Senior Director, Communications - SE Communications

Southern New Hampshire University is a team of innovators. World changers. Individuals who believe in progress with purpose. Since 1932, our people-centered strategy has defined us — and helped us grow a team that now serves over 180,000 learners worldwide.

Our mission to transform lives is made possible by talented people who bring diverse industry experience, backgrounds and skills to the university. And today, we're ready to expand our reach. All we need is you.

Make an impact — from near or far

At SNHU, you'll have the option to work remotely in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

We ask that our remote employees have access to a reliable internet connection and a dedicated, properly equipped workspace that is free of distractions. Employees must reside in, and work from, one of the above approved states.

The opportunity

The Senior Director of Student Experience Communications leads strategic communications for one of SNHU's most critical portfolios, ensuring communications are proactive, aligned with institutional priorities, and drive understanding, engagement, and measurable impact. This role shapes and advances high-impact communications strategies for complex, university-wide initiatives, delivering clear, audience-centered messaging that supports SNHU's mission and goals.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Communications, within the Office of External Affairs and Communications (OEAC), you will be a strategic advisor to Student Experience leadership, partnering to guide messaging, support change management, and ensure early engagement in planning and decision-making. This role also oversees and develops an advocate team, driving consistency, quality, and best practices, while ensuring communications efforts are coordinated, measurable, and executed with excellence across the portfolio.

What you'll do:

• Serve as senior strategic advisor to SNHU's Chief Experience Officer.

• Leads communication strategy for major institutional initiatives within Student Experience, change efforts, and leader communications.

• Provide expert counsel on narrative framing, strategic messaging, and risk mitigation.

• Accountable for communications outcomes across the assigned portfolio, including strategic alignment, effectiveness, and partner experience.

• Supervise a team, providing coaching, feedback, and professional development.

• Set strategic direction for the advocate function Student Experience and ensure consistency, quality, and best-practice adoption.

• Set expectations and ensure consistent adoption of advocate best practices and OEAC standards.

• Balance workload and allocate resources within the portfolio in collaboration with OEAC partners.

• Lead development of comprehensive communications plans, message architecture, and key narratives for major initiatives.

• Oversee execution quality, ensuring communications are audience-centered, clear, and aligned to strategy.

• Lead or contribute to crisis communications and executive messaging within the portfolio as needed.

• Evaluate effectiveness of strategies, messages, and channels using data, feedback, and insights.

• Identify improvements and share learnings to strengthen OEAC practices.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

What we're looking for:

• 10 years of communications experience including developing and leading communications strategies within a student services, customer experience, contact center, enrollment, retention, or other high-volume service environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or related field.

• Demonstrated mastery in strategic communications, executive communications, and organizational change.

• Proven people leadership experience (supervision, coaching, mentoring).

• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and narrative framing skills.

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills; ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies.

We believe real innovation comes from inclusion - where different experiences, perspectives and talents are celebrated. So if you're wondering whether SNHU is right for you, take the leap and apply. You might be just the person we're looking for.

Compensation

The annual pay range for this position is $85,563.00 - $136,928.00. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. We expect this position to be hired in the following target hiring range $94,548.00 - $127,918.00.

Exceptional benefits (because you’re exceptional)

You’re the whole package. Your benefits should be, too. As a full-time employee at SNHU, you’ll get:

• High-quality, low-deductible medical insurance

• Low to no-cost dental and vision plans

• 5 weeks of paid time off (plus almost a dozen paid holidays)

• Employer-funded retirement

• Free tuition program

• Parental leave

• Mental health and wellbeing resources