VP Strategy & Marketing Communication-ST

Desert Financial Credit Union
Phoenix, AZ

The Vice President of Strategy, Marketing & Communications serves as the executive leader responsible for shaping and driving SwitchThink's market position, brand authority, and growth trajectory. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role is a key member of the senior leadership team and holds enterprise-wide accountability for integrated strategy development, marketing execution, and corporate communications.

This executive will architect and scale the marketing and communications function from the ground up, bringing deep expertise in B2B marketing to Credit Unions and IT Services. They will personally drive initiatives while directing a lean team and external contractors, owning the work alongside the people being led rather than delegating from a distance The VP will translate SwitchThink's mission into compelling brand narratives, demand generation engines, and strategic initiatives that accelerate revenue growth and deepen credit union partnerships. As both a visionary leader and a hands-on executive, they will champion brand integrity, drive measurable business outcomes, and build a high-performing team culture rooted in data, creativity, and client-first thinking.

What you will do here:

Enterprise Strategy & Vision Leadership

Partner with the CEO and executive team to define and execute SwitchThink's corporate strategy.

Lead annual strategic planning cycles, drive cross-functional alignment, and translate organizational goals into actionable marketing and communications priorities.

Brand Management & Market Positioning

Own and evolve SwitchThink's brand identity, voice, and market position in the credit union IT services space.

Develop and enforce brand standards across all channels, ensuring consistency and resonance with target audiences.

Integrated Marketing & Demand Generation

Architect and lead full-funnel B2B marketing campaigns targeting credit union decision-makers.

Drive pipeline growth through digital marketing, content, events, sponsorships, partnerships, and ABM strategies with clear ROI accountability.

Corporate Communications & PR

Lead internal and external communications strategy, including executive communications, media relations, crisis communications, and thought leadership.

Serve as a communications advisor to the CEO and board.

Digital Strategy & Content Marketing

Own digital presence including website, SEO/SEM, email, and social platforms.

Oversee the development of high-value content including thought leadership, whitepapers, case studies, and webinars that drive credibility and engagement.

Market Intelligence & Competitive Insights

Lead ongoing market research, competitive analysis, win/loss reviews, and member sentiment studies.

Surface actionable insights that inform product, sales, and strategic decision-making at the executive level.

Executive Leadership & Team Development

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing marketing and communications function..

Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous growth. Define team makeup and effectively use contractors.

Analytics, KPIs & Performance Reporting

Establish and own marketing performance frameworks, KPI dashboards, and executive reporting.

Champion data-driven decision-making across all marketing investments and optimize spend for maximum business impact.

Budget & Vendor/Agency Management

Own the enterprise marketing and communications budget.

Manage agency, freelance, and vendor relationships strategically.

Evaluate and implement marketing technology to support scale, automation, and efficiency.

Cross-Functional Executive Collaboration

Serve as a strategic partner to Sales, Account Management, Product, Operations, and Finance leadership.

Align marketing priorities with revenue goals and ensure a unified go-to-market strategy across all functions.

What you will need:

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field required.

Master’s degree/MBA Business Administration, Marketing, Strategy, or related field preferred.

10+ years Progressive experience in marketing, communications, and/or corporate strategy, with demonstrated success in B2B environments required.

5+ years Senior/executive leadership experience (VP, SVP, CMO, or equivalent) with direct team management and P&L or budget accountability required.

5+ years B2B marketing experience targeting Credit Unions, community banks, or financial services organizations; credit union IT services experience highly preferred required.

5+ years Proven track record in demand generation, integrated campaign management, and revenue-connected marketing in a fintech environment – Preferred required.

Executive Strategy & Vision

Executive-level strategic thinking, Strategic Influence, and enterprise vision setting

Ability to shape organizational direction, set long-range priorities, and inspire confidence at the board and C-suite level required.

Leadership & Team Development

Proven ability to build and lead teams and drive change leadership

Proven track record of building high-performing teams, navigating ambiguity, leading transformation, and standing up new functions from the ground up required.

B2B Marketing Expertise & Demand Generation

Deep B2B marketing expertise,

Demonstrate Innovative Thinking

Deep command of integrated marketing strategy, brand management, and demand generation — with a track record of bringing creative, differentiated campaigns to life in competitive markets required.

Digital Marketing & Technology Proficiency

Deep expertise in SEO/SEM, marketing automation, CRM, analytics, advertising platforms, and media buying

Proficiency across digital channels including paid and organic search, marketing automation platforms, CRM systems, and campaign analytics tools required.

Executive Communications & Storytelling

Expert executive communications, media relations, crisis communications, writing and presentation skills

Outstanding ability to craft and deliver compelling narratives across executive, media, and public-facing audiences — including crisis situations required.

Data-Driven Decision Making & ROI Focus

Excellent Analytical skills,

Results Orientation

Expertise with ROI measurement

Relentless focus on measurable outcomes, pipeline growth, and revenue impact, backed by strong analytical capabilities and performance reporting required.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence

Collaborative Partnership skills and strong cross-functional influence

Expertise with budget management and vendor oversight

Demonstrated ability to build trust and alignment across diverse stakeholders, manage agency and vendor relationships, and influence outcomes without direct authority required.

Credit Union & Financial Services Industry Knowledge

Client-First Mindset

Expertise in CU/financial services knowledge

Deep empathy for credit unions and their technology needs, grounded in hands-on experience in the credit union or community banking space required.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For additional information about our organization, careers, and benefits visit: http://www.desertfinancial.com/careers.

// // //