Director, Strategic Communications, IT
Western Digital · San Jose, California, United States · hybrid
WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy.
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We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide.
This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today.
We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level.
Join us and let’s shape the future of data.
At WD, Strategic Communications plays a critical role in connecting business strategy, technology innovation, and employee engagement through clear, compelling storytelling.
We are seeking a Director, Strategic Communications to serve as the communications lead supporting the Chief Information Officer and within the IT organization. This role will partner closely with the CIO and IT leadership team to shape strategic narratives, strengthen leadership communications, engage the global IT organization, and bring greater visibility to IT”s role in enabling the business.
The ideal candidate is an experienced communications leader, trusted advisor, and exceptional storyteller who can translate complex business and technology topics into clear, relevant, and engaging communications. They will set the vision and strategy for CIO and IT communications, build the processes needed to deliver it, and bring leaders and partners along through candid counsel, sound judgment and disciplined execution.
As a member of the Strategic Communications team, this role will collaborate closely with executive leaders, Chiefs of Staff, communications colleagues, HR, and cross-functional partners to strengthen leadership effectiveness, organizational alignment, and employee engagement.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Executive Communications and Strategic Counsel
- Serve as the primary communications advisor to the CIO, providing strategic counsel and executive communications support.
- Develop and execute an integrated communications strategy that strengthens the CIO’s leadership platform and advances key business and organizational priorities.
- Shape compelling narratives around IT strategy, technology, innovation, AI, and the evolving role of IT in enabling WD’s business.
- Develop executive content and messaging, including presentations, speeches, briefing materials, leadership communications, talking points, video, and multimedia content.
- Support the CIO’s internal and external engagements, including employee forums, leadership meetings, industry events, speaking opportunities, social content, and thought leadership.
- Establish effective planning and preparation processes that ensure key engagements are purposeful, consistent, and impactful.
- Proactively identify opportunities to strengthen the CIO’s visibility and engagement with key audiences.
IT Organizational Communications and Engagement
- Lead the communications strategy within the IT organization, partnering with IT leadership and communications colleagues to drive alignment around its strategy, priorities, culture, and business objectives.
- Partner with the Office of the CIO, including the Chief of Staff, to translate priorities into focused communications plans and drive their execution.
- Shape narratives and communications around IT priorities, transformation, innovation, AI, and the function's role in enabling WD's business.
- Lead communications for IT all-hands, leadership meetings, organizational announcements, employee engagement initiatives, and other key moments.
- Create content that helps IT employees understand the organization’s strategy, priorities, progress, and impact.
- Showcase IT innovation and build excitement within the function around AI, emerging technologies, and new ways of working.
- Develop resources that enable IT leaders to communicate effectively and consistently with their teams.
- Partner with HR and IT leadership to support culture, engagement and organizational effectiveness within the function.
Cross-Functional Leadership and Partnership
- Partner across Strategic Communications to align CIO and IT communications with broader WD narratives and priorities.
- Partner closely with Employee Communications and other communications colleagues to connect IT priorities to broader enterprise communications.
- Collaborate with Public Relations, Marketing, HR, and other functions to support CIO visibility and thought leadership.
- Build trusted relationships across IT and the broader enterprise to drive alignment and effective execution.
Measurement and Continuous Improvement
- Assess communications effectiveness through engagement metrics, stakeholder feedback, and other relevant measures, using insights to continuously improve.
- Leverage AI-enabled tools and modern communications technologies to enhance content development, planning, measurement, and team productivity.
- 10+ years of communications experience, including significant executive and internal communications experience supporting senior leaders.
- Demonstrated success serving as a trusted communications advisor and candid coach to senior executives and leadership teams.
- Skilled at bringing structure and focus to fast-moving, ambiguous environments while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
- Experience leading communications for a large, global function or organization, ideally within a technology-driven environment.
- Exceptional writing, storytelling, and executive content development skills, with the ability to translate complex business and technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives.
- Strong understanding of executive communications, employee engagement, organizational communications, and thought leadership.
- Strong executive presence, business acumen, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization.
- Highly collaborative and adaptable, with strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in PowerPoint and experience leveraging modern communications technologies, including AI-enabled tools.
- Experience in technology, semiconductor, infrastructure, cloud, storage, or other complex B2B industries preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
WD 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.
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