Corporate Communications Manager

Western National Insurance

About Us:

Western National Insurance is a growing, A+ rated (A.M. Best) group of property-and-casualty insurance companies serving individuals, families, and businesses in 20 states across the Midwestern and Western U.S. plus Alaska. Currently ranked as the 57th largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has consistently earned accolades as an employer of choice, including as a Star Tribune Top Workplace (2011 – 2016), and previously as a recipient of the Minnesota Business Ethics Award, as a Minnesota Business Magazine Top 100 Workplace, as a Principal Financial “10 Best” Company, and as a finalist for the Alfred P. Sloan “When Work Works” Award.

Western National is known as “The Relationship Company®”, and caring for employees is a key part of that relationship commitment. Western National offers competitive pay, advancement opportunities, a generous benefits package, a robust wellbeing program, and a healthy work/life balance (including three weeks of paid time off, nine paid holidays, and eight hours of paid volunteer time as a starting point for new employees). These attributes are just some of the reasons why nearly half of our employees choose to stay on the Western National team for 10 years or more.

https://www.wnins.com

Position Details

Corporate Communications Manager
Job
Full-time
7/24/2019
Twin Cities Metro
Edina, MN

Overview:

Western National is in search of a Corporate Communication Manager to join our growing Communications team! This exciting new role will offer someone the opportunity to lead a team of five and to manage the development and delivery of internal and external communications, marketing materials, and marketing resources that support the company culture and the competitive position of our group of companies.

The ideal candidate will have previous communications experience, preferably in a management role. Experience with editing, brand management, vendor relationship management, and advertising program administration are also strongly preferred.

Responsibilities:

  • Supervises, mentors, and provides leadership and assignments / direction to Communications Team staff. 
  • Manages the day-to-day editing, formatting, and delivery of all corporate communications (e.g., agency bulletins / email marketing, press releases, Intranet articles, marketing collateral). 
  • Directs the creative process for strategic communications. 
  • Manages vendor/creative agency relationships to ensure their output meets our objectives. 
  • Develops positive working relationships with executives, managers, and other internal resources throughout the company in order to effectively obtain information, manage review, and coordinate delivery of various communications. 
  • Manages all other matters of corporate communications (e.g., website, social media, audio/video, public relations). 
  • Has editing authority for all corporate communications. 
  • Automatically makes decisions on routine and non-routine issues. 
  • Researches and recommends new communications tactics and strategies; contributes to strategic discussions. 
  • Provides consultation on questions regarding brand management and reputation. 
  • Takes an evidence-based approach to assessing communications strategies and priorities. 
  • Responsible for developing improvements and innovations to enhance communications outputs. 
  • Decision making is guided by a combination of strategic guidelines and own reasoning. 
  • Regular contact with internal and external customers; seeks stakeholder feedback and considers customer service of paramount importance.
Requirements:
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven ability to communicate with individuals at all levels of an organization. 
  • Excellent editing skills and ability to work with team members to support continued development of editing skills. 
  • Prior experience in a communications field: corporate communications, brand strategy, public relations, advertising, or a similar field. 
  • Prior management experience with a demonstrated ability to coach, direct, and develop individuals. 
  • Demonstrated strong conflict resolution skills. 
  • Detail oriented and accurate. 
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills, with a proven ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and work independently. 
  • Proven ability to speak in front of groups of people. 
  • Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, journalism, marketing, business, public relations, or a similar field; experience in lieu of degree acceptable. 
  • Foundational insurance knowledge, especially in property-and-casualty insurance or a similar financial services field, is preferred; including AICPCU program designations, or a record of successful completion of insurance-related continuing education courses. 
  • Email marketing experience, especially with Salesforce Marketing Cloud or similar tools, is preferred. 
  • Experience with Adobe Creative Software or similar tools is preferred. 
  • Experience with the visual arts or photography is preferred.

Our benefits package includes:

  • 401(k) company match 
  • Medical insurance – We offer affordable (thanks to a strong employer subsidy), above-average coverage and the choice of either a traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) option OR a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) option 
  • Western Wellbeing program – Including on-site massage, yoga classes, healthy snack days, sit/stand workstations, nutrition seminars, and more 
  • 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved, job-relevant coursework 
  • Discounts on automobile and homeowner's insurance 
  • Other standard employee benefits – Including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more

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