Skip to main content

This job has expired

Staff Writer

Job Details

Job Summary

The Staff Writer is a key content creator for DrexelNow (drexel.edu/news), Drexel’s front-page news platform. This individual covers the University “beat” for an internal audience, working with various colleges, schools, and departments to generate stories about the University’s personalities, events, and developments, with the goal of highlighting Drexel’s academic strengths, civic engagement, and the value of Drexel’s co-op model. The ideal candidate has experience in journalistic writing and an understanding of how to apply content marketing strategies to produce stories and content pieces that inform, inspire, assist, and engage Drexel students, faculty, and staff.

This is a writing-heavy position that would expose a skillful, curious, self-directed writer to integrated communications working for a large organization using an array of tools to engage and reach audiences.

The Staff Writer is a member of the Publications Team within the Office of University Communications (UComm), the central communications office for Drexel University, and reports directly to the Executive Director of Publications. UComm is in the process of being integrated with university-wide marketing teams in an agency-like format encompassing media relations, executive communications, videography, internal communications, graphic and web design, and marketing.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 403(b) with competitive match, tuition reimbursement, and generous paid time off. Currently, staff are working remotely two days a week to reduce COVID transmission. This position is graded I (drexel.edu/HR/career/ducomp/substructure/)

Essential Functions
  • Produce weekly articles, conduct interviews, and gather photography for DrexelNow’s student, faculty/staff, parent and grad student editions
  • Work collaboratively with administrators, faculty, and communicators across the University to identify, develop and approve stories.
  • Produce six to eight monthly content pieces ranging from short quick-hit blurbs to multi-source articles (typical length 400-800 words). Ensure that content is timely, relevant to Drexel’s goals and mission, and optimized for the audience and platform
  • Coordinate effectively with the DrexelNow Editor, who aggregates Drexel news and original stories into weekly and monthly emails for four audiences, to brainstorm audience-appropriate content
  • Strive to continually improve content and attention by using analytics to assess audience preferences, by addressing gaps in coverage, and by applying SEO and content marketing best practices
  • May also occasionally assist in writing, editing, or proofreading other publications produced by the team, including Drexel Magazine and EXEL magazine and Drexel Quarterly
  • Serve as primary proofreader for DrexelNow emails, and backup proofreader and copyeditor of other print and online publications as needed
  • Crosstrain on Sitecore and Mailchimp in order to serve as an occasional backup to the DrexelNow editor
  • Contribute to the department’s social media efforts as needed
  • Occasionally help to plan photo assignments, working with an external photographer, as needed
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, English, communications, or equivalent experience preferred.
  • Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in a professional editorial environment or a proven track record of producing high-quality editorial content, ideally in both a print and digital environment
  • Candidates are required to provide writing samples and will be asked to take an AP-style proofreading test for employment consideration
Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience writing articles for newspapers, magazines, or digital publications, ideally with exposure to e-newsletters
  • The ideal candidate will be proactive about scouting potential story ideas for students, faculty and staff and will be able to quickly and accurately conduct interviews and post stories, while also enjoying the occasional challenge of long-form articles and performing backup editing
  • The ability to work collaboratively with teams, discretely and respectfully, with campus stakeholders, and independently on individual goals is crucial
  • Candidates majoring in English, journalism or communications are preferred
  • Experience using cameras, photo-editing software, Microsoft Office, Sitecore CMS and Mailchimp or similar email marketing software is a plus, but training will be provided
Physical Demands
  • Typically sitting at a desk/table
Location

University City- Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as exempt with a salary grade of I. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume, cover letter, and three of your best writing samples or a link to an online portfolio when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.

#CB

Advertised:May 6 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Jun 11 2022 Eastern Daylight Time

Company

Drexel University

Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is a comprehensive global R1-level research university with a unique model of experiential learning that combines academic rigor with one of the nation’s premier cooperative education programs.

Drexel University is an urban research university that integrates education, scholarship, diverse partnerships, and our global community to address society’s most pressing challenges through an inclusive learning environment, immersive experiential learning, external partnerships, transdisciplinary and applied research, and creative activity. We prepare graduates of diverse backgrounds to become purpose-driven professionals and agents for positive change

Drexel University II

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert