Responsibilities

• Develops and delivers high-impact messaging on behalf of the SVP of the School of Business and school leadership, including talking points, media statements, conference remarks, and executive communications.
• Crafts compelling thought leadership content (blogs, op-eds, panel pitches) that elevate the value of business education and WGU’s offering within the education and workforce landscape.
• Prepares briefing materials and provides media preparation for school leaders in advance of interviews, speaking engagements, school summits, All Hands, and external appearances.
• Provides onsite strategic support at high-visibility conferences and events to ensure message alignment and brand presence.
• Leads media relations strategy for the School of Business portfolio and, working with WGU’s PR firm, proactively identifies pitch stories, secures coverage, and responds to media inquiries.
• Monitors industry news and media trends to surface timely opportunities for commentary, brand elevation, and thought leadership.
• Builds and maintains relationships with key industry and education journalists, influencers, and media platforms.
• Oversees creation of original written and visual content for newsletters, social media, and digital storytelling, including Instagram-style videos, slides, and visual briefings.
• Collaborates with internal partners and content creators to maintain and update web content related to the School of Business initiatives.
• Sources relevant internal and external data to support storytelling, enhance credibility, and reinforce thought leadership themes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, marketing, public relations, or related field
• Minimum five years of experience in media, public relations, marketing, or communications within a higher education and/or a business environment
• Experience working in higher education
• Experience working within the business industry
• Experience working as a media reporter or public relations practitioner
• Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is at the discretion of the hiring manager.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Up to 25% travel

Preferred

• Experience working in higher education
• Experience working within the business industry
• Experience working as a media reporter or public relations practitioner

Benefits

• Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.