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West Virginia University · 2 weeks ago

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

Morgantown, WV

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

6+ years exp

West Virginia University is seeking a Senior Director of Editorial Storytelling to provide strategic oversight and guidance for all written content produced by the Storytelling Team. This role involves shaping editorial vision, ensuring content quality, managing projects, and coaching writers to elevate their storytelling skills.

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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

Qualification

Editorial leadershipStrategic oversightStorytellingCoaching writersContent strategyCollaborative leadershipStrategic planningCommunicationProject managementMentoring

Required

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

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

Master's degree or higher

Experience in higher education or research communications

Experience shaping editorial strategy across multiple units without direct reporting authority

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% 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