Content Director

The Content Director is responsible for engineering, curating and executing the editorial vision for all of the university’s flagship platforms including content for nearly 1 million visitors per year to the uvm.edu homepage and top tier pages, four unique e-newsletters reaching more than 5,000 recipients, and UVM Magazine (digital and print) mailed to more than 123,000 households, and new digital and print publications expected in the future. Manage a team of two senior writers who tell the distinctive stories of the University of Vermont to a broad audience of stakeholders promoting the achievement, aspirations, heritage, and spirit of the institution as One UVM. Manage the UVM Studios Project Manager who maintains the editorial online publishing calendar, and manages the department’s multi-timeline, multi-disciplinary projects (content, web, digital and creative) in the project management system. Through strategic assigning, editing and curating of content, this position is focused on building the brand of UVM as a premier public research university committed to student success, research excellence, and the people and communities of Vermont.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced editorial leader in both digital and print platforms who brings a creative, detail-oriented, approach. They will possess excellent interpersonal and written communication skills as well as the ability to collaborate constructively within the diverse UVM community. The Content Director will have extensive experience leading and working across an array of editorial formats including digital, social, visual, and traditional print publications; have experience managing budgets to produce publications such as the University of Vermont Magazine; lead Strategic Communications content strategy and decision-making; lead weekly home page content meetings, and bi-monthly newsletter content meetings, develop best in class editorial style guides, procedures and policies; and ensure the highest level of professionalism and integrity; provide direct supervision and mentorship; lead initiatives and project teams including people who report to others.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, media, or related field at a minimum; master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of seven years of writing and editorial experience in a major publication or similar role.
• Experience serving as a magazine or journal editor preferred. Work experience in higher education and/or another complex, decentralized organization is desirable.
• Demonstrated excellence in writing, copy editing, proofreading, and fact-checking.
• Experience creating content for both print and digital magazines.
• Proven ability to identify stories, turn raw content into clear, concise, engaging copy and tell them in compelling ways across all media.
• Ability to condense longer stories into shorter pieces and to translate stories from one format/platform to another.
• Knowledge of AP and Chicago styles
• Sound understanding of the importance and value of working collaboratively with campus colleagues and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple challenging projects, adapt when needed to a quickly changing landscape, and meet urgent deadlines. [JRS1]
• Basic understanding of digital media tools, including web, social media, analytics, CMS, and SEO.
• Understanding of Google Analytics [JRS2] or similar.[JRS3]
• The ability to lead others to meet deadlines despite competing demands and priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a related field
• Drupal knowledge
• Familiarity with the University of Vermont