Marketing Communications Specialist

The Marketing Communications Specialist is responsible for leading content strategy, storytelling, product messaging, internal communications, public relations, and social media for Valley First Credit Union. This role develops and delivers compelling communications that bring the Valley First brand, mission, and impact to life across member-facing and internal channels.

The position serves as the organization's primary storyteller, identifying meaningful member, employee, community, and organizational stories and transforming them into engaging content that strengthens awareness, trust, and connection. The role ensures messaging is clear, consistent, audience-focused, and aligned with business priorities while maintaining a strong and authentic brand voice.

This position focuses on both strategy and execution - from developing communication frameworks and messaging strategies to personally creating high-quality content across multiple platforms. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer, storyteller, and communicator who can uncover stories, simplify complex information, and create content that inspires action and engagement in a regulated environment.

Content & Messaging Leadership

• Leads the development and governance of clear, consistent messaging across digital, print, social, PR, branch communications, and internal channels.
• Writes and develops key communications while ensuring content is aligned with Valley First's brand voice, values, and strategic priorities.
• Identifies opportunities to strengthen messaging and storytelling across the organization.
• Ensures communications are accurate, compliant, audience-appropriate, and impactful.

Content & Editorial Strategy

• Creates and oversees written and visual content including product messaging, website content, email copy, social content, PR materials, executive communications, and internal communications.
• Proactively identifies and develops stories that showcase member success, employee achievements, community impact, and organizational initiatives.
• Conducts interviews and gathers information from internal and external stakeholders to uncover meaningful stories and translate them into compelling content.
• Develops and maintains an integrated editorial and communications calendar aligned with business initiatives and campaign timelines.
• Brings Valley First's mission, values, and impact to life through authentic storytelling and audience-centered content.
• Ensures all content reflects a consistent and engaging brand voice.

Public Relations & Reputation Management

• Oversees PR strategy including press releases, announcements, media coordination, and community storytelling.
• Develops stories and content that highlight Valley First's community involvement, member impact, and organizational achievements.
• Supports crisis communications and issues management in coordination with leadership and compliance.
• Helps protect and strengthen organizational reputation through proactive and responsive communications.

Social Media & Community Engagement

• Oversees organic social media voice, content direction, and engagement standards.
• Creates and curates? content that reflects Valley First's brand personality and highlights member, employee, and community stories.
• Identifies opportunities to amplify organizational impact through social storytelling and engagement.
• Aligns social communications with broader marketing, brand, and communications priorities.

Product Messaging

• Leads product messaging in partnership with Channel Marketing and business owners.
• Translates complex financial products and initiatives into clear, member-friendly language.
• Creates messaging that connects product features and benefits to meaningful member outcomes and experiences.
• Ensures product communications are accurate, compliant, and easy to understand.

Internal Communications

• Leads internal communications strategy to support organizational alignment, change management, and employee engagement.
• Develops and oversees internal messaging for initiatives, updates, and leadership communications.
• Partners with HR and leadership to ensure consistent and timely information sharing across the organization.

Public Relations & Reputation Management

• Oversees PR strategy including press releases, announcements, media coordination, and community storytelling.
• Supports crisis communications and issues management in coordination with leadership and compliance.
• Helps protect and strengthen organizational reputation through proactive and responsive communications.

Social Media & Community Engagement

• Oversees organic social media voice, content direction, and engagement standards.
• Ensures timely, professional community management and response guidelines.
• Aligns social communications with broader marketing and communications priorities.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Partners closely with Channel Marketing, Marketing Operations, Compliance, HR, and Creative resources.
• Provides guidance and feedback to internal teams and external vendors to ensure message clarity and quality.
• Supports the Director of Marketing with communications planning, frameworks, and special projects.

Measurement & Optimization

• Monitors performance of communications efforts and provides insight-driven recommendations.
• Continuously evaluates effectiveness and refines messaging to improve clarity, engagement, and understanding.

Education, Experience & Skills

The ideal candidate will be a proactive, analytical, and creative thinker with a passion for marketing and a commitment to delivering high-quality work that supports the growth and expansion of Valley First Credit Union.

• Bachelor?s degree in marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 7+ years of experience in marketing communications, corporate communications, content, or related roles
• Experience in regulated or complex environments preferred (financial services a plus)
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, editing, and content development skills.
• Demonstrated ability to write in and maintain a consistent brand voice across multiple channels and audiences.
• Experience identifying, developing, and communicating impactful stories that drive engagement, strengthen reputation, and build brand awareness.
• Strong interviewing, relationship-building, and information-gathering skills.
• Ability to translate complex concepts into clear, compelling, audience-friendly content.
• Strong strategic thinking, creativity, and editorial judgment.
• Experience developing content for digital, social, internal communications, executive communications, and public relations initiatives.
• Strong judgment, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across teams
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively with minimal supervision

Pay Range & Work Schedule:

• This position is a Tier 10, with a pay rate ranging from $32.00 to $42.00 per hour
  • The anticipated pay rate for new hires is between the low-end and midpoint of the range, depending on experience
  • The pay rates listed above are based upon the geographic location of our Administrative Offices in Modesto, CA using the greater Central Valley area for our pay range calculations
• Full Time, typically 40 hours per week.
  • Flexibility to occasionally work early or late hours, typically with advance notice