Communications & Strategic Initiatives Director

Responsibilities

The Director leads the strategic direction of the company's brand, marketing, and communications while serving as a liaison between executive leadership and internal teams. This role also manages a portfolio of strategic initiatives and provides direct support to the President and CEO to ensure organizational alignment.

Requirements

Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 7 years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, or organizational strategy. Proven leadership experience and a strong understanding of manufacturing or business-to-business environments are required.

Skills

• Strategic communications
• Marketing strategy
• Brand management
• Public relations
• Executive support
• Project management
• Cross-functional leadership
• Relationship management
• Budget management
• Event planning
• Workforce development
• Business planning
• AI-supported business tools
• Mentoring
• Writing
• Presentation skills

Benefits

• Benefits eligible

About this role

Description
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 ...

About READER PRECISION SOLUTIONS

Manufacturing · 51-200 employees · headquartered in Elkhorn, Wisconsin · founded 1982