Manager, Student Communications

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Management_Executive 607 Pay Range: $95,300.00 - $157,300.00. Job Description The Manager of Internal (Student) Communications leads the strategy, development, and delivery of large‑scale communications that inform, engage, and support students across the university. This role is responsible for ensuring consistent, clear, and effective messaging delivered through broad-reaching channels including email and the student portal, helping to drive alignment and consistency of student communications across WGU. The role also monitors social media channels to assess student sentiment, identify emerging trends, and uncover opportunities to inform and refine communication strategies and tactics. This role partners closely with stakeholders across the organization to support the development and refinement of audience‑specific, student‑centric communications as needed. This includes ensuring messaging is tailored, relevant, and accessible to diverse student populations, while maintaining alignment and consistency across channels. The role works collaboratively to ensure communications reflect institutional priorities and effectively support the overall student experience. What You’ll Do Support the strategy and execution of student communications across email and the student portal to drive awareness, engagement, and student success. Develop clear, concise, and engaging messaging that translates complex information into accessible, student-friendly communications at scale. Partner with cross‑functional teams to support and align student journey communications when needed, ensuring consistency across the student experience. Manage a team of Internal Communications roles, aligning internal messaging with student‑facing priorities. Ensure employees are informed and equipped with the information needed to reinforce student communications and provide consistent support. Oversee the development and continuous improvement of communication processes, tools, and platforms that support large‑scale messaging. Lead interdepartmental communications groups to ensure alignment and consistency across messaging. Establish and maintain policies and procedures for student communications while proactively identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and consistency. Support special initiatives and perform other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities You’ll Need to Be Successful Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and align teams across the organization Exceptional writing and editing skills, particularly for large‑scale, audience‑focused communications Demonstrated ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable messaging for broad audiences Experience developing and executing mass communication strategies across multiple channels (email, intranet, digital platforms) Knowledge of project management principles and ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines effectively Experience or familiarity with marketing automation and CRM tools such as Marketo and Salesforce Ability to lead cross‑functional and interdepartmental teams Strategic mindset with a focus on scalability, consistency, and continuous improvement Ability to develop and direct multimedia communications and campaigns Minimum Requirements Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Organizational Development, or a related field 5+ years of experience in communications, with an emphasis on communications or large‑scale audience engagement Equivalent relevant experience may substitute for education requirements (generally 1 year of experience per 1 year of education, at the discretion of the hiring manager) Ability to travel up to 20%, including attendance at company summits and other business‑related events Preferred Requirements Supervisory or team leadership experience Experience in higher education or student‑focused environments Experience supporting both mass communications and lifecycle/student journey communications Position & Application Details 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. Accommodations Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at View email address on click.appcast.io. Equal Employment Opportunity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr