Marketing & Communications Director

Border Bank•Thief River Falls, MN

20d

About The Position

Border Bank is seeking a Marketing & Communications Director to lead the bank’s enterprise marketing, communications, and brand strategy in alignment with its business objectives, revenue growth goals, and market expansion priorities. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the role is part of the strategic leadership team and partners with the CEO, Market Presidents, and business line leaders. The director will build a scalable, data-driven function that supports the bank’s growth toward and beyond $1 billion in assets, improves campaign effectiveness, supports customer and employee engagement, and demonstrates measurable business impact. The position may be based at any of Border Bank’s listed locations in Fargo, North Dakota, or Badger, Baudette, Clearbrook, Coon Rapids, Greenbush, International Falls, Middle River, Roseau, or Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The director leads enterprise marketing strategy and planning; performance-based product marketing; localized market initiatives and banker enablement; brand, external and internal communications, public relations, and reputation management; and marketing budget and resource management. The role also leads and develops the marketing and communications team, oversees agency and vendor relationships, and contributes to bank strategy and community engagement. Marketing activities must align with banking regulations, compliance policies, risk-management standards, governance processes, and the bank’s values and customer experience standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field.
Ten or more years of progressive marketing or communications experience, including significant leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated success developing and executing marketing strategies that produce measurable business results, including revenue growth, customer acquisition, retention, engagement, or relationship expansion.
Experience partnering closely with executive leadership, market leaders, and cross-functional teams.
Experience leading strategic planning and hands-on execution across multiple markets, business lines, or customer segments.
Demonstrated ability to build and lead a high-performing marketing and communications team.
Experience managing enterprise budgets, agencies, vendors, marketing technology, and integrated campaigns.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and executive communication skills.
Experience using marketing analytics, customer segmentation, digital platforms, and performance reporting to guide decisions and demonstrate results.

Nice To Haves

Experience in banking or financial services.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead an enterprise-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with the bank’s strategic plan and growth objectives.
Advise executive leadership and Market Presidents on market growth opportunities, competitive positioning, and customer engagement strategies.
Translate business goals into actionable marketing plans with KPIs for revenue, customer acquisition, retention, and brand equity.
Lead annual and multi-year marketing planning, budgeting, and performance tracking.
Align marketing and communications strategies with enterprise risk management, regulatory expectations, and governance frameworks; partner with Compliance, Legal, and Risk to identify and mitigate marketing, advertising, and reputational risks.
Drive performance-based marketing across product lines, including consumer, commercial, and treasury, with a focus on measurable return on investment.
Partner with business line leaders to develop targeted campaigns that generate leads, increase product penetration, and grow customer wallet share.
Use analytics, segmentation, and marketing technology to guide decisions and optimize campaign performance.
Ensure product marketing, campaigns, and disclosures comply with banking regulations and internal policies.
Collaborate with Market Presidents and frontline teams on localized strategies reflecting local opportunities and competitive dynamics.
Equip bankers with tools, insights, and campaigns to support relationship growth, cross-selling, and customer engagement.
Partner with Market Presidents and the Customer Experience leader to improve customer journeys, engagement, loyalty, and growth.
Align corporate marketing initiatives with market-level execution and monitor adherence to approved messaging, disclosures, and campaign usage.
Oversee external communications, public relations, community engagement, and reputation management.
Lead brand strategy and communications planning and execution to strengthen awareness, differentiation, and trust.
Align internal communications with the bank’s culture, values, and Cultivate Experience Playbook, reinforcing employee behaviors and customer experience standards.
Lead internal communications that support employee engagement, cultural alignment, and understanding of strategic priorities.
Ensure internal and external communications reflect bank values, maintain brand consistency, meet compliance obligations, and promote ethical conduct and positive customer experiences.
Develop and manage the enterprise marketing and communications budget, including advertising, sponsorships, events, and community investments.
Allocate resources to maximize return on investment and support priority growth initiatives.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing marketing and communications team and foster accountability, innovation, compliance awareness, and disciplined execution.
Ensure team members follow governance processes, approval protocols, and regulatory expectations.
Manage internal resources and external partners and agencies to deliver high-quality, cost-effective outcomes.
Contribute to overall bank strategy and decision-making as a member of the strategic leadership team.
Represent the bank in the community and industry, supporting relationship development and brand visibility.
Lead or support special strategic initiatives as assigned by the CEO.

Benefits

Paid time off and paid holidays
Paid parental leave and childbirth recovery leave
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
401(k) with employer match
Bank-paid life insurance and long-term disability
Supplemental insurance options, including accidental injury, heart and stroke, cancer, intensive care, hospital indemnity, critical illness, life, and short-term disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Wellness dollars
Civic and recreational benefit
Education assistance