Senior Web Writer and Magazine Editor

Senior Web Writer and Magazine Editor
Whitman College

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO) .

POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Web Writer and Magazine Editor develops and edits content for whitman.edu, Whitman Magazine, and print and digital publications for varied external and internal audiences, including prospective students, alumni, donors and the campus community.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Under the direction of the Director of Content, serve as the managing editor for written news and feature content produced for Whitman's content channels, including Whitman Magazine and the Whitman Newsroom. This includes day-to-day management of Newsroom content, including assigning stories to staff, student and freelance writers, managing and maintaining story ideas and production, and considering the best mode for sharing content.
2. Oversee day-to-day production of Whitman Magazine, including making magazine writing assignments to staff and freelancers, editing content, design coordination, and managing logistics (scheduling, production, distribution and budget management).
3. Work closely with the Director of Content to set strategy around coverage of college activities and people, prioritize stories, identify appropriate print and digital channels, create editorial calendars for print and digital content, and communicate across the content team, social media and public relations.
4. Coordinate with staff, student and freelance photographers and videographers to ensure appropriate coverage and consistent messaging.
5. Hire, train and supervise student writers, including managing assignments and coordinating relevant training.
6. Write and edit website content, including news, features, spotlights/profiles, and institutional copy, ensuring consistency in quality and voice.
7. Post and edit content on whitman.edu, using the college's web content management system.
8. Copyedit, proofread, and fact check materials as assigned.
9. Other content or department tasks as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Individuals must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

1. Exemplary writing and editing skills, adaptable for diverse audiences and a range of purposes, including but not limited to web, print, email marketing and fundraising.
2. High level of creativity, with the ability to strategize content and concepts and see them through from start to finish.
3. Excellent proofing, copy editing and fact-checking skills; ability to communicate effectively and creatively, both verbally and in writing; thorough knowledge of English language, grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage. Knowledge of AP (Associated Press) Style or the ability to learn and apply AP Style, as well as Whitman style guidelines, to writing.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact and collaborate with diverse individuals, teams and groups.
5. Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with the college's leaders as well as students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni and the general public, in part to conduct effective interviews for stories.
6. Ability to advance the college's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism.
7. Ability to prioritize projects, establish and meet deadlines (sometimes on a tight timeline), and to work effectively with a team and in an independent manner.
8. Ability to serve as a writing and editing mentor and resource for staff writers, student interns, campus colleagues and freelancers.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree in communications, English, journalism, or related field and five years public relations writing or journalism experience, or any combination of experience that provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job. Experience editing a college magazine strongly preferred. Ability to actively and positively contribute to the college's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Please submit three writing samples and two or three editorial project examples (e.g., magazines, brochures, websites).

BENEFITS

Whitman offers competitive employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision and life insurances, a generous 10% matching contribution to the Whitman College 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, and paid time off including 13 paid holidays for full-time staff vacation and sick leave. Learn more about benefits eligibility here.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

At Whitman College, we take seriously the safety of our community. Whitman is a fully vaccinated campus, requiring all employees and students to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations or have an approved exemption. More information can be found here.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning May 23, 2022.

START DATE

August 2022

For full application instructions and position description, visit https://whitman.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=201


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