing skills, including the ability to adapt a message for internal, external, media, and executive audiences while maintaining accuracy and alignment with strategy.
Ability to advise leaders on communications and reputation, and to plainly identify when a message poses risk.
Sound judgment that weighs stakeholder sensitivities, regulatory considerations, and reputation risk, and ability to translate communications strategy into team plans.
Command of storytelling, message architecture, and narrative development across written, spoken, and video formats.
On-camera and on-microphone presence, with ability to host, interview, and speak to team members in podcasts, videos, and live events.
Working knowledge of media relations, earned media strategy, spokesperson preparation, and public relations agency management.
Ability to plan team work across a year and re-plan when priorities change.
Composure and sound judgment under pressure, including crisis and issues response on compressed timelines.
Strong project and portfolio management skills, including prioritizing a high volume of concurrent requests.
Working knowledge of change management communications and team member engagement practices.
Ability to use data and analytics to measure communications effectiveness and guide decisions.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Willingness to travel for approved credit union training, strategic initiatives, and career development.
Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment credit/background check.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
At least two years leading a team, program, or function.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and AI tools.
Proficiency with enterprise communications platforms and content management systems.
Proven ability to coach and develop communications professionals, including team members growing into leadership roles.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day internal communications, external communications, and public relations work; set priorities and workloads, assign and review work, manage request intake and review workflows, and uphold quality standards and deadlines.
Supervise, coach, and develop team members through regular feedback, editorial development, and individual development plans.
Advise department leaders on communications for announcements, initiatives, and issues affecting member or team member trust, and help shape communications counsel to executive leadership.
Put Gesa’s communications strategy and messaging frameworks into practice; develop key messages, talking points, and narratives for organizational priorities and announcements.
Plan storytelling and content for internal and external audiences, including editorial calendars and the content multiplication model.
Review and edit communications for internal, external, media, and executive audiences, ensuring alignment with the Corporate Communications Playbook and brand standards.
Assess sensitive and high-visibility communications for risk in message, timing, and audience, and escalate them through Gesa’s sensitive-communications governance.
Serve as a recognized voice of Gesa to team members by hosting or appearing in podcasts, videos, town halls, and leadership visibility programs, and prepare participating leaders.
Support executive communications by drafting messaging, remarks, and presentations, and preparing executives and spokespeople for media engagement through briefings, interview preparation, and coaching.
Plan and produce culture and change communications that connect team members to Gesa’s mission, values, and Strategic Plan and support Employer of Choice priorities.
Manage the Frontline Newsroom contributor network and measurement, and plan its growth; daily operations are handled by the internal communications team.
Partner with the Content & Video function and Gesa Productions on communications content and video, shaping each production’s story, message, and audience.
Draft internal and external messages during crisis and incident activations under enterprise protocols, and support communications for major initiatives.
Coordinate day-to-day work with Gesa’s public relations team to ensure alignment with messaging, standards, and approval workflows; recommend needed resources and tools.
Build annual and quarterly communications plans for internal communications, external communications, public relations, content, and the Frontline Newsroom.
Track and report communications KPIs, using results to adjust plans and priorities.
Use AI tools and automated workflows to increase team capacity and quality while retaining human judgment over all published work.
Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and credit union policies and procedures.
Travel, as approved, for credit union training, strategic initiatives, and career development.

Benefits

Competitive pay
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
20 days per year of paid time off
10 paid holidays
401(k) match
Incentive program
Tuition assistance and student loan repayment
Commuter benefits
Paid time off to volunteer in the community
Product discounts
Engaging work environment
Rewards and recognition programs
Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the application or interview process, in performing essential job functions, and in receiving employment benefits and privileges