Assistant Director of Communications for Content

About the Role

The Assistant Director of Communications for Content provides editorial leadership including editorial planning and content development across digital and print platforms, publication management and team/project collaboration. This position participates in overall communications strategy, manages a number of publications including the Maxwell Perspective, the school’s flagship magazine, supervises freelance writers, graphic designers and photographers, as well as students. This position is part of a bargaining unit and is represented by the union SEIU, Local 200United.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in English language arts, marketing, communications or related field from an accredited university.
• Five years of experience with increasing levels of responsibility for reporting, writing and editing feature stories and other types of content for distribution in digital and print media.

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong understanding of current industry standards and techniques for digital content creation and management; knowledge of best practices for UX, social media, SEO and online lead development strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, oversee, and measure the execution of successful content marketing strategies across multiple channels.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to establish new systems and protocols and ensure successful adoption.
• Familiarity with processes and protocols for print production, partnering and collaborating with designers and printers on the execution.
• Excellent project management skills; must be able to work collaboratively to complete projects on deadline and within budget.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and highly collaborative nature; ability to facilitate work between a wide range of individuals and groups within Maxwell and across campus.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign and Photoshop, for the purpose of helping to create banners, buttons and other elements as needed is desirable, but not required.

Responsibilities

Editorial Leadership

• Leads editorial planning and content development across digital and print platforms.
• Oversees an editorial calendar and coordinates daily communications activities, serving as the primary writer, editor and publisher of 150+ annual school news and feature stories such as research articles, profiles, gift announcements and event coverage in support of student recruitment, alumni engagement, giving, peer rankings and other initiatives.
• Ensures accuracy, clarity, tone alignment and adherence to Syracuse University editorial and brandling guidelines.
• Oversees pre-publication editorial review process with internal and external stakeholders such as deans, department chairs, directors, University partners and major donors.
• Serves as lead editorial contact for campus-based partners in other schools and colleges, university communications, and central marketing, ensuring materials generated within and outside the school are leveraged for maximum exposure and impact and to ensure consistent messaging, brand alignment and high editorial standards.
• Collaborates with University marketing partners including the University’s head of photography to conceptualize and execute cover shoots as needed for high-visibility publications and to make certain Maxwell publications meet branding standards.
• Leads school publications from concept to completion, including the school’s flagship magazine, Maxwell Perspective, which is mailed to over 38,000 parents, alumni, donors and friends annually, as well an annual Impact Report and a monthly newsletter that support the school’s reputation and rankings among peer evaluators.
• Develops themes and content based on strategic goals in a multi-level editorial process that includes school leadership and University partners.
• Coordinates project timelines, ensures adherence to deadlines and oversees external vendor contracts and budgeting.
• Collaborates with dean’s office colleagues, including development staff, to cultivate strategic outreach and mailing lists.
• Ensures accuracy, tone, adherence to University editorial style and branding, as well as alignment with strategic goals.

Team Collaboration and Project Coordination

• Assists the Director of Communications and Media Relations in executing the Maxwell School’s communications strategy.
• Provide editorial and storytelling expertise to translate strategic goals into actionable communication plans and campaigns that support enrollment, reputation-management, giving and stakeholder engagement.
• Work collaboratively within school’s communications leadership team to develop and implement communications that support and enhance Maxwell’s global reputation in public affairs.
• Collaborate with Director and Associate Director to collect data and metrics other metrics to inform strategy and best practices across digital and print channels.
• As part of the broader external affairs team that includes development, alumni relations and graduate recruitment, provides support and editorial expertise for high-profile events and publications.

Vendor Contract and Student Oversight

• Oversees freelance photographers, writers, graphic designers and other external vendors on behalf of the communications and media relations team.
• Manages contracts, collaborates with University purchasing and disbursement offices to collect estimates and ensure timely payment and coordinates with school budget officer and director of communications to ensure adherence to school budget.
• Oversees vendor assignments, workflow, editorial review, revisions and resulting content organization while ensuring adherence to deadlines and strategic alignment.
• Supervises a team of part-time student writers who create content for the school’s digital and print channels.
• Provide assignments and manage workflow and deadlines, edit resulting content and lead internal review and publication process to ensure accuracy and adherence to editorial standards and branding.
• Uphold and strengthen the University’s and the School’s commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging. Identify and participate in workshops and training on best practices for communicating with diverse audiences.