Communications Officer - San Diego, CA

Associates at California Bank & Trust work in a relationship-centered culture where they are provided with the tools, training, and opportunities to build the best possible relationships with our clients and with each other. Our workplace culture values each associate's unique experiences, background and perspectives and provides a collaborative environment for all employees to grow and thrive.

As a premier California-focused financial services company dedicated to serving its communities, families, and businesses (small, mid-sized and large), CB&T has been active for 70 years and has more than 80 full-service branch offices across the state. This dedication has helped the bank earn recognition as a perennial powerhouse in yearly voting for "Best Bank" and "Best Commercial Bank" from the readers of San Diego Union-Tribune and Orange County Register. Additionally, as a division of Zions Bancorporation, the bank has collected multiple Greenwich Excellence Awards for "Overall Client Satisfaction" in Small Business & Middle Market Excellence Awards.

California Bank & Trust is looking for a Senior Communications Specialist/Writer to create effective, compelling internal communications that help to build culture, support change initiatives, convey executive strategy, and enable our associates to serve clients and meet business goals. The person serving in this role will work collaboratively with business partners across the organization to support a broad range of communications activities, including, but not limited to the following:

• Generate impactful, compelling, detailed content for a variety of internal uses, including instructional/operational memos, internal articles, talking points, company-wide bulletins, intranet pages, executive messaging and presentations, and employee feature articles.

• Act as a consultant to business partners and project teams to develop internal communication plans and timelines, identifying the right channel for each audience.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to understand our broader corporate strategy and develop a clear and consistent executive narrative. Craft messaging for a variety of voices from leadership teams, including written materials, talking points, town halls, blogs, and effectively advise them on communications strategy.

• Use content management system to produce internal communications, graphic elements and intranet pages for programs and campaigns that support client relationship expansion and drive employee engagement.

• Create messages, stories and announcements around our Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts.

• Take direction from multiple stakeholders, balancing numerous projects and assignments simultaneously, while effectively prioritizing strict deadlines.

• Requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and polished presentation abilities.

• Strong fact-checking and proofing skills, with an inherent attention to detail

• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Ability to learn and use content management system to upload and distribute communications.

• Keen understanding of corporate voice and storytelling

• Skilled at building relationships with senior executives and stakeholders, and ability to work well across teams, functions and levels.

• Ability to work under pressure to adhere to tight turn times and concurrent deadlines.

• Flexible, highly motivated, self-starter who takes direction well.

• Reports to and works under the direction of the Internal Communications Manager

Optional/Preferred

• Experience with visual design (flyers, presentations, etc.)
• Complementary graphics skills (Photoshop/Creative Suite)
• Familiarity with Web Design or Intranet Content Management Systems (CMS)
• Online Survey Design and Management

Qualifications:

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English or a related field and 2+ years experience but there is a strong preference to someone with 5-7 years of writing, editing and producing communications or other directly related experience. A combination of education and experience may meet qualifications or a professional background that requires strong writing and editing skills; experience in writing for corporate environment and executive messaging preferred; financial services industry experience a plus; ability to take technical information, determine what's important, and produce clear, concise copy that engages employees.

• Working knowledge of writing and communications techniques and skills for print and electronic mediums.

• Knowledge of public relations, journalism and various computer systems and applications, specifically interactive digital media software.

• Ability to effectively identify appropriate communication channels given stated objectives.

• Proficient in multi-channel utilization.

• Ability to work effectively with people on multi-disciplinary teams.

• Creative contributor and problem solver with excellent attention to detail. Solid organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form.

• Ability to write policies, procedures and articles/stories for traditional and electronic media.

• Knowledge of communication research, planning and strategy.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - START DAY ONE!

• Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Paternal Leave, and Adoption Assistance

• Health Savings (HSA), Flexible Spending (FSA), and dependent care accounts

• Paid Training, Paid Time Off (PTO), and 11 Paid Federal Holidays

• 401(k) plan with company match, Profit Sharing, competitive compensation in line with work experience

• Mental health benefits, including coaching and therapy sessions

• Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying employees

• Employee Ambassador preferred banking products

This position is eligible to earn a base salary in the range of $73,000 - $87,000 annually depending on job-related factors such as level of experience.