(On-site) Senior Director of Editorial Storytelling - Strategic Communications and Marketing

West Virginia University

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Editorial Storytelling serves as the top editorial partner to the Executive Director of Storytelling within Strategic Communications and Marketing. The Senior Director will provide strategic oversight, guidance, and planning for all written content produced by the Storytelling Team. That could include written content for WVU Stories, marketing and recruitment materials, the main WVU social media accounts, video and multimedia storytelling, WVUToday, and other platforms. Working closely with the Executive Director, the person in this role helps shape editorial vision, ensure content quality, manage projects and assignments, align team priorities with institutional goals, and establish narrative standards across research communications, brand writing, and feature storytelling. The Senior Director will provide strategic guidance, coaching, and editorial direction to all writers and editors, and will also have opportunities to write themselves. We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including: 37.5-hour work week 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar) 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave) 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof) WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s. Wellness programs

Requirements

• Master's degree in journalism, communications, English, or related field
• A minimum of six (6) years of experience in the following: Editorial leadership, feature writing, or storytelling
• Providing strategic oversight or leading teams
• Demonstrated ability to coach writers and shape narrative strategy
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Exceptional editorial judgment and storytelling skills
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Coaching and mentoring
• Collaborative, diplomatic leadership
• Ability to manage priorities across multiple teams and projects
• Strong written and verbal communication

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or higher
• Experience in higher education or research communications
• Experience shaping editorial strategy across multiple units without direct reporting authority

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Executive Director to define editorial strategy, voice, and priorities.
• Lead or co-lead story planning sessions, editorial calendar oversight, and high-profile project prioritization.
• Advise and influence Research Communications and Brand Writing to maintain quality and strategic alignment.
• Establish editorial standards and review content across units.
• Supervise staff and potentially student workers.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to writers to elevate narrative skill and storytelling capacity.
• Lead or co-lead high-impact cross-unit editorial initiatives (e.g., major features, campaigns, WVU Stories).
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Video Storytelling to ensure written content is optimized for social, multimedia, and digital platforms.
• Work with other campus units to identify compelling content for WVU Stories, recruitment, alumni communications, and donor-focused storytelling.
• Advise Executive Director on content priorities, approvals, and resource allocation.
• When desired, write major features and high-level impact stories.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees