Executive Communications Director

Company Description

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

Binge-watch any shows, use social media or shop online lately? You’ll find Western Digital supporting the storage infrastructure behind many of these platforms. And, that flash memory card that captures and preserves your most precious moments? That’s us, too.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

Western Digital is seeking a savvy and skilled Communications expert to join our Executive Communications team. This role will be responsible for providing executive communications support to two Executive Leadership Team members.

As Director, Executive Communications, you’ll be a key collaborator responsible for building and leading executive level messaging platforms that reach employees and external stakeholders, customers, and industry influencers. You will be responsible for developing organization-wide communication strategies and messaging hierarchy, content and messaging for internal and external audiences, as well as partnering with the broader communications communities across the business.

You will be responsible for preparing executive briefings for external meetings, content and messaging for internal and external events, as well as content for social media, blogs and online assets.

You will work closely with the Chief of Staff offices for the Executives you will be supporting, Communications leads, and Executives across the company.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive communication plans and strategies that span internal and external audiences and that support the objectives of executive leadership and their organizations
• Create content for and manage executive-focused communications projects, including for company meetings and Board of Director presentations, as well as industry presentations, often under tight deadlines
• Develop and implement thought leadership campaigns across internal and external platforms, producing articles, blog posts, and social media posts for executives, to enhance visibility
• Leverage video for creative storytelling, with a strong focus on writing scripts and developing short-form video content
• Craft clear, compelling, and consistent messages for senior leadership to deliver across various platforms and channels
• Collaborate with Public Relations and Analyst Relations teams on media and industry analyst engagements
• Collaborate with Government Affairs teams on messaging that is consistent with company priorities
• Manage content and execution for quarterly All Hands meetings, and other such forums
• Write emails and organizational communications
• Update Internal Sharepoint site for the organizations you will support
• Jointly manage numerous stakeholders across two organizations
• Analyze effectiveness of communication strategies and tactics, making adjustments as needed to achieve desired outcomes

Qualifications

• 10-12 years of executive communications experience supporting a VP or above
• Excellent content development and writing skills, with specific focus on executive presentations, blog posts, video, and messaging
• Strong stakeholder management skills and executive presence
• Able to build relationships at all levels of the organization with the ability to manage and influence direct and virtual teams
• Experience developing messaging for Government Affairs teams
• Strong ability to translate complex topics into easy to digest storylines
• Experienced in modern communications strategies, with a solid understanding of visual storytelling
• Social media savvy
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling and engaging messages for diverse audiences
• Exceptional attention to detail, time management, project management, and organizational skills
• Highly collaborative and adaptable, with the ability to build relationships and work effectively with multiple stakeholders and across different levels of the organization
• Curious and flexible, with the ability to think creatively
• Effective team player, while also able to work independently
• Strong PowerPoint skills
• Be willing to take risks
• Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, self-motivated, and can thrive under pressure
• Someone who has a sense of humor
• Experience at a leading brand a plus
• Experience with financial and legal communications a plus

Additional Information

Western Digital is committed to providing equal opportunities to all applicants and employees and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their race, color, ancestry, religion (including religious dress and grooming standards), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender (including a person’s gender identity, gender expression, and gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth), age, national origin, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital status (including domestic partnership status), physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, protected medical and family care leave, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We also prohibit harassment of any individual on any of the characteristics listed above. Our non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment. We comply with the laws and regulations set forth in the “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster. Our pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (dol.gov)

Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.

Western Digital is committed to offering opportunities to applicants with disabilities and ensuring all candidates can successfully navigate our careers website and our hiring process. Please contact us at [email protected] to advise us of your accommodation request. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

Based on our experience, we anticipate that the application deadline will be 01/09/2025 (3 months from posting), although we reserve the right to close the application process sooner if we hire an applicant for this position before the application deadline. If we are not able to hire someone from this role before the application deadline, we will update this posting with a new anticipated application deadline.

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Compensation & Benefits Details

• An employee’s pay position within the salary range may be based on several factors including but not limited to (1) relevant education; qualifications; certifications; and experience; (2) skills, ability, knowledge of the job; (3) performance, contribution and results; (4) geographic location; (5) shift; (6) internal and external equity; and (7) business and organizational needs.
• The salary range is what we believe to be the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California, Colorado, New York or remote jobs that can be performed in California, Colorado and New York. This range may be modified in the future.
• You will be eligible to participate in Western Digital’s Short-Term Incentive (STI) Plan, which provides incentive awards based on Company and individual performance. Depending on your role and your performance, you may be eligible to participate in our annual Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program, which consists of restricted stock units (RSUs) or cash equivalents, pursuant to the terms of the LTI plan. Please note that not all roles are eligible to participate in the LTI program, and not all roles are eligible for equity under the LTI plan. RSU awards are also available to eligible new hires, subject to Western Digital’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Restricted Stock Unit Awards.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid vacation time; paid sick leave; medical/dental/vision insurance; life, accident and disability insurance; tax-advantaged flexible spending and health savings accounts; employee assistance program; other voluntary benefit programs such as supplemental life and AD&D, legal plan, pet insurance, critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity; tuition reimbursement; transit; the Applause Program, employee stock purchase plan, and the Western Digital Savings 401(k) Plan.
• Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.