Vice President, Copy

About the role

The Vice President, Copy at Highwire will lead the editorial vision, voice, and verbal identity for our clients, transforming complex business strategies and technology landscapes into compelling, human-centric stories. They will oversee the copywriting function, ensuring that our verbal output matches the elite standard of our visual output. They will partner closely with design and motion leadership to pitch and win high-stakes new business, and define brand positioning for global clients. They will work seamlessly with the SVP of Content, VP Creative Director, VP of Digital Strategy, and account leads to ensure our creative work is strategically sound, conceptually brilliant, and flawlessly executed.

Responsibilities

• Narrative & Editorial Leadership: Oversee the creative direction of all copy, messaging, and content strategy across the agency's digital practice, ensuring a unified and elite standard of work.
• Brand Voice & Architecture: Lead the development of comprehensive verbal identities, brand messaging frameworks, and tone-of-voice guidelines for high-profile clients and new business prospects.
• High-Stakes Presentation & Pitches: Serve as a primary creative lead on major agency pitches, developing core conceptual narratives and presenting them persuasively to C-suite stakeholders.
• Department Oversight & Mentorship: Manage, mentor, and grow a team of copywriters and content strategists. Set performance standards, conduct creative reviews, and unblock career paths for your team.
• Creative Partnership: Partner cross-functionally with the ACD of Motion & Design, VP Creative Director, and Digital Strategy VP to ensure copy and visuals are deeply integrated from the very first brainstorm.
• Agency Voice Advocacy: Act as an internal and external thought leader, helping to shape and elevate Highwire's own brand voice through agency marketing, insights, and public-facing content.

Requirements

• Experience: 10+ years of professional copywriting and creative strategy experience, with at least 4+ years in a dedicated leadership role managing creative teams within an agency environment.
• Portfolio: A world-class portfolio showcasing conceptual campaign thinking, long-form and short-form copy mastery, and comprehensive brand messaging frameworks (Tech/B2B experience is highly valued).
• Industry Fluency: A deep understanding of digital marketing channels, SEO base strategy, social platforms, and how copy shifts to maximize engagement across each.
• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills. You can gracefully deliver tough feedback internally and defend bold creative choices externally.
• Innovation Mindset: A forward-thinking approach to content creation, including a strong understanding of how emerging technologies (like generative AI tools) can be ethically and effectively integrated into the copy workflow.
• Narrative Mastery & Strategic Depth: Your portfolio features high-impact B2B/Tech campaigns, master messaging frameworks, and multi-channel creative storytelling. You have a rare ability to simplify the complex without losing its substance.
• Executive Leadership & Team Building: You are a proven leader who knows how to scale a copy department, recruit top-tier talent, and foster an environment where writers can do the best work of their careers.
• Pitch-Winning Command: You love the thrill of the pitch. You can command a room, command a slide deck, and articulate a creative vision that makes clients say, "They completely get us."
• Business Acumen: You understand the intersection of creative copy, digital marketing metrics, and business objectives. You write with data, insights, and performance in mind.

Qualifications

• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• A deep understanding of digital marketing channels, SEO base strategy, social platforms, and how copy shifts to maximize engagement across each.
• A forward-thinking approach to content creation, including a strong understanding of how emerging technologies (like generative AI tools) can be ethically and effectively integrated into the copy workflow.
• A rare ability to simplify the complex without losing its substance.
• A proven track record of scaling a copy department, recruiting top-tier talent, and fostering an environment where writers can do the best work of their careers.
• A passion for storytelling and a proven ability to craft compelling narratives that drive business action.
• An ability to articulate bold creative visions and defend them confidently in pitch rooms.
• A deep understanding of the intersection of creative copy, digital marketing metrics, and business objectives.

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• A deep understanding of digital marketing channels, SEO base strategy, social platforms, and how copy shifts to maximize engagement across each.
• A forward-thinking approach to content creation, including a strong understanding of how emerging technologies (like generative AI tools) can be ethically and effectively integrated into the copy workflow.
• A rare ability to simplify the complex without losing its substance.
• A proven track record of scaling a copy department, recruiting top-tier talent, and fostering an environment where writers can do the best work of their careers.
• A passion for storytelling and a proven ability to craft compelling narratives that drive business action.
• An ability to articulate bold creative visions and defend them confidently in pitch rooms.
• A deep understanding of the intersection of creative copy, digital marketing metrics, and business objectives.

Benefits

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $175,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $175,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data.

Schedule

This role is available on a hybrid schedule, with three in-office days per week, or fully remote for candidates located in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C..

Location

Highwire offers both remote and hybrid work options, depending on where you live. Hybrid: Candidates located within commuting distance of our New York, NY or San Francisco, CA offices follow a hybrid schedule, with three in-office days per week. Remote: We hire for fully remote roles in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.. Please note: We are only able to consider candidates who reside in one of the locations listed above at the time of hire.