Managing Editor

Hiring Department

Executive Communication & Marketing

Job Description

The University of Missouri seeks an experienced and collaborative editor who will direct and ensure that institutional digital publications cohesively tell the university’s story to a growing digital audience.

This position requires a unique combination of talents. The ideal candidate will have the story-identifying and language skills of a great writer and editor; the reader-engagement skills of a strong social media editor; the strategic knowledge of a marketer; the creative eye of a visuals editor; and the coaching skills of a great teacher. The managing editor will have the authority to use those talents to shape the content on Show Me Mizzou, the university’s digital channel, from story conception to publication, distribution and promotion, to maximize its reach and impact.

The successful candidate will guide writers, video producers, photographers, editors and a host of professional communicators throughout the editorial process, using a deep understanding of analytics and reader behavior to help determine whether there is an audience for an initial story idea, whether it is possible to broaden that audience and how, what form of storytelling — text, video, slideshow, audio, etc. — would be most likely to succeed in reaching the target audience, how the piece itself should be shaped to speak successfully to that audience, whether and how to tweak posted content to maximize readership, whether the story aligns with the university’s strategic communication priorities, and whether and how to move the story forward after that.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Manage the university’s digital channel and email newsletter, focusing on the most interesting and compelling stories about Mizzou.
• Provide skill and versatility as an editor and a writer, including the ability to shape everything from breaking news briefs to longform magazine-style pieces in a way that best serves and engages the broadest possible audience.
• Coordinate the work of News and Information Team to create timely packages that effectively communicate the university’s priorities.
• Collaborate with the assistant editor to continue to shape the story creation, editing and production process that takes in content from throughout the university and the central communications team to create a daily product that is aligned with the university’s key goals and messages.
• Foster and plan interactive storytelling packages that transmit well on all digital devices and in website presentation.
• Collaborate with writers, video producers and photographers to develop journalistic presentations of university news.
• Work with other communications leaders to ensure packages reflect cohesive work built from the efforts of multiple teams and plan distribution of those packages on additional channels.
• Market the digital channel to internal and external audiences.
• Serve as a champion of cohesive messaging and content on the university’s central marketing and communications team.
• Cultivate and maintain a team-oriented and customer-focused culture that retains and attracts excellent talent.
• As a leader of the institution, this individual must conduct all activities in accordance with the Civil Rights Acts, Title IX, Rehabilitation, Americans with Disabilities Act and local, state and region affirmative action plans.

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Possess excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, and project management skills.
• Maintain positive interpersonal relationships and exhibit effective written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks or projects at one time while meeting assigned deadlines.
• MU is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.
  

Shift

8 am – 5 pm M-F with occasional nights and weekends as needed

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 5 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as an editor of professional writers.
• At least 5-10 years of experience editing either for a print or online publication.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, literature or related field.
• Effective and proven verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluent in AP Style.
• Experience building and managing networks and teams.
• Experience working in a deadline-driven environment.
• Experience or knowledge of higher education is a plus.
• Analytical skills and ability to translate metrics into valuable insights and informed decisions.
  

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary Range: $77,000-$84,000

Grade: GGS-12

University Title: Associate Director Strategic Communications

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Application Materials

Resume, cover letter, and writing or editing clips and/or link to online portfolio

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits .

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person’s success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

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