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Editorial Director

Employer
Columbia University - School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Location
New York City, New York
Salary
$90,000 to $110,500
Date posted
Nov 29, 2022

View more

Position Type
Faculty Positions, Communications
Employment Level
Administrative
Employment Type
Full Time

Position Summary

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As one of the top engineering schools in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the nation, Columbia Engineering expands knowledge and advances technology through the pioneering research of its more than 240 faculty. Guided by its strategic vision, “Columbia Engineering for Humanity,” the School translates ideas into innovations that foster a sustainable, healthy, secure, connected, and creative world. As such, the School has long prioritized human-centered technology and provides expert, meaningful thought leadership around technology issues and trends and their impacts on the wider society.

 

 

Responsibilities

The Editorial Director is responsible for establishing and activating an integrated, digital-first editorial strategy for the School that best showcases institutional storytelling priorities and objectives across research, education, and impact verticals (such as DEI visibility) by leveraging cross-platform content to reach key audiences. Elements of this strategy cohere around three areas--editorial operations, digital storytelling, stakeholder management--and will include:

 

Editorial operations

  • Repurposing features content across SEAS channels
  • Providing editorial guidance around features content to internal and external units
  • Developing and executing on new ways to generate editorial content—such as intake forms, social media content mining, and consistent outreach to potential sources across the school
  • Oversee management of editorial calendar, including campus events, milestones, and external opportunities for alignment and amplification

 

Digital storytelling

  • Developing new content formats
  • Identifying and managing a coordinated suite of digital tools and platforms (such as the Adobe suite, browser-based interactive web design platforms, mobile apps, and lead management tools)
  • Reimagining digital storytelling on the website, as part of the larger web redesign project to be completed December 2022.
  • Relaunching key editorial products, such as the magazine and newsletters

 

Stakeholder management

  • Coordinating with university communications on amplifying features content
  • Leveraging partner features content from internal and external sources on SEAS channels
  • Lead editorial advisory meetings in partnership with the executive director

 

This individual contributes to setting the vision, strategy, and long-term management of features content as it relates to the School’s forthcoming website redesign and within the School’s larger integrated communications program. To that end, the editorial director will work to align features content with Dean Priority Editorial Objectives

  • In partnership with the Dean and Executive Director, develop objectives around priority areas of focus. To begin with: Outreach, DEI, and Entrepreneurship.
  • Create a 360 degree strategy around storytelling, website prominence, and amplification of these areas.
  • Manage the pipeline strategy to fuel these focus areas.

 

In alignment with this strategy, the editorial director will oversee features content production and distribution and direct assignment of features coverage across print and digital communications platforms. Working with the associate director of digital content, the editorial director helps analyze the effectiveness of features content to inform future strategies designed to elevate the brand and reputation of the School across multiple audiences. After first working with the Executive Director to define key metrics for success, the editorial director will develop a reporting structure to measure results and adjust direction accordingly. The role will provide editorial guidance through content development, hiring and managing freelance writers, designers and content producers as needed, and help ensure that production deadlines are met.

  • (25%) Develop and oversee a steady stream of meaningful, engaging and understandable digital-first feature content for key audiences and channels . Plan out quarterly editorial objectives and lead the communications team in executing on these objectives. Assign and edit content, manage the quality of editorial content – from one off features to series – and identify stories highlighting the diversity and impact of the engineering excellence, rapid growth and extraordinary people that define the School.

  • (25%) Leverage knowledge about current news trends, emerging issues and digital platforms to inform future comprehensive features content strategies, while being a data-savvy practitioner. Create, maintain, and execute coverage plans for stories while managing deadlines. Analyze and recommend editorial research which may include audience analysis and survey development to monitor and measure content results. Hire and manage vendors and tools in support of digital-first features storytelling.

  • (25%) Find new, strategic ways to reach audiences with new formats (podcasts, interactive features, etc) featuring insightful, compelling content that showcases thought leadership and contributes to a better informed, more technically literate society . Help institute story pipeline, workflow and packaging processes and exercise editorial judgment to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

  • (25%) Leverage institutional knowledge and relationships to identify emerging trends and proactively generate story ideas in response to the news cycle and ahead of public conversations. Contribute to the development, implementation, and maintenance of policies, objectives, short-and long-range features content planning; develop and implement editorial projects to assist in accomplishment of established goals.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent. A degree in English, journalism, or communications is desired.

  • At least 4-6  years of related experience with increasing responsibility required, preferably in newspaper, magazine or publications or highered preferably related to science/engineering content.

  • Must have demonstrated excellence in reporting, writing, and editing, as well as strategic planning. Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, digital publishing tools and platforms, and Microsoft Office required.

  • Ability to handle demanding deadlines, to initiate and complete assignments under limited supervision, and to function in an environment requiring the ability to take on a variety of duties. Strong initiative and attention to detail.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to handle multiple tasks under deadline pressures in a high-volume office. Enthusiastic, creative and enterprising.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Knowledge of current trends around storytelling in the science/engineering space is preferred.

  • Experience working and liaising with agencies and third-parties.

  • Experience with budget planning, demand generation, building awareness and nurture campaigns.

  • Knowledge of SEO and optimization tools, including crafting and managing SEO-enriched content.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

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