Senior Director, Internal Communications

About the position

The Senior Director of Internal Communications will develop and execute an internal communications strategy that will inform, engage and empower U.S. Soccer employees. This individual will take a creative and innovative approach to internal communications, leveraging different channels and approaches (and introducing new tools as needed) to maximize the impact of communications. The Senior Director of Internal Communications will lead a team supporting communications for Human Resources, including the Vice President, Inclusion & Engagement, the Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams and all internal communications. Support will also be required for Corporate Social Responsibility working with the Soccer Forward Foundation. This individual will clearly connect internal communications to the organization’s strategy, so all employees understand how their day-to-day jobs and the overall operations of the Federation all exist in service to soccer. They will understand change management and draw on their deep expertise in that area to communicate to employees about U.S. Soccer’s ongoing transformation and growth. They will establish clear metrics and a measurement process, then use that data to continually improve the execution of the communications strategy. They will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and have the ability to pivot when necessary. This individual will build strong relationships with the C-suite and across the organization and be seen as a consultative partner. They will work closely with colleagues on the Marcomms team and across the Federation to ensure that messaging is clear and consistent. This individual will also lead a team of six, supporting their growth and development.

Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive internal communications strategy, in collaboration with VP, Communications, that aligns to the overall U.S. Soccer communications strategy.
• Lead the execution of internal communications, across channels.
• Assess the internal channels and tools available, then identify and lead the implementation of new communications channels, if needed.
• Establish clear goals and a framework for metrics and measurement of internal communications.
• Ensure messaging is consistent with established Federation messaging, internally and externally.
• Establish and oversee an internal communication content calendar.
• Align all communications with business objectives, clearly connecting to the U.S. Soccer mission, vision, strategy and purpose.
• Support change management and transformation across the organization.
• Promote employee engagement by leveraging communications to support U.S. Soccer’s culture of high performance.
• Develop strong cross-functional relationships with key partners and stakeholders across the organization.
• Leverage internal communications to increase the visibility of and build trust in senior leadership.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team.

Requirements

• 10+ years in a media relations/corporate communications role at a senior level in the sports, media, or entertainment industries.
• Extensive experience in speech writing and preparation for senior leadership.
• An intelligent and articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in communications, press and advocacy, with established press and PR networks, public affairs and contacts in relevant fields.
• Experience in influencing senior leadership to strive for change and constantly push the envelope.
• Strong project management skills with an analytical mindset.
• The ability to work independently and in a collaborative work environment is required, along with strong organizational, interpersonal, analytical, and planning skills.
• Someone with excellent judgment, who listens well, implements effective, efficient solutions to problems and earns the respect necessary to implement changes to better the organization.
• General knowledge of soccer.
• Capable of working in fast-paced and demanding environments.
• Must be able to connect 'micro' details to the 'macro' vision and mission.
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook).

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of the U.S. soccer ecosystem and its members.
• Strategic hustle, initiative, and work ethic with diversity of thought.
• Proactive and curious with a bias for both commercial action and brand values.
• Able to think strategically and handle multiple projects.
• Confidence without ego.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven track record of constructing innovative, creative, and digitally minded presentations.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Established leadership qualities focusing on collaboration, team development, empathy, and challenging team members to deliver the highest-level performance.