Editorial Director (University Communications)
We are seeking an Editorial Director who will play a leading role in the conceptualization, creation, and curation of content for the university’s flagship publications, working closely with the Senior Content Director to set and execute a strategic editorial vision across multiple channels. They will manage and mentor editors and writers, play a lead role in story ideation and refinement, and help ensure continuity of voice, tone, and style for Johns Hopkins University content published in print materials and online.
This individual will have broad oversight of the editorial direction and creation of Johns Hopkins Magazine, working with the publication’s editors to plan future issues and ensuring that university goals and quality standards are met. They will steer the editorial process from start to finish, collaborating with writers and designers, resolving issues along the way, and ultimately ensuring a smooth process and on-time delivery of the publication each quarter.
The Editorial Director will help drive the university’s storytelling efforts with a particular focus on magazine-format content, in print and digital formats. They will also be involved in assigning, writing, editing, packaging, publishing, and/or promoting content in support of university priorities.
The Editorial Director has a deep understanding of editorial, digital, and content strategy and monitors new and emerging trends in content delivery and audience engagement. They are both a thinker and a doer who is hands-on with day-to-day responsibilities while also managing a larger vision and priorities, and a leader who can convene and guide staff members and manage projects to completion.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- Oversee the conceptualization and creation of a wide range of magazine-style content for distribution across channels.
- Develop and execute an overarching editorial vision for print publications and magazine-style content with long-term plans in support of the university’s strategic priorities.
- Assign, edit, and author content for the university’s flagship publications, with a focus on feature storytelling and profiles.
- Serve as a campus thought leader for print and digital magazine content.
- Collaborate with peers across the enterprise to conceptualize and execute new storytelling vehicles in digital and print formats.
- Collaborate with team members to maintain editorial calendars and story budgets for print and digital publications.
- Oversee the planning and production of Johns Hopkins Magazine, the university’s quarterly flagship print publication for alumni and other friends and supporters, with ultimate responsibility for delivering high-quality, engaging content and design.
- Manage and mentor editors and writers in support of the publication process.
- Support a collaborative content planning and story idea generation process for each issue of the magazine, helping to lead regular meetings with editors, writers, designers, and others involved in magazine production.
- Collaborate with the art director to plan the layout and appearance of features and other stories in each issue of Johns Hopkins Magazine.
- Cultivate relationships with and solicit feedback from key stakeholders in university and alumni relations leadership.
- Monitor peer institutions and other organizations to maintain knowledge of emerging trends and best practices in magazine content and publishing both inside and outside of higher education.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, English, or related field.
- Ten years of experience in an editing and/or writing position for a news organization or in the communications office of a major organization.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s Degree.
- Magazine experience.
- Experience in online journalism and working with digital publishing tools.
Technical Qualifications and Specialized Certifications
- Demonstrated ability to think creatively about content and communications and to execute strategic approaches to writing, storytelling, content presentation, and content promotion across digital and print channels.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including experience prioritizing and setting objectives and a collaborative leadership style.
- Demonstrated ability to work with and communicate effectively with administrators at the highest levels of the university, alumni leadership, and key colleagues and collaborators.
- Demonstrated excellence and versatility in writing and editing.
- Demonstrated ability to produce digital content quickly and accurately, including experience with website content management systems.
- Sound, reliable editorial and news judgment.
- Organized, detail oriented, and adept at working independently and juggling multiple assignments to meet deadlines.
- Experience with search engine optimization, Google Analytics, social media tools, HTML, and Photoshop preferred.
Classified Title: Editorial Director-JHU
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Editorial Director (University Communications)
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PF
Starting Salary Range: $85,500 - $149,800 Annually ($105,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: 8:30am - 5:00pm / Monday - Friday
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/JH at Keswick
Department name: University Communications
Personnel area: University Administration