Western Governors University
Senior Director of Brand Communications
Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84193
Overview
Join to apply for the
Senior Director of Brand Communications
role at
Western Governors University .
If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. WGU expands access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs and strives to be a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university aims to help students graduate and create a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position accounts for factors including skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and business needs. A reasonable current range is: Grade: Management_Executive 612 Pay Range: $ - $ $163,200 to $293,800
Job Description The
Senior Director of Brand Communications
will shape, elevate, and expand WGU’s 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 a 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 WGU’s mission by increasing brand awareness, strengthening reputation, and fostering meaningful engagement. The role is responsible for a multi-million-dollar budget and requires expertise in social media strategy, influencer partnerships, brand management, SEO optimization, and multi-channel content activation, along with the ability to connect compelling storytelling to measurable impact.
Responsibilities
Brand Leadership & Strategy
Lead the development and execution of WGU’s brand strategy across owned and emerging channels. Create a unified brand playbook (messaging, tone of voice, brand visual standards) guiding how WGU appears across channels; maintain and update regularly to reflect priorities, audience insights, and market shifts.
Ensure consistent application of WGU’s brand identity, voice, and messaging across all touchpoints.
Partner with cross-functional teams to align brand positioning with institutional priorities.
Channel & Content Strategy
Create a rolling editorial calendar spanning WGU’s owned content and social media channels, including campaign integration, SEO-driven topics, channel management, content production, thought leadership placement, and seasonal priorities.
Develop a social media strategy for growth, influencer engagement, and community building with platform-specific playbooks and performance dashboards.
Collaborate with Marketing to embed SEO best practices 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 leads.
Demonstrate experience in change management and building 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 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.
Experience leading and developing high-performing creative teams; fosters innovation and collaboration.
Effective collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across 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.
Required Education
Bachelor’s 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 Full-Time Regular Position: 40 hours per week. Eligible for bonuses and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, telehealth, health savings/ flexible spending accounts, life and disability coverage, retirement plan, wellbeing program, discounted tuition, and flexible paid time off with generous leave, including parental leave.
How to Apply: Submit an online application. Internal WGU employees should apply through the internal Workday job board.
Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s 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 recruiting@wgu.edu. Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full-time
Job function Marketing and Sales
Industries Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Director of Brand Communications
role at
Western Governors University .
If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. WGU expands access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs and strives to be a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university aims to help students graduate and create a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position accounts for factors including skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and business needs. A reasonable current range is: Grade: Management_Executive 612 Pay Range: $ - $ $163,200 to $293,800
Job Description The
Senior Director of Brand Communications
will shape, elevate, and expand WGU’s 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 a 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 WGU’s mission by increasing brand awareness, strengthening reputation, and fostering meaningful engagement. The role is responsible for a multi-million-dollar budget and requires expertise in social media strategy, influencer partnerships, brand management, SEO optimization, and multi-channel content activation, along with the ability to connect compelling storytelling to measurable impact.
Responsibilities
Brand Leadership & Strategy
Lead the development and execution of WGU’s brand strategy across owned and emerging channels. Create a unified brand playbook (messaging, tone of voice, brand visual standards) guiding how WGU appears across channels; maintain and update regularly to reflect priorities, audience insights, and market shifts.
Ensure consistent application of WGU’s brand identity, voice, and messaging across all touchpoints.
Partner with cross-functional teams to align brand positioning with institutional priorities.
Channel & Content Strategy
Create a rolling editorial calendar spanning WGU’s owned content and social media channels, including campaign integration, SEO-driven topics, channel management, content production, thought leadership placement, and seasonal priorities.
Develop a social media strategy for growth, influencer engagement, and community building with platform-specific playbooks and performance dashboards.
Collaborate with Marketing to embed SEO best practices 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 leads.
Demonstrate experience in change management and building 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 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.
Experience leading and developing high-performing creative teams; fosters innovation and collaboration.
Effective collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence across 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.
Required Education
Bachelor’s 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 Full-Time Regular Position: 40 hours per week. Eligible for bonuses and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, telehealth, health savings/ flexible spending accounts, life and disability coverage, retirement plan, wellbeing program, discounted tuition, and flexible paid time off with generous leave, including parental leave.
How to Apply: Submit an online application. Internal WGU employees should apply through the internal Workday job board.
Additional Information Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s 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 recruiting@wgu.edu. Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
Seniority level Director
Employment type Full-time
Job function Marketing and Sales
Industries Higher Education
#J-18808-Ljbffr