Job Description
Posting number: 13027
Department: PGC Parks and Recreation
Division: Public Aff and Comm Engagemt
Job classification: Public Affairs and Marketing Specialist III
Posting type: Open
Categories: Management, Marketing, Arts, Design, Entertainment & Media
Summary
The Content/Editorial Unit Manager serves as the operational and editorial leader of the Content/Editorial Unit and works under the strategic direction of PACE leadership.
The Manager is responsible for translating established communications strategy into effective editorial execution while maintaining the systems, standards, staff performance, and workflows necessary to deliver high-quality Department communications.
The position collaborates closely with other PACE managers and communications professionals to ensure that Department messaging is coordinated across editorial, marketing, media relations, social media, digital communications, community engagement, and executive communications.
Examples of duties
Job Functions:
The Content/Editorial Unit Manager is responsible for:
- Team Leadership & Supervision: Manage and supervise Content/Editorial Unit staff, assign projects, establish priorities and deadlines, monitor workloads, provide editorial guidance and feedback, and support staff development and performance.
- Editorial & Content Management: Lead the development, editing, review, and delivery of Department-wide content, ensuring communications are accurate, engaging, accessible, audience-focused, and aligned with Department messaging and brand standards.
- Project & Workflow Management: Oversee projects from intake through completion, including defining scope, establishing timelines, assigning resources, coordinating reviews and approvals, and ensuring projects are completed on time and within established PACE service standards.
- Strategic Content Planning: Work with PACE leadership and Department divisions to identify communications needs, establish editorial priorities, maintain content calendars, and proactively develop stories highlighting Department programs, services, accomplishments, and community impact.
- Stakeholder Communication: Maintain clear communication with PACE leadership, Department staff, subject-matter experts, and other stakeholders to establish expectations, gather information, provide project updates, and resolve content or production issues.
- Quality Assurance & Brand Standards: Provide editorial oversight and quality control to ensure content meets professional writing, accessibility, plain-language, accuracy, and Department brand standards.
- Resource & Budget Management: Manage staff capacity and project resources and, when applicable, support budgets, contracts, vendors, and expenditures associated with editorial and content-production services.
- Problem Solving & Prioritization: Identify project risks, competing priorities, resource limitations, and production challenges; implement solutions and elevate issues to PACE leadership when necessary.
- Tools & Technology: Utilize project management, content management, collaboration, analytics, and emerging communications technologies to improve workflow, productivity, content development, and project tracking.
- Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate project records, schedules, production data, and performance metrics and provide regular reports to PACE leadership regarding workload, project status, accomplishments, challenges, and resource needs.
- Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with Marketing & Public Relations, Social Media, Media Relations, Creative/Design, Digital/Web, Outreach, executive leadership, and Department divisions to ensure coordinated and integrated communications.
- Continuous Improvement: Evaluate workflows, project performance, stakeholder feedback, and communications data to improve editorial processes, service delivery, staff efficiency, and the overall effectiveness of the Content/Editorial Unit.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and manage the Department’s editorial calendar and content priorities.
- Lead content development and review for Your Guide, brochures, publications, program descriptions, and special projects.
- Review and edit executive communications, flyers, marketing materials, web content, and other Department communications.
- Ensure content is accurate, engaging, accessible, audience-focused, and aligned with Department brand and editorial standards.
- Gather and develop content highlighting Department programs, services, accomplishments, and community impact.
- Coordinate with divisions, subject-matter experts, and PACE teams to support integrated communications.
- Represent the Content/Editorial Unit on Department committees, workgroups, and special initiatives.
- Manage editorial workflows, assignments, deadlines, and quality-control processes.
- Supervise Content/Editorial staff and provide coaching, feedback, and professional development.
- Maintain editorial standards, templates, and processes that support consistent Department-wide communications.
Required Skills
Demonstrated ability to:
- Manage a high-volume communications environment.
- Supervise Editorial Content Unit
- Manage competing deadlines and organizational priorities.
- Write and edit complex information for diverse audiences.
- Translate technical or programmatic information into understandable public-facing content.
- Establish and enforce editorial standards while maintaining collaborative relationships.
- Provide constructive editorial feedback.
- Develop and improve operational workflows.
- Exercise sound judgment regarding sensitive or high-profile communications.
- Work effectively with executives, managers, communications professionals, program staff, and subject-matter experts.
- Use project management and digital collaboration tools to track assignments and deadlines.
- Analyze communications data and prepare performance reports.
- Must have strong writing, proofreading, and editing skills and experience.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software
- Strong skills in writing and proofreading.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English, Political Science, Marketing or any related field.
- Four (4) years of experience in journalism, marketing, or public affairs.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total eight (8) years.
- May require a valid driver's license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required of their position.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English, Political
- Science, Marketing or any related field.
- Four (4) years of experience in journalism, marketing, or public affairs.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together
- total eight (8) years.
- May require a valid driver's license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and
- regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions,
- or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform
- driving duties required of their position.
Supplemental information
Class/Specification: Public Affairs and Marketing Specialist III
May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.
Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)
M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.
