Job Description

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.

We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big.

Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We’re changing. Because students need a better way.

We’re looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students—and for each other.

This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It’s where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work.

Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you—from physical and mental to financial and professional. You’ll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more.

We’re obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking “why not?” when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills.

Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education.

Our company is in an exciting period of growth that calls for stronger internal alignment that deepens the connection between employees, our mission, and our strategic priorities, while also supporting thoughtful executive communication externally to reinforce our story and strengthen our reputation.

To support this work, we are seeking a Director to help advance and elevate our internal communications efforts supporting the development and delivery of clear, compelling employee communications and collaborating with executives and various teams across the business to extend key messages to internal and external audiences, as appropriate.

In this role, you will help employees understand company strategy and how their work contributes to our goals, while also providing support to external communications, as needed.

The ideal candidate brings exceptional writing and storytelling skills, sound and strategic business acumen, and the ability to translate complex topics into relevant, actionable messages. The Director will develop a broad range of content, including company-wide communications, executive messaging, articles, talking points, profiles, internal newsletters, video and digital content, and internal publications. The Director will also track and report on engagement and effectiveness across internal communications, using insights to drive continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Internal Communications Strategy, Messages, and Delivery

• Supports the development and execution of the company’s internal communications strategy.

• Contributes to and helps manage a cross‑company editorial calendar covering internal communications, executive messaging, and thought leadership

• Develops, reviews, and supports content across formats and channels to ensure quality, consistency, and alignment

• Helps manage the company intranet and internal communications channels, maintaining a strong pipeline of relevant, timely content

• Identifies and elevates stories, progress, and milestones from across the organization to drive alignment and recognition

• Drafts and delivers enterprise‑wide and executive communications on behalf of executives, aligned with business strategy and priorities

• Identifies emerging communication opportunities and supports timely corporate updates

• Helps ensure communication tools, processes, and channels are effective and aligned to audience needs

• Serves as a communications partner to lines of business teams to support effective employee communications

• Supports internal communications during periods of change, transformation, or heightened sensitivity

• Helps prepare executives for internal meetings, town halls, and events

• Tracks, analyzes, and reports on internal communication effectiveness to inform continuous improvement

Support Executive Visibility

• Partners with executives to support external messaging that reflects company strategy and reinforces credibility

• Contributes to executive content for external channels, including blogs, articles, and LinkedIn posts

• Helps prepare executives for external engagements with clear, well‑structured messaging, briefing materials, and presentations

• Identifies and evaluates opportunities to elevate executive voices in alignment with business and communications goals

• Supports external communications strategy, as needed.

Position Requirements/Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent work experience

• 10+ years of experience in internal and/or executive communications, including developing communication strategies and materials

• Ability to manage and develop people, providing clear direction, feedback, and support

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva, Adobe Acrobat, and SharePoint

• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across formats and channels, with strong grammar, proofreading, and AP style

• Ability to translate complex business, economic, and industry topics into clear, audience‑appropriate messages

• Strong strategic messaging skills, with the judgment to tailor content based on audience, channel, and objective

• Highly organized, with experience managing editorial calendars, tracking communication effectiveness, and driving continuous improvement

• Demonstrates executive presence and delivers communications with clarity, confidence, and sophistication

• Strong understanding of business strategy and brand, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge

• Proven ability to advise senior leaders and align communications with organizational priorities and goals

• Strong critical‑thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and messaging implications

• Superior attention to detail and accuracy, recognizing that communications are widely shared and shape employee experience and internal brand perception

• Comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously and prioritizing effectively in a fast‑paced, performance‑driven environment

• Resourceful and self‑directed, with the initiative to work independently while maintaining high standards and productivity

• Proven experience supporting major company milestones and transformations, and developing communications that strengthen employee alignment with the company’s mission and strategic priorities

• Agency background, experience supporting multiple clients and/or senior leaders

• Experience in the financial services sector

• Experience with video production and content creation and editing

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with our without reasonable accommodation, can perform the “essential functions” of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function.

Feeling your best helps you do your best:

Our benefits take care of the whole you—so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).

• Competitive base salaries

• Bonus incentives

• Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed

• Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more

• Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.

• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs

• Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware)

• Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives

• Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs

• Career development and training opportunities

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Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click hereto view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy, here for federal job applicant notices, and here to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call (855) 756-2007 and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.