Assistant Director of Editorial & Executive Content - Arts & Sciences

Position Summary
The Assistant Director of Editorial and Executive Content, a senior member of the Arts & Sciences communications team, will lead a news team tasked with telling the stories of Arts & Sciences and advancing the strategic priorities of school leadership. They will oversee the development and production of digital and print editions of Ampersand magazine, our flagship publication, among other editorial projects. The Assistant Director will develop and lead a comprehensive editorial strategy for promoting the research, scholarship, and academic programming of Arts & Sciences to bolster the school’s reputation among key audiences, building awareness, inspiring engagement and philanthropy, and positioning our academic and research programs regionally, nationally, and globally.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Develop and implement strategies for editorial projects and publications:

• In collaboration with the Director of Communications, develop content and editorial strategy for flagship digital and print publications, plus other publications as needed.
• Write and edit content for distribution across print, digital, multimedia, and social channels.
• Serve as lead editor for content created by staff and student writers.
• Set and manage production calendar for key digital and print publications.
• Develop and maintain editorial guidelines for internal and external communications.
• Set strategy for and oversee the distribution of editorial content across web and social media outlets.
• Evaluate the impact of editorial projects via quantitative and qualitative measures.

Develop strategies and relationships to promote Arts & Sciences research to external audiences:

• In collaboration with the Director of Communications and colleagues in University Marketing and Communications, craft strong media and public relations strategies and evaluate impact.
• Review current media metrics and media landscape to determine which strategies to develop and which outlets to target, and devise approaches for advancing A&S research and scholarship in the public sphere.
• Research approaches at peer institutions to identify best practices and tactics that may be underutilized by Arts & Sciences.
• Develop individual story pitches in collaboration with colleagues in University Marketing and Communications.
• Develop contacts with communications and media relations professionals across WashU and with journalists and publishers in relevant fields.

Create content related to executive communications:

• Write and/or edit executive correspondence, remarks, brochures, presentations, newsletters, etc.
• Contribute to the development of grant proposals, donor solicitations, and other high-visibility projects.
• Serve as a trusted communications collaborator for senior leadership in A&S.

Manage staff writers and student writers:

• Assign and edit the work of two-three staff writers and one-five student writers.
• Oversee progress and professional development of staff writers.

Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Five years of experience in writing and/or editing.
• Higher education experience.
• Significant experience in journalism, research communications, or media relations.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and experience in a field related to the natural or social sciences or humanities.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively and to contribute to creative projects. 
• Demonstrated effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and effective organizational and analytical skills.
• Advanced knowledge of writing and editing best practices and use of style guides.
• Advanced interviewing and listening skills.
• Solid news judgment.
• Skilled at making complex, dense research material accessible to a general audience.
• Team player, able to thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment; willing to contribute when help is needed outside of primary job responsibilities.
• Attention to detail.
• Organized and flexible with the ability to prioritize and work under time constraints and meet project deadlines.
• Creative thinker with an innovative spirit.
• Ability to look for new and better ways to develop content/perform tasks.
• Executes work with a high level of diplomacy, demonstrating calm under pressure and fantastic interpersonal skills.
• Capable of independent work to manage long-term programmatic goals.
• Capable of working well with teams from diverse educational backgrounds (natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, etc.), synthesizing the resulting output into a coherent whole.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word and other standard office programs. Proficient with Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop and InDesign. 

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in writing, editing, or grant writing in related field.

Grade
G12

Salary Range
$55,600.00 - $94,900.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [email protected]  or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO/AA Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement
Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

Applicant Instructions
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