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Introduction
In this article we deconstruct adverts for Content Coordinator roles from two well-known companies. We've used quick-reference tables so you can see what key details you need to include in your own job description, and we've created a free template for you to build on.
To give you an understanding of the Content Coordinator role, we'll define it first.
Then we'll see what job descriptions from Gartner and Saks look for in candidates.
Things like:
- What they offer in terms of salaries
- Key responsibilities
- Qualifications and skills
- Benefits, workplace experience and culture
- Diversity and inclusion statements
We've also included some comparative analysis of the two job descriptions.
Let's dive in.
What is a content coordinator?
A content coordinator can mean different things to different companies. But generally, the role is to manage and coordinate content (this may be for things like events, digital content or just the website).
Candidates need excellent communication and organisational skills. The role may include things like writing briefs, managing, supporting and liaising with different teams of people, managing inventories and content schedules, and reviewing content for quality control.
What to include: Examples from Gartner and Saks
Now let's break down two examples of job descriptions from Gartner and Saks. We'll cover all the key areas, so you can gain a big picture understanding of what to include in your job description.
Salary
First thing's first - it's really important to be upfront about the salary in your job description. Why? When you don't, you're at risk of excluding candidates who are less confident in negotiating pay, discrimination, and widening pay gaps.
On Show the Pay, we found that candidates are saying things like:
"I won't apply for jobs where they don't publish a salary range."
And
"It makes me think that they will try and pay the women applicants less than the men"
Side note: All content coordinator jobs that share pay details on our site are highlighted by a green dollar symbol to bring attention to this.
Neither Gartner or Saks specify their salary, which is surprising. However they do have lots of redeeming qualities in their job descriptions.
The Gartner role is in Egham UK, and seems to be an entry level role. The Saks role is for their Fifth Avenue store in New York, and this is also entry level.
While the data is sketchy, we have used LinkedIn, PayScale and Glassdoor to find out averages for a Content Coordinator role where we can:
| Content Coordinator Salary | |
|---|---|
| UK Average | Average: £25,000/yr, range: £18,000 - £30,200 |
| London Average | Average: £25,000/yr, range: £22,500 - £34,600 |
| Gartner | No data available for Content Coordinator role |
| US Average | Average: $45,000/yr, range: $32,800 - $60,000 |
| New York Average | Average: $50,000/yr, range: $35,000 - $65,000 |
| Saks | Range: $36,000/yr - $53,000/yr |
Typical responsibilities
Here is a quick-reference table of typical responsibilities and criteria for the role of Content Coordinator so you can make sure you are hitting the right marks in your content job description.
We've grouped them into key areas, and you can see which have been included from Gartner and Saks, and details of what they ask for.
| Responsibilities | Gartner | Saks |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting to | Content Managers and Content Directors | Content Manager for Men's & Home |
| Create newsletters | ✅ | ❌ |
| Assist with roadmap planning, story concepting and product pulls for weekly content stories | ❌ | ✅ |
| Prepare session abstracts, scripts, slides, ready docs, and speaker ask emails for Content Managers, as needed | ✅ | ❌ |
| Own key content documents such as briefs or content decks | ✅ | ✅ |
| Review content before publishing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Maintain cross-functional content calendars and trackers | ❌ | ✅ |
| Populate topics on website | ✅ | ❌ |
| Support virtual and in-person events | ✅ | ✅ |
| Input and update databases | ✅ | ✅ |
| Liaise with C-level, team members, clients, attendees, sponsors and vendors, building external and internal relationships | ✅ | ✅ |
| Research and curate industry-specific trends / cultural events / competitive initiatives relevant to audience | ✅ | ✅ |
| Assist with content strategy | ✅ | ✅ |
| Partner closely with Marketing, Merchandising, and Creative teams | ✅ | ✅ |
| Reporting and data analysis to inform content decision-making | ✅ | ✅ |
Qualifications, skills and attributes
Now onto skills and qualifications. We've added details such as how many years' experience where the data is available. These are both for entry level roles in content, and are quite similar in terms of the level of experience needed.
| Qualifications, skills and attributes | Gartner | Saks |
|---|---|---|
| Experience |
|
An understanding of luxury fashion and markets |
| Bachelor's Degree | ✅ (Preferred) | ❌ |
| Educated to Master's level or with equivalent professional qualifications and experience | ❌ | ❌ |
| Understanding of e-commerce websites | ❌ | ✅ |
| Technical / professional skills and competencies such as Google Suite | ✅ | ✅ |
| Eye for detail | ✅ | ✅ |
| Creative mindset | ✅ | ✅ |
| Excellent organisational skills | ✅ | ✅ |
| Excellent communication skills | ✅ | ✅ |
| Thrive in a fast-paced environment | ✅ | ✅ |
Benefits
Next on to benefits. Here we have put together a table of typical benefits, and checked which are offered in each job description. Think about deeper benefits like company culture to attract talent, as well as typical benefits. For example, Saks say that they have a "culture that promotes a healthy, fulfilling work/life balance."
This isn't an exhaustive list, and not all company benefits were included in the job descriptions. So we have also used Glassdoor and Payscale to give you a more comprehensive view. The two roles are similar in terms of benefits offered.
| Benefits | Gartner | Saks |
|---|---|---|
| Medical / dental / vision benefits | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pension | ✅ | ✅ |
| 401 (k) plan | ✅ | ✅ |
| Childcare vouchers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cycle to work scheme | ✅ | ✅ |
| Season ticket loan / travel pass | ✅ | ✅ |
| Discounts including things like shops, restaurants, gym etc | ✅ | ✅ |
| Training and career development | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sick pay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave | ✅ | ✅ |
| Flexible working (which may include part-time hours, job shares, flexible hours and part-remote set ups) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Annual leave / paid time off | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stock options | ✅ | ✅ |
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity and inclusion is so important, with many organisations now making a conscious effort to ensure they are hiring fairly and diversely. It shouldn't be an afterthought.
You should include a section on diversity and inclusion, as well as weaving it into your job description. This includes things like using non-gendered language (think — avoid terms like "rockstar" or "ninja" which so often crop up in modern job descriptions).
You'll also need to comply with things like reasonable adjustments for disability, both at work and throughout the hiring process, including when you are recruiting and screening candidates.
Gartner
It's surprising Gartner doesn't include a statement in their job description, given their research and advice on topics such as diversity and inclusion. However, there is a statement on the Gartner jobs website.
Nonetheless, it's still important to put them into job descriptions. Leaving them out is unfair to potential candidates, unwise because diversity and inclusion is so important for a healthy workplace, and it can be harmful to brand reputation.
Gartner's statement is powerful that isn't generic or insincere, and will hopefully give you inspiration for yours. It reads:
"At a time where any number of issues have the power to divide us, Gartner associates work every day to foster and advocate for a diverse, inclusive and supportive workplace. We believe that a variety of experience makes us stronger — as individuals, as communities and as an organization.
Our formula is simple: Attract the best talent, empower associates to reach their full potential and nurture an environment where they can thrive. The results? Exceptional associate experiences and success for our organization."
"We purposefully create an environment of exceptional personal and professional development. This includes embracing diversity and actively removing barriers to support a culture of inclusion, belonging, well-being and growth." Gene Hall - CEO, Gartner
Saks Fifth Avenue
The statement from Saks is included in the job description, but it is more generic. That said, it is still a decent example of an overall diversity and inclusion stance as it includes all key points. It reads:
"Saks provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Saks complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Saks welcomes all applicants for this position. Should you be individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used."
It's nice to see they have included details about how diversity and inclusion applies to all stages of employment, including recruiting and hiring. They have also mentioned reasonable adjustments and accommodations throughout the hiring process.
Highlights: comparing and analysis to inspire your job description
In this section we've chosen some key bits from the two job descriptions, and we've quoted these and done some comparative analysis. This should help you gain an even better sense of what the role of Content Coordinator entails, and what companies ask for. We've also included links to docs with the full adverts if this is helpful.
In the Gartner job description, after the introduction, the synopsis reads:
"The Content Coordinator supports a team of Content Managers and Content Directors who develop compelling content tailored to each executive community the organisation serves."
And
"This position conducts research, manages department tools and documents, posts content to websites, edits marketing copy, and occasionally travels to Evanta's conferences."
A large part of the role is supporting virtual events as well as in-person events. And candidates will be responsible for tasks such as:
"Populating event topics on website, and assists with ongoing quality control of event websites"
And
"Preparing session abstracts, scripts, slides, ready docs, and speaker ask emails for Content Managers, as needed."
As to be expected with a content coordinator role, communication and building relationships with external clients and internal teams is also key. This includes C-level executive attendees and sponsors.
Internally the applicant needs to be able to interact regularly with content managers, program managers, content directors, portfolio managers, and brand directors.
In this role there is a lot of reporting work, and prep work for other team members.
They have a nice section on the impact of the role and expected results, which is:
"This role supports the entire Evanta content department through processes, document creation, coverage, etc.Success is measured through completion of content department projects, attendee experience and internal feedback"
There are also some elements of content strategy in this role, suggesting it is an entry level role into more strategic work. And a key responsibility is to "provide data analysis, perform industry-specific research, and assist with content strategy."
Here is a link to the full job description for Gartner
This Content Coordinator job description from Saks is similar in some ways, but also different to the one from Gartner.
The summary says:
"Reporting to the Content Manager for Mens & Home, the coordinator will assist in preparing and maintaining creative briefs, trackers, and reports within the cross-functional weekly content T-calendar. This person will partner closely with Marketing, Merchandising, and Creative teams."
They are looking for somebody not necessarily with lots of experience, but the right personality traits and mindset. They specify details such as:
- "Thrive in fast pace environment
- Efficiency and organization a must
- Creative background & mindset
- Excellent communication skills"
In terms of key tasks, there is a lot of liaising with various teams and helping to prepare content, similar to the Gartner role.
The candidate would be expected to:
- "Communicate with vendors regarding coop placements and approvals
- Liaise with editorial studio regarding samples for photoshoots
- Review weekly content images prior to publishing"
There's also elements of content strategy and higher-level content creation here, as they look for somebody to do:
"Reporting: pull and analyze data to inform content decision-making
And
"Research and curate trends / cultural events / competitive initiatives that will be relevant to our audience."
They are looking for somebody who is
"Knowledgeable on e-commerce competitive landscape (email formats, main homepage, cross-category arrays)."
And ultimately the candidate would "own key content documents such as creative briefs and content deck weekly shells"
Here is a link to the full job description for Saks
Next steps: Writing your job description
Hopefully this article has given you an idea of some of the similarities and differences between the two Content Coordinator job descriptions, and some inspiration for writing one of your own. If you need help with this, download our free template:
Use this Content Coordinator Job Description Template as a base, or to inspire your own. It's comprehensive and includes example excerpts discussed in this article.
