Communications & Strategic Initiatives Director in Elkhorn, Wisconsin at READER PRECISION SOLUTIONS

The Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives is responsible for the strategic direction of Reader Precision Solutions' brand, communications, and marketing, and for strengthening alignment between executive leadership, internal teams, and external partners. This position leads the marketing function, serves as a primary representative of RPS with economic development, business, and industry organizations, and helps move a defined portfolio of strategic initiatives from executive priority to completed work.

The Director is a trusted, visible leader who works closely with the President, CEO, and department leaders to translate company priorities into clear actions, ownership, and follow-through. This role partners with Human Resources, Education and Outreach, Client Relations, Operations, Engineering, and Finance to keep company messaging, partnerships, and initiatives aligned with the broader business strategy, while respecting each department's ownership of its own function.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Communications & Marketing Leadership

• Lead the strategic direction of the RPS brand, communications, public relations, and marketing priorities.
• Develop and manage the annual marketing plan and budget, subject to approval by the President.
• Ensure messaging remains consistent across client, workforce, community, industry, and internal audiences.
• Position the Youth Apprenticeship program and the RPS workforce development story as a core brand differentiator.
• Lead executive communications, major company announcements, presentations, thought leadership, and public relations initiatives.
• Manage marketing agencies, vendors, and freelancers to ensure their work supports business priorities and delivers measurable results.
• Oversee trade show and event strategy, including planning, budgets, staffing, and post-event follow-up.

External Relations & Outreach

• Serve as the primary RPS representative with economic development, business, and industry organizations, including local chambers of commerce, WCEDA, and WMC and its WDIC group.
• Partner with the Director of Education and Outreach, who owns everything involving students, including the Youth Apprenticeship program and relationships with educators and career counselors at K-12 schools and technical colleges, to coordinate messaging, events, and shared opportunities.
• Maintain a regular communication cadence with key partners and identify opportunities for collaboration, visibility, and engagement.
• Coordinate executive participation in relevant industry, workforce, education, and community initiatives.
• Connect external partnerships to workforce development, recruiting, reputation, and long-term company priorities.
• Represent Reader Precision Solutions professionally in external meetings, events, and partnership discussions.

Strategic Initiatives & Organizational Effectiveness

• Serve as a liaison between the President, CEO, and department leaders to translate executive priorities into clear actions, owners, and timelines.
• Maintain visibility across a defined portfolio of strategic initiatives, assigned by the President and reviewed quarterly, and report status at the Leadership Alignment Meeting.
• Coordinate interdepartmental dependencies, decisions, and follow-up where initiatives cross multiple functions.
• Participate directly in leadership discussions related to strategic priorities, organizational planning, and annual strategic planning.
• Support the introduction of structured goal-setting, accountability, and business planning practices as the organization grows.
• Support the AI Council and the responsible adoption of AI and other tools that improve efficiency, knowledge sharing, and decision-making.
• Lead, facilitate, or transition ownership of initiatives based on the needs of the organization.

Executive Support

• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, agendas, and background information for key client, employee, industry, community, and partner interactions.
• Track executive priorities, decisions, and commitments requiring follow-up, and keep them moving to completion.
• Help the President and CEO prioritize their time around company priorities and key external commitments.
• Improve visibility and continuity across executive priorities without replacing functional department ownership.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and development for the Marketing Coordinator.
• Establish clear expectations, goals, and performance standards for the marketing function.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback, and address performance concerns as necessary.
• Support skill development, cross-training, and career growth within the marketing function.
• Lead by example through active engagement, visibility, and participation across the facility.

Role Scope & Reporting Structure:

• This role improves coordination, communication, and follow-through across the organization.
• Department leaders remain responsible for their respective functions. The Director supports, facilitates, and coordinates work across departments while respecting established functional ownership.
• Routine production, clerical, and administrative tasks remain with the appropriate team member, department, or external partner.
• This position reports to the President and works closely with the CEO. The Marketing Coordinator reports directly to this position.
• Formal performance reviews for this position are held twice a year with the President and an independent outside advisor. Compensation decisions are reviewed and approved by the CEO and the VP of Human Resources. Disagreements that cannot be resolved through this process are escalated to the CEO for a final decision.

Measures of Success:

• Annual marketing plan and budget presented to the President each December, with results reviewed quarterly.
• Strategic initiative portfolio reported at every Leadership Alignment Meeting, with a named owner and due date for each initiative.
• Regular, documented contact with each key external partner and active RPS participation in priority organizations.
• Consistent brand and messaging across the website, social media, trade shows, recruiting materials, and client communications.
• Marketing Coordinator has a written development plan reviewed at least twice a year.
• Executive leadership is consistently prepared for key engagements, with decisions and commitments tracked to completion.

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, brand leadership, public relations, or organizational strategy.
• 2+ years of experience leading people, agency teams, or cross-functional projects.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing, industrial, or business-to-business environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent writing, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Experience managing external partners, vendors, industry associations, or community organizations.
• Ability to manage multiple strategic priorities while maintaining clarity, discretion, and follow-through.
• Working knowledge of AI-supported business tools and emerging technologies.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time, salaried exempt, benefits eligible position, following a core schedule of Monday through Friday during standard business hours, with flexibility as needed; early morning, evening, and occasional weekend events and overnight travel may be required based on business needs.

Physical/Environmental Demands:

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical and environmental demands required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

The Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives role is primarily office-based and requires prolonged periods of sitting while working on a computer, phone, or documentation. The position involves regular walking through production areas, attendance at offsite meetings and events, and occasional travel. Physical requirements are minimal but may include occasional lifting or moving of event, trade show, or office materials up to 25 pounds.

Reader Precision Solutions Four Pillars: Innovation, Empowerment, Integrity & Respect

Innovation – we apply creative solutions to exceed expectations internally and externally. We deliver creative solutions by pursuing continuous improvement, challenging the limits of conventional thinking to drive positive change and engaging our customers to achieve synergy.

Empowerment – we equip our employees to succeed. We nurture success by setting realistic goals and standards; with accountability and regular performance feedback, providing training opportunities for growth and learning and offering employees a safe and modern work environment.

Integrity – our reputation is everything. We preserve and enhance our reputation by operating with the highest ethical standards, focusing on customer needs and contributing positively to our community and environment.

Respect – we act with honor in all our interactions. In our interactions, we accept and value individual differences, work together with a positive attitude and promote open and honest communication in a team-based environment.