Director of Content Strategy and Brand Voice

Job description

The Office of Communications shines a spotlight on the people and programs of Wesleyan University to enhance its reputation as a leader in liberal arts education.

In so doing, it serves as a partner with units across campus, providing expertise in brand management, strategic communication, media relations, digital and social media strategy, website development, content training and strategy, print and online publications and videography and photography.Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing, the Director of Content Strategy and Brand Voice is a creative storyteller and strategic thinker who is passionate about content and the role it can play in enhancing the reputation of the University.This role will collaborate with a wide variety of key stakeholders across the University to develop content aligned with Wesleyan’s mission and core messaging and will be responsible for delivering content that engages Wesleyan’s audiences of prospective students/parents, on campus community, alumni, donors, etc.Responsibilities:

+ Work with the Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing and colleagues to enhance recognition of the University’s stature, the value of its activities, and its brand of liberal arts education.

+ Drive editorial strategy, content development, message map(s), and the editorial calendar for the University.

+ Maintain guidelines for the University that enable clear and consistent use of brand voice.

+ Lead a team of highly experienced content contributors and media and public relations professionals to ensure consistency across all channels—web, digital, media, and print and adherence to core messaging, brand voice, style, and tone guidelines.

+ Create, develop, write, edit, and review a wide variety of content types from across the University, including marketing copy, long-form articles, emails, web content, video scripts, speeches, reports, etc.

+ Collaborate cross functionally with University departments to ensure executional excellence and development of innovative content.

+ Collaborate with the department’s creative and digital teams to ensure all multimedia and graphics align with the brand voice and messaging.

+ Provide strategic direction to the Managing Editor on all aspects of creating and producing Wesleyan Magazine in print and online.

+ Drive effective processes to foster internal collaboration and enhance efficiency.

+ Use data to create metrics and use that information to drive improvement.

+ Create, edit, and send mass emails to the campus, as needed.

+ Experiment with new forms of content, delivery, technology, process, etc.

to position Wesleyan as a leader on the cutting edge of Communications.

+ Assist the Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing with significant additional assignments, as appropriate and needed in response to changing demands.

This position is required to work on campus.



(Relocation assistance to CT is available for those who qualify).




Minimum Qualifications

+ Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, or related field and at minimum seven years of progressively responsible editorial experience with a consistent increase in responsibility including leadership, management and supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.


+ Innovative, strategic, editorial, writing, and storytelling experience across all channels— web, digital, media, print.

+ Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful brand voice strategies across multiple channels.

+ Sophisticated writing and editing.

+ Experience designing and developing strategic content in all forms including marketing copy, long form articles, emails, web content, video scripts, speeches, and reports.

+ Experience with content management and delivery while adhering to brand awareness.

+ Demonstrated experience effectively supervising creative staff, freelancers, and leading teams.

+ Prior experience managing an editorial calendar.

+ Experience managing a large and consistently shifting editorial workload.

+ Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for managing relationships at all levels of the organization.

+ Demonstrated creativity and effective communication skills.

+ Familiarity with AP and Chicago style conventions, excellent spelling, and grammar skill.

+ Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and organizational skills.

+ Strong project/time management and multitasking abilities.

+ Creative problem-solving ability and excellent analytical skills.

+ Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact collegially with individuals of different backgrounds.


Preferred Qualifications


+ Eight or more years of progressively responsible editorial experience with a consistent increase in responsibility including leadership, management and supervisory experience strongly preferred.

+ In-depth knowledge of magazine structure, production, and design.




As a part of your application please upload a cover letter, resume and provide 3-5 writing samples highlighting diversity in writing.

For e.g. a news story, feature story and op-ed.




Compensation: $90,000-$108,000


Work Location: On Campus

All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening (https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/pdfs/Wesleyan%20University%20Background%20Check%20Policy_.pdf) to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.


Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record.

We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups.

Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator.


Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies.

Copies of Wesleyan University’s Clery Act Report are available on request and online at https://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/clery.html .


Experience is taken into consideration in the determination of salary offers.

For more information visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/handbook/compensation-practices/index.html


Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify.




Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html .

We welcome your interest in Wesleyan’s diverse, energetic community of employees who, by their creativity, innovative thinking, and generosity of spirit, help make Wesleyan a great place to work.


In this open-minded and inclusive environment, our faculty and staff foster a liberal arts experience characterized by boldness, rigor, and practical idealism.
+ Working at Wesleyan (https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/index.html)
+ Benefits
+ FAQs (https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/faq.html)
+ Internal applicants


If you are currently employed at WES, you must apply for positions through Job Hubs in your Workday (http://workday.wesleyan.edu/) portal.

There you will find an abbreviated application form making this process much easier for you!

Required Skill Profession

Other General