Brandeis University is looking for Director of Editorial, Marketing Communications. The Director of Editorial leads the strategic development and execution of compelling, high-quality content for distribution across all university-owned and managed platforms including the Brandeis website, recruitment materials, publications, Brandeis magazine, and other strategic communications initiatives, collaborating with other communicators and marketers across campus including in the Office of Institutional Advancement and Academic Affairs. This role ensures alignment with the university’s mission, brand and messaging, and marketing objectives and goals.
Reporting to the AVP, Strategic Communications and Public Relations, the Director guides a team of communication and marketing content producers, defines and enforces editorial standards, manages content assignments, schedules and workflows, while collaborating with MarCom colleagues to ensure cross-functional alignment.
This position requires deep collaboration within the department and across the university, bringing seasoned judgement and expertise to digital, journalistic and multimedia brand management, and awareness of the intersection of storytelling and institutional goals, including enrollment.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Lead content strategy, development to support institutional goals and reputation (50%)
Works closely with the AVP, Strategic Communications and Public Relations to develop and implement a comprehensive content strategy to support the university’s marketing, communications and institutional goals.
In close alignment with the AVP and marketing colleagues, directs the editorial and operational aspects of content across communications channels, including for recruitment, retention, magazine, research and institutional materials. Ensures alignment with the university’s brand and mission, and top initiatives.
Provides strategic vision for the content development, guiding the planning while also directing project execution to appropriate team members to support brand initiatives, and marketing campaigns.
Guides the creative process from concept to execution, leading the editorial team in development of innovative and impactful materials, including digital and print collateral, marketing and brand campaigns, the magazine and other high-level communications and initiatives.
Works closely with colleagues to ensure all published content adheres to editorial standards and supports the university’s brand pillars.
Partners with colleagues to establish and refine content processes and review workflows and approval structures.
Collaborate across the university (20%)
Responsible for ensuring these teams and content strategies are integrated into broader university communications and public affairs efforts, advising on best practices from within and beyond higher education
Stewards the university’s brand and strategic messaging on communications platforms, ensuring adherence to voice, tone and brand across all content. Provides guidance and reinforces the University’s message through all content initiatives and collaborates with marketing colleagues on shared storytelling.
Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive messaging and audience engagement.
Collaborates with colleagues across departments on editorial synergy to ensure consistency of content creation and purposeful distribution across all marketing and communications platforms.
Lead and mentor the team (15%)
Leads and mentors content producers, and writers, provides editorial oversight, storytelling guidance and strategic direction, fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. Delegates and guides prioritization of assignments to ensure deadlines are met. Develops a regular daily and weekly cadence of content production, and advises writers on stories and themes for various communications and reviews work for accuracy.
Demonstrates awareness of and contributes to cultivating an inclusive university community.
Magazine (15%)
Serves as Managing Editor of the Brandeis magazine, overseeing editorial planning. Lead the development of ideas, writing and editing of stories, and photo sessions. Assigns story writing and/or editing to staff as appropriate. Edits all articles at the developmental and final review stages.
Manages story pool and internal pitching process for magazine content, coordinates discovery meetings and visioning of content across university platforms.
Manages freelance writers, and/or editors, and photographers as needed to support content initiatives.
Salary Range: $119.1k - 136.7K
Qualifications and requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, English, Marketing, or a related field. Master’s preferred
7 - 10 years of experience in leading communications, editing, or strategic communications—preferably in education, nonprofit, or journalism settings.
Ability to clearly distinguish content priorities that benefit the institution and meet institutional goals.
Experience managing writers and content producers and digital producers and multi media teams.
Experience managing production of and editing a publication, such as a magazine
Exceptional writing, storytelling, and editing skills and attention to tone, grammar, and accuracy.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and maintain a high standard of quality.
Familiarity with digital publishing tools (such as website content management systems and email marketing platforms).
Collaborative mindset
Willingness to work occasional extended hours, evenings, and weekends as needed.
Highly detailed
Willing to perform and support other duties and initiatives as assigned.
The University's pay ranges represent a good faith estimate of what Brandeis reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. The pay offered to a selected candidate during hiring will be based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience and education/training, internal peer equity, and applicable legal requirements.
Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class").
