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.

Who is WGU Academy?

At WGU Academy, we work collaboratively to dramatically impact college and workforce readiness efforts on a large scale. Our primary mission is to develop and deliver novel solutions for college and career readiness to tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of individuals and propel them to success in whatever domain they choose.

This is a fully benefited, hybrid position requiring onsite collaboration at least 4 days per week in WGU’s Salt Lake City headquarters.

Why consider us?

• Dynamic position where you will make a difference in a mission driven environment.

• Equipment provided: Choice of Mac or PC laptop

• Comprehensive and affordable benefits (including mental health benefits, and generous PTO) plus 403b matches and contributions where we put money into your retirement account, even if you are not contributing.

• 75%employee tuition discount available at WGU for yourself, and 50%discount for qualifying family members.

• Innovative, fun, and enriching team environment where are you valued, given credit where its due, and recognized for your contributions.

• Collaborative and cross functional team, where honest communication is prioritized.

What will you be doing?

WGU Academy uses a scrum-based, design thinking framework to create accessible, transformative experiences that ready learners for success. We are mission-driven, evidence-based, and laser-focused on student success. As a Content Design Writer on Academy’s Product Design and Development Team, your writing will be a core component of what keeps students engaged in WGU’s non-degree, online, professional skill-building Certificate programs. You will leverage your understanding of how to best connect with, persuade, and educate readers. You will bring your passion for simplifying complexity to delight adult online learners as they grow in understanding and resilience. You will join an agile development micro-team consisting of an Instructional Technologist and a Multimedia Content Developer. You will take a consultative approach to your work, exhibiting the highest level of expertise and knowledge in written communication for learning and development of 21st century skills (empathy, teamwork, emotional intelligence, etc.). You will seek common ground across many stakeholders. Your commitment to thoughtful craft, openness to innovative ideas, and energy in pitching expertise and known best practices will serve you well in this role.

Who will you be helping?

WGU Academy’s learners are 50% first-generation college students. They are often from minoritized communities, and over 80% are categorized as low-income individuals. Our learners come to WGU Academy to get ready for college and career success. Our approach is holistic. We seek to enhance cognitive, psychological, and emotional resilience through our learning experiences. Your designs and deliverables will enable us to do so in beautiful, engaging, and highly effective ways. Your work will help us improve the lives of people who have traditionally been underserved by Higher Education.

Who are you?

You are curious, creative, collaborative, and committed to excellence. You are relentless in your pursuit of continuous learning, growth, and improvement. You enjoy working at a fast pace on projects that have clear-cut deadlines and objectives. You are mission-driven and love using your skills for the good of society.

How is success measured?

Success is measured with a mix of inputs. First, quality. Your work will be expected to conform to our Style Guide and Design Manifesto (once you have your sea legs under you and understand these standards inside and out). Second, quantity. Your contributions to the team’s sprint velocity (quantity) will be expected to increase over time, as you continuously seek efficiency gains. Third, fidelity. Your work should increasingly reflect a deep understanding of our learners, our mission, and the holistic levels of learning we aim to achieve. Along the way, you will enjoy the full support of your teammates, people leader, and others across Academy. We embrace failure as a learning opportunity and are always looking for ways to help one another succeed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Working with other creatives in a sprint fashion, you will be expected to expertly handle multiple projects simultaneously, each at various stages of development. You will be producing drafts, collecting feedback, iterating, presenting ideas, presenting at meetings and sprint ceremonies, and working on projects that align to interests and key priorities for the organization. There will be opportunities to build out systems and improve processes.

• Participates in cross-functional, agile design team to develop transformative learning experiences.

• Consults with team/project leads and others to inform and align with desired product goals and outcomes.

• Function as primary writer and editor of all learner-facing materials.

• Adhere to the unique Academy “voice and tone” used across all products

• Write scripts for animation, video, and audio content

• Craft text for user interface elements such as buttons, menus, and prompts

• Edit and proof externally facing content for tone, voice, and accuracy

• Work closely with subject matter experts to accurately translate industry jargon and complex ideas into well-structured, audience-appropriate, mobile-first learning content

• Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with all appropriate internal and external stakeholders

• Regularly requests both informal and structured feedback from various sources and adjusts accordingly.

• Model WGU’s Leadership Principles and Cultural Beliefs

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities

• Experience writing content for online, educational, and similar contexts requiring both communication of information and a call to action

• Experience collaborating on external communications, reports, and training materials

• Ability to take feedback and iterate toward improved learning and engagement

• Ability to emulate emotional intelligence and weave social emotional learning concepts into all materials

• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced, agile environment

• Strong attention to detail and a feeling of ownership over the quality of our learning experiences

• Strong prioritization and time management skills to balance multiple demands

• Excellent written, oral, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively and creatively in a fast-paced, agile environment.

• Conceptual knowledge of web/software development.

• Approaches job tasks and projects with a mindset of continuous learning and improvement, developing skills and sophistication, self-motivated to learn new skills.

Competencies:

Organizational Impact:

• Works to achieve operational targets impacting department, function, or office results.

• Work is performed independently on moderately complex projects and assignments with some guidance required for direction and complex tasks. Sets objectives for oneself to meet the goals of projects or assignments.

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

• Responsible for employing adjustments or recommended enhancements to systems and processes to solve problems or improve effectiveness while leveraging a systems-thinking approach.

• Problems faced may require an understanding of a broader set of issues and job areas.

Communication & Influence:

• Collaborates with contacts typically within the job area to obtain or provide information requiring some explanation or interpretation.

Leadership & Talent Management

• Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in relevant field

• 2+ years’ experience writing online content and proven success engaging learners

• Strong portfolio of work submitted with application

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher in relevant field

• Demonstrable experience in higher education, online learning, and/or social emotional learning spaces

• Basic awareness of accessibility standards and inclusive content practices

• Proven successful collaboration and work experience with learning and performance teams/education

• Basic knowledge of adult learning theories, design thinking, and social emotional learning

Working Conditions

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

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:

Pay Range: $66,300.00 - $99,500.00WGU will accept applications for this position until 12:00 AM ET, 09/24/2024

How to apply: apply online

Full-time Regular Positions (FT classification, standard working hours = 40)

This is a full-time, regular position 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.

The University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.