Senior Director of Brand Communications

If youre passionate about building a better future for individuals communities and our countryand youre committed to working hard to play your part in building that futureconsider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online competency-based degree programs WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century one that has received praise from academic industry government and media leaders. Whatever your role working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

$163200 to $293800

The Senior Director of Brand Communications will shape elevate and expand WGUs brand presence across owned earned and brand foundations. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement this leader will direct a cross-functional team including in-house production studio social media brand communications and owned content platforms to ensure the brand is consistently represented strategically amplified and deeply engaging for diverse audiences including philanthropy thought leaders government/policy officials business and academic leaders current and potential employees and students.

Combining creative vision with data-driven execution the Senior Director will advance WGUs mission by increasing brand awareness strengthening reputation and fostering meaningful engagement. The Senior Director is responsible for a multi-million-dollar budget. This role requires expertise in social media strategy

influencer partnerships brand management SEO optimization and multi-channel content activation as well as the ability to connect compelling storytelling to measurable impact.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities Brand Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of WGUs brand strategy across owned and emerging channels. Create a unified brand playbook (messaging tone of voice brand visual standards) that guides how WGU shows up across channels which is maintained and updated regularly to reflect institutional priorities audience insights and market shifts.

• Ensure consistent application of WGUs brand identity voice and messaging across all touchpoints.

• Partner with cross-functional teams (marketing communications fundraising government relations partnerships) to align brand positioning with institutional priorities.

Channel & Content Strategy

• Create a comprehensive rolling editorial calendar spanning WGUs owned content and social media channels including campaign integration SEO-driven topics channel management content production thought leadership placement and seasonal priorities.

• Create a social media strategy for channel growth influencer engagement and community building that is continually tested and optimized including platform-specific playbooks influencer/ambassador partnerships community engagement and performance dashboards. Collaborate with Marketing to ensure SEO best practices are embedded in content production to increase discoverability and organic reach.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor a team of creative professionals including production studio social media brand communications and owned content/channel leads.

• Showcase proven expertise in change management and the development of large high performing teams.

• Foster a collaborative innovative and inclusive culture.

• Oversee resource allocation budgeting and performance management for the team.

Measurement & Optimization

• Set and track KPIs for brand engagement reach sentiment and channel growth.

• Use data and analytics to inform ongoing strategy optimize content performance and identify emerging opportunities.

• Stay ahead of trends in digital media social engagement and influencer marketing.

Qualifications

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Proven expertise in brand strategy and identity management across owned shared and emerging channels.

• Strong understanding of multi-channel content strategy SEO and social media ecosystem dynamics.

• Skilled in storytelling and content creation that connects brand narratives to measurable outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing creative teams fostering innovation and collaboration.

• Effective collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across all levels

• Proficient in data-driven decision-making translating analytics into actionable strategies for engagement and growth.

• Adept at building cross-functional partnerships to align brand positioning with institutional priorities.

• Agile in adapting to emerging trends platforms and audience behaviors to keep the brand relevant and competitive.

Required Education

• Bachelors degree

Required Experience

• 10 years in brand content or digital strategy roles.

• 5 years of leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams. Experience driving integrated campaigns spanning paid earned owned and shared media.

• Understanding of brand reputation management and thought leadership positioning.

• Proven expertise in social media growth strategies owned content optimization and influencer engagement.

• Experience managing multi-channel brand presence and aligning creative output to strategic goals.

• Demonstrated success using analytics to drive decision-making and optimize performance.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. Its not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at

Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.