WHAT YOU WILL DO EVERYDAY
As the Vice President, Community Development and Market Engagement, you will be responsible for the strategy and execution of Interra’s community engagement, events, sponsorships, and school partnerships across all assigned markets. This role serves as the enterprise owner of community‑based growth strategy — responsible for designing, executing, and continuously optimizing a comprehensive, market‑facing approach that strengthens Interra’s brand presence, trust, and growth outcomes.
The VP translates enterprise priorities into locally relevant, independently executed strategies, ensuring community investment is intentional, differentiated, measurable, and directly aligned to long‑term market expansion, member acquisition, and relationship depth. Operating with high autonomy and minimal oversight, this role reports to the Chief Marketing Officer and leads a Community and Events Specialist team to align strategic initiatives and execution with member facing departments. This role is highly visible and field‑oriented combining strategic rigor with hands‑on leadership, capable of scaling community impact across multiple markets while maintaining brand authenticity, consistency, and trust.
Direct Reports: Community and Events Specialists
HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT
25% Own and lead Interra’s multi‑market community development and engagement strategy, aligned with enterprise growth priorities including deposit growth, member acquisition, and market expansion. Translate enterprise objectives into market‑specific strategies and execution plans for Michiana, Fort Wayne, and Northwest Ohio. Serve as the primary decision‑maker for community strategy, priorities, and investments within assigned markets. Partner with the Chief Marketing Officer and senior leadership to ensure alignment with broader brand and growth strategy, while independently driving execution. Identify underserved segments, community gaps, and relationship‑based opportunities that support long‑term growth. Maintain accountability for ensuring community engagement meaningfully supports Retail and Lending growth through relationship development, production enablement, and strategic opportunity identification.
25% Serve as the primary external brand representative of Interra Credit Union within assigned markets. Build, manage, and sustain executive‑level relationships with chambers, economic development organizations, municipalities, schools, nonprofits, and business leaders. Establish Interra as a trusted, mission‑driven partner in local economic and community development. Act as Relationship Manager for school corporate banking partnerships, serving as the strategic marketing and financial wellness leader for each relationship. Develop and deploy market activation playbooks that equip branches, lenders, and business leaders with clear expectations, messaging, follow‑up processes, and relationship‑building tools. Ensure community engagement prioritizes authentic connection and trust, with structured lead generation or referrals used strategically.
10% Maintain full ownership and decisions over the planning, execution, and optimization of all internal and external community events, sponsorships, and partnerships. Establish and manage a sponsorship evaluation and governance framework that considers: market priority and audience alignment; relationship value and business development potential; brand visibility and reputational impact; community benefit and differentiation; cost, staff capacity, and execution feasibility; and post‑event performance and ROI. Make final decisions on sponsorship participation, investment levels, and partnership continuation. Partner with Commercial, Retail, Mortgage, Wealth, and Agribusiness leaders to integrate business development into community strategy where appropriate. Lead the development and expansion of signature events and flagship partnerships that elevate Interra’s regional brand presence.
10% Own Interra’s school and youth partnership strategy end‑to‑end, including corporate banking relationships, financial wellness programming, student engagement, and staff banking opportunities. Serve as the strategic relationship lead for all school‑based partnerships. Ensure each partnership includes a defined engagement plan, measurable outcomes, and coordinated support across Marketing, Retail, Business Banking, and Community teams. Develop scalable programming that supports youth financial education, family banking relationships, and long‑term member growth.
10% Lead, coach, and develop a team of community and events specialists across multiple markets. Establish clear standards for field presence, relationship stewardship, and community representation. Provide structure, prioritization, and governance to ensure consistency, scalability, and quality execution. Drive a community‑first mindset across frontline and regional teams by equipping leaders to represent Interra locally through grassroots engagement. Maintain accountability for execution quality, prioritization, and team performance.10% Lead strategy discussion with marketing partners including ad agency and vendors in order to create overall corporate marketing plan and implementation.
5% Own the capture and elevation of community impact stories, partnerships, and outcomes. Ensure consistent brand representation across all community‑facing activities. Partner with Marketing and Communications to surface storytelling opportunities, manage reputational risk, and strengthen Interra’s narrative as a trusted financial partner. Additionally, establish and monitor KPIs including: Community‑driven member acquisition; event ROI and engagement; sponsorship effectiveness; and brand reach and volunteer participation. Deliver executive‑level reporting that clearly connects community investment to business outcomes. Continuously refine strategy based on performance data, market feedback, and growth priorities.
5% Partner with branch leadership and business lines to ensure effective local activation. Support enterprise initiatives such as market expansion, branch openings, and community‑based growth efforts. Provide guidance and structure to ensure employees represent Interra professionally and consistently in the community.
- - Must comply with all company policies and procedures, applicable laws, and regulations, including but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SUCCEED
Experience
10+ years’ of progressive experience in community development, marketing, business development, or public relations. Demonstrated success leading multi-market or regional community engagement strategies.
Education / Certifications / Licenses
This level of knowledge is acquired through completion of Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field (will consider experience in lieu of degree). Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Strategic Execution: Ability to translate enterprise strategy into local market impact
- Financial Prudence: Strong financial budgeting skills
- Influence & Relationship Building: Trusted advisor to community and internal leaders
- Field Leadership: Visible, engaged, and active in market presence
- Analytical Mindset: Data-driven approach to community investment decisions
- Collaboration: Seamless partnership across marketing, retail, and business lines
- Brand Stewardship: Ensures consistency, credibility, and professionalism in all interactions
- Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
- Strong storyteller with the ability to create compelling narratives in support of our business strategies.
- Demonstrated strong Community Presence.
- Ability to manage workload, be flexible and proactive, multitask, work under deadlines, and ensure quality and accuracy.
- Professional level of verbal and written communication skills are essential to the position.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- The ability to motivate or influence internal or external senior level professionals is a critical part of the job, requiring a significant level of influence and trust.
- Obtaining cooperation and agreement on important outcomes via frequently complex and senior level dialogues.
- Ability to provide world class member service while executing Interra’s vision, mission, and delivery of Core Values.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
- The ability to motivate or influence internal or external senior level professionals is a critical part of the job, requiring a significant level of influence and trust.
- Obtaining cooperation and agreement on important outcomes via frequently complex, senior level dialogues, as well as a professional level of written communication skills are essential to the position.
COMPETENCIES
- Decision Making - Makes sound decisions in a timely manner using critical thinking, problem solving, insights, and experience. Demonstrates sound judgment that proves to be accurate and correct over time.
- Develop Others - Recognizes role in the development of others. Encourages and facilitates development of others through coaching, feedback, and dialogue. Utilizes stretch goals and/or assignments and aligns goals with organizational needs.
- Drive Engagement - Demonstrates drive and fosters an inclusive environment that motivates others. Alters approach to each person to promote optimal performance and commitment to the Interra mission, vision, and objectives.
- Effective Communication - Utilizes a variety of communication modalities effectively and appropriately across multiple channels. Is effective in a variety of communication settings: one-on-one, small, and large groups, or among diverse styles and position levels. Adjusts to fit the message to the audience. Provides timely and helpful information to others across the organization.
- Functional Expertise - Possesses a sufficient level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in position-related areas; keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise; actively seeks ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development activities.
- Maintain Accountability - Ensures that employees understand the full range of their responsibilities with an emphasis upon standards and results. Also provides necessary support, including balanced and timely feedback.
ADA REQUIREMENTS
Physical Requirements
- Perform primarily sedentary work with limited physical exertion and occasional lifting of up to 10 lbs.
- Must be capable of climbing / descending stairs in emergency situation.
- Must be able to operate routine office equipment including telephone, copier, facsimile, and calculator.
- Must be able to routinely perform work on computer for an average of 4-6 hours per day.
- Must be able to work extended hours whenever required or requested by management.
- Must be capable of regular, reliable, and timely attendance.
Working Conditions
- Must be able to routinely perform work indoors in climate-controlled shared work area with minimal noise.
Mental and/or Emotional Requirements
- Must be able to perform job functions independently and work effectively either on own or as part of a team.
- Must be able to plan and direct the work activities of self and others.
- Must be able to read and carry out various complicated written and oral instructions.
- Must be able to speak clearly and deliver information in a logical and understandable sequence.
- Must be capable of dealing calmly and professionally with numerous different personalities from diverse cultures at various levels within and outside of the organization and demonstrate highest levels of customer service and discretion when dealing with the public.
- Must be able to perform responsibilities with composure under the stress of deadlines / requirements for extreme accuracy and quality and/or fast pace.
- Must be able to effectively handle multiple, simultaneous, and changing priorities.
- Must be capable of exercising highest level of discretion on both internal and external confidential matters.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
