Director of Communications (Madison)

OverviewWho We Are UW Credit Union is a $6 billion member-owned financial cooperative serving 390,000+ members across Wisconsin. Our mission is to improve the financial well-being of our members — and this Director ensures that mission is heard, felt, and believed by every employee who carries it forward and every member who depends on it. Our communications shape culture, inspire employee advocacy, and build change capability across the enterprise. We integrate data and AI into how we work. And we do it with a values-driven, highly engaged team that genuinely likes working together. Why Join Us: Learn new skills. There's meaningful work to do in building strategic communications plans, building partnerships with leaders, and evolving the function. Work with people you respect. Our team is smart, savvy, and enthusiastic. Communications sits at the leadership table here. We're a culture amplifier and shaper for the organization, not an order-taking function. Live your life. Hybrid work (at least 3 days in office, up to 2 remote). Reasonable hours. A culture that doesn't burn people out. Who You Are You're a strategic communications leader with a track record of building high-performing internal communications functions, leading enterprise change, and advising senior leaders. You understand that internal communications — the kind that shapes culture, enables change, and connects employees to mission — is some of the hardest and most consequential communications work there is. You come to the table with a point of view, a recommendation, and the strategic context to back it up. You ask the right questions. You push back when something needs to be challenged — and you do it with evidence and good judgment. You're humble enough to know what you don't know, smart enough to figure it out quickly, and hungry enough to drive constant improvement. You've worked in environments that pull toward tactical, and you've learned how to hold the strategic line without being rigid about it. You know the difference between being responsive and being reactive. And you've built enough organizational trust that people are eager to collaborate with you. This job is right for you if: You can move between enterprise strategy and editorial quality without losing altitude on either You're comfortable serving as a strategic advisor to C-suite executives and senior leadership — and they seek you out for it You want to help shape company culture You're excited about building AI-ready communications capabilities and experimenting with what's next You want your work to mean something — fairness in banking, community impact, member financial wellbeing What differentiates someone great at this job from someone just okay: Great Directors at this job have a growth mindset and collaborate with senior leadership to create the best solutions. They work to get the context and strategy right and let the messaging flow from there. They build credibility by showing up prepared, asking great questions, and delivering work that moves people — not just informs them. They make the people around them — executives, peers, and direct reports — better communicators. ResponsibilitiesWhat the Job Is This role leads enterprise-wide communications strategy with a primary focus on employee engagement and organizational culture, and a secondary focus on member communications that sustain trust, transparency, and member advocacy. This role reports to the CMO and leads a team that includes a manager and an individual contributor direct report. This is not a maintenance role. It's a build role. And the CMO is an active partner in that work. The Five Most Important Responsibilities Lead internal communications that build culture and drive engagement.Design and execute an enterprise internal communications strategy that connects employees to UWCU's mission, direction, and values. This includes bringing UWCU's employee value proposition to life in ways employees recognize and feel,while partnering with HR and People leadership on engagement strategies and culture initiatives. Own enterprise change communications.When UWCU transforms — new technology, new structure, new strategy — you co-create the communications architecture with executive sponsors and other change management experts before the change begins. You understand readiness, sequencing, and the difference between informing people and actually bringing them along. Steward the member relationship through communications.Lead external communications that deepen member trust and advocacy — the annual report, quarterly newsletter, financial results, disruption notifications, product and experience change communications, and member testimonial content. It's the difference between members who trust us and ones whoadvocate on our behalf. Build communications capability across the organization.Coachand advise executives and leaders. The goal is a more aligned, capable organization because this team is in it. Leadreputation managementand crisis communications. Own the organization's presence across platforms that AI systems use as sources ensuring our corporate narrative is consistently represented in the evolving information landscape. Manage relationships with PR firms and external communications consultants. Develop and maintain crisis communications plans, integrating with cross-functional response teams. Other Key Responsibilities Measurement & Analytics Build a measurement framework that connects communications work to real outcomes — employee engagement, member sentiment, and advocacy. Report regularly to the CMO and executive team in a way that's useful for decision-making. AI & Digital Fluency Demonstrate working fluency in AI-powered communications tools. Lead the team's adoption of AI solutions that improve content quality and workflow efficiency. Establish governance guardrails for AI-generated content. Monitor how UWCU is represented in generative AI responses and actively manage content that shapes those outputs. Team Leadership & Production Management Lead and develop a high-performing Communications team. Direct relationships with production partners including videographers and printers. Manage the Communications budget with accountability for resource decisions and return on investment. Qualifications Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field 10 years of progressive communications experience with 5+ years in strategic leadership Proven track record in corporate communications strategy that measurable improved employee engagement and organizational alignment Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills Exceptional editorial skills Demonstrated experience leading communications through enterprise-wide organizational change Strong command of communications measurement and executive-level reporting Experience managing production partners and external communications consultants Financial services, fintech, or highly regulated industry experience strongly preferred Demonstrated fluency in AI-powered communications tools and content governance Working at UW Credit UnionJoin one of Wisconsin’s premier financial institutions, a National Top Workplace and multi-year recipient of Madison Magazine’s Best Places to Work, Wisconsin State Journal’s Top Workplaces, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Top Workplaces to receive:Ample amount of time offRelocation assistance available2 weeks paid caregiver leave2.5 weeks paid new child parental leave2 days paid volunteer timeHybrid work environment10 paid holidays (including your birthday!)401k company match of up to 5%, plus approximately 4% discretionary match457 deferred-compensation planVariable bonus rewardCompetitive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, including domestic partner eligibilityEmployee Assistance ProgramAnd more!Interested candidates are encouraged to apply directly through the job posting. For additional information or questions regarding the opportunity, please contact Ashley Curless, Talent Acquisition Manager at View email address on apply.placed-app.com. All employees must possess valid work authorization to work for UWCU on the date of hire. UWCU does not provide immigration sponsorship or support for employment authorization to include, but not limited to, sponsorship or support for H-1B, F-1 OPT, TN, or other visa category.Job SummaryID: 2026-6101Location : City: MadisonCategory: MarketingFTE: 1.0Schedule: Normal business hoursSalary Grade: 14