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

Job Details

The Department of Strategic Communications and Marketing at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an on-site Senior Director of Editorial Storytelling.

About the Opportunity

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% 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

What You'll Do

• 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.

Qualifications:

• 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

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

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.