Darin Velin
Accomplished corporate communications professional with expertise in the technology/software industries. Expert at devising and implementing complex communications strategies to attain business objectives. Passion for internal/operational communications.
Goal-oriented professional with 20+ years of internal and external communications experience in the technology sector. A skillful communicator, team leader, and collaborator. Expert in delivering multi-channel content and plans to fulfill complex communications initiatives. A problem-solver and team player aiming to leverage experience toward a long-term communications position.
Arease of expertise
| Internal/External Communications | Content Development | Storytelling |
| Strategic Communications | Executive Collaboration | Cross-functional Projects |
| Editing | Editorial Calendars | Intranet Management |
Communications Manager – Microsoft (Contract)
08/2025-Present
- Created and launched new executive-focused monthly newsletter for large, world-wide support group. Drove editorial calendar, wrote and edited stories, designed templates, coached writers and leadership team.
- Curated and acted as editor-in-chief of new, strategic internal newsletter
- Standardized professional goals for performance reviews across different job roles
- Participated in Communications strategy and planning meetings with global team leaders
- Edited and co-wrote pitch decks, presentations, policy documents, and executive memos
- Created and managed Viva Engage page for Global Azure Support team. Trained team leaders how to us Viva products and features.
- Created prompts for Copilot and successfully used Copilot to summarize notes, long documents, and award nominations. Worked with internal Copilot features designed for Communicators and writers.
Internal Communications Specialist – Microsoft (Contract)
08/2023-08/2024
- Created messaging to support executive team leaders across a global Support team. Worked with internal stakeholders to assess messaging needs and coached on proper communication practices. Created and managed communication plans with detailed tactics, executing tactics on time and within corporate brand/voice guidelines.
- Developed org-wide best practice documentation for writing effective award nominations (key executive priority).
- Edited executive and team leadership communications, providing coaching and guidance on effective message development.
- Launched internal employee online community focused on culture, celebrations, and success stories—decreasing number of emails sent to employees (high employee priority) while providing a more interactive forum.
- Created and managed Viva Engage page for Global Azure Support team. Trained team leaders how to us Viva products and features.
- Created prompts for Copilot and successfully used Copilot to summarize notes, long documents, and award nominations. Worked with internal Copilot features designed for Communicators and writers.
Sr. Internal Communications Specialist – BECU
07/2022-03/2023
- Developed messaging across multiple channels to support various corporate programs and initiatives within the financial industry. Worked with internal stakeholders to assess messaging needs and deliver compelling content. Tracked, measured and analyzed performance of stories and articles to look for trends.
- Wrote internal blog posts and memos for C-level executives covering policy changes, philanthropic activities and history heritage month activities.
- Wrote some of the most popular stories of the year for the internal employee website.
Census Field Supervisor – United States Census Bureau
07/2020-09/2020
- Trained and managed a team of Enumerators working in the field on the Decennial Census
- Monitored team and individual daily performance against established benchmarks. Led team to be the first in Census area to reach “close-out” milestone.
- Coached struggling employees, documented performance issues, and conducted field observations
- Functioned as resource for questions on procedure, policy, or overcoming issues with cases
- Liaised Bureau directives from headquarters to field agents
- Ensured team had appropriate forms and documents to complete assignments
Director of Communications – Dauntless, Inc.
04/2018 – 03/2020
- Lead corporate communications strategy and execution for the business, social impact, public policy, and reputation management efforts
- Established strategic direction for communications programs across the Company to enhance brand positioning and communications initiatives to meet overall marketing and business initiatives
- Communicated the strategic direction of the Company and corresponding department goals to the team
- Counseled departments and executives on communications issues, strategies, and events
- Wrote, edited, and published sales and marketing materials for web, trade shows, and hardcopy. Oversaw design and production for event displays and signage
- Manage and execute all marketing, advertising, social media, and public relations for Company
- Led Customer Success team—creating and launching a Knowledge Base for customer self-support
- Supervised Technical Documentation Writer and Support Engineers, providing guidance and professional development.
- Lead effort to create a new brand with logos, wordmarks, voice, pillars, etc. Managed creative team, oversaw review efforts, and orchestrated the roll-out of the new brand
- Provided coaching, direction, and leadership support to team members to achieve partner, business, and customer results
- Planned and managed department processes and practices to ensure that programs were aligned with company business goals and objectives
- Led/Participated in cross-functional teams to ensure continuity of business unit/department plans across the Company
- Oversaw training and development of employees directly and indirectly managed and made effective staffing decisions
Community Relations Director – Dauntless Software
07/2015 – 10/2017
- Part owner of technology start-up company
- Managed and executed all marketing, advertising, social media and public relations for Company and flagship product
- Achieved 10%+ growth in market share in first year
- Managed online advertising spend to stay within budget
- Managed multiple Twitter, Facebook, YouTube accounts and owned websites
- Wrote, edited, and published sales and marketing materials
- Planned and executed marketing campaigns across platforms
- Collaborated with Sales team to support their efforts and coordinate messaging between teams. Drove sales and made follow-up calls as needed
- Reported out KPI goals and performance against those goals to Executive team and company employees
- Collaborated with C-level Officers on business planning, company strategy, and budget.
- Strategize on the go-to-market strategies for new vertical industries
- Worked with government officials nation-wide to address concerns and clarify new and existing laws
- Planned and executed major trades how booth experience
Senior Global Production Manager – Microsoft.com
06/2012 – 10/2015
- Oversaw end-to-end workflow and process of global web publishing
- Collaborated with Website Management, Content Localization and Programming to land bi-weekly home page programming changes (about 2,600 editorial placements per flight)
- Worked with product marketing teams on large releases: Halo, Forza, Surface, Windows Phone, etc.
- Developed a Publishing Threshold model to help larger team plan programming flights more accurately
- Streamlined team tracking process through tool consolidation, improving team agility and productivity
- Managed team of Vendors worldwide supporting 106 international markets in 65 languages
- Managed budget of ~$2M annually, driving a 16% decrease in year over year budget requirements
- Supported new feature and platform enhancements – driving time to adopt from ~6 months down to 4 weeks across all markets
- Developed/released blogging platform to meet local market content management needs.
- Managed content via multiple Content Management (CMS) systems: WordPress, SharePoint, custom in-house solutions, WebAce, SiteCore, Jira
Global Operations Lead – Microsoft Advertising
05/2010 – 06/2012
- Managed team of Vendors, and Agency contacts worldwide covering all aspects of web production, design, and social analytics
- Managed budget of ~$2M annually, driving a 25% cost reduction while increasing output 221.5%
- Oversaw end-to-end workflow and process of global web publishing
- Partnered with Development team and Site/Content Management teams on site updates and large projects
- Managed resource load balancing duties based on segment and region needs
- Drove efficiencies within publishing team.
- Established Tier 1 Support model for Platform and Tools
- Implemented a centralized, global publishing model, consolidating from 5 request systems to 1 and reducing number of vendor companies used by 57%
Communications Specialist – Microsoft Technical Community Network
2008 – 2010
- Created compelling internal and external communications to support project goals and engage Partner-level technical leaders within the company
- Functioned as Executive Producer for the “Behind the Code” web-series—a live 1:1 interview with the top technical minds in the company. Collaborated extensively with executives to conduct research, plan the interview, and manage video production company.
- Created invitations to various on-site and off-site activities
- Managed 2010 Technical Recognition Awards and PR program surrounding the awards
Online Marketing Communications Manager – Microsoft
2006 – 2008
- Awarded divisional MVP award by Corporate Vice President in March ’08 for great results and best practices within discipline
- Awarded peer group award for going “above and beyond” the job role
- Oversaw the strategy and vision for Microsoft Dynamics websites, including the Microsoft Dynamics communities and newsgroups
- Led an organic search optimization project that drove a 381% increase in key terms listed on the first page of major search engines
- Managed web components for online engagement with sales (~$207M in FY07 revenue from the website). Led page redesign effort that resulted in a 4% increase in response rate, 3% point above goal
- Ensured all product and division brand messaging is consistent and on message.
- Worked with Product Managers to outline business goals for fiscal year planning
- Managed website launches—coordinating Stakeholders, content creators, editorial, production and development. Drove 57% increase in traffic during launch time frame for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (typical launch increase is ~15%)
- Created and analyzed monthly and quarterly metrics reports, tracking site traffic and trends
- Oversaw design process and acted as point of contact with UI design teams
- Triaged and responded to ongoing publishing requests from stakeholders
- Managed team of Contingent Staff, Vendors, and Agency staff
Production Manager – Microsoft
2004 – 2006
- Managed production and publishing pipeline covering site launches and daily publishing (320 items per month) for portfolio of ~40 websites on Microsoft.com
- Managed budget of $400,000/year
- Forecast budget and resources based on portfolio plans
- Established portfolio-wide workflow processes and standards
- Wrote Job Descriptions and Request for Proposals for vendor positions
- Managed team of offsite Vendors
- Assisted in planning site launch schedules for portfolio
- Managed portfolio migration of 3,500 pages to MPP system and tools (project was completed on budget and ahead of schedule)
Producer – Microsoft
2003 – 2004
- Built web pages to support Microsoft Business Solutions products
- Received and completed Stakeholder web requests within SLA
- Co-managed platform migration for microsoft.com/businesssolutions
- Wrote system requirements, monitored development, and established testing matrix for new platform for Business Decision Maker portfolio
Web Marketing & Content Specialist – Microsoft Business Solutions
2002 – 2003
- Wrote and copy-edited press releases and web content
- Rolled out and enforced brand changes across web properties
- Wrote team process documentation
- Published content to the web
- Researched Web Marketing and Search Engine Optimization
- Wrote speeches and presentations for Director of Marketing Communications for internal/team events
Education
Bachelor of Arts – Organizational Communications
Bachelor of Arts – Philosophy
Concordia College, Moorhead MN