Working within the Marketing and Communications Division and under the direction of the director of communications and magazine editor, the communications writer/associate editor will develop engaging, educational and emotive communications to enhance Wheaton’s image as a leading liberal arts college and advance core institutional objectives, with a particular emphasis on writing journalistic news and feature stories for the website, magazine and other promotional publications. The writer/associate editor will also manage the production process for publishing the Class Notes and In Memoriam sections of Wheaton magazine, and will curate and distribute email newsletters.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :
- Conceive, research and write journalistic stories for the online news page and Wheaton magazine and closely collaborate with the director of communications and magazine editor and colleagues as a member of the publication team (40 percent).
- Manage the production process for publication of the Class Notes and In Memoriam sections of Wheaton magazine. This includes collecting written content and images, writing stories, editing, fact checking, proofreading, maintaining strong relationships with volunteer Class Notes writers and collaborating with the marketing coordinator for name checks and content preparation (30 percent).
- Develop and maintain relationships with colleagues across campus to identify opportunities for stories that promote the college’s core marketing objectives and collaborate with photographers in the creation of images, as necessary, that support marketing communication projects and institutional news operations (20 percent).
- Edit, proofread and contribute content that supports marketing and communications projects as assigned for use in a variety of channels (web, print and social media). Curate and distribute internal and external email newsletters (10 percent).
- Perform all other duties and responsibilities as assigned, including assisting with weather-related communications and moderation of the campus mass email distribution system.
For the required “Additional Documents” please submit five different journalistic writing samples. Please include links to the publications whenever possible.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism or related field required
- Minimum of five years of professional communications writing and editing (editorial, public relations or marketing) experience required
- Strong, versatile and creative writer with a gift for journalistic narrative style and a variety of other forms of storytelling
- Excellent research and interviewing abilities
- Outstanding editor with a keen eye for detail and fact checking and an understanding of AP editorial style
- Familiarity with WordPress and email marketing platforms
- Skilled project manager who is able to juggle a variety of competing priorities and deadlines
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team
- A positive attitude, willingness to grow and learn, and an openness to receiving feedback
- A portfolio of writing samples that demonstrate news gathering and writing skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of PhotoShop and InDesign preferred
- Journalistic writing experience is preferred
- A sense of humor and fun welcomed
Compensation and Benefits
To attract and retain the most talented individuals, Wheaton College maintains a flexible and competitive staff compensation and benefits program.
When determining and establishing hiring rates or recruitment ranges for a position, the College considers a number of factors including the budget for the position, the range of the grade, the external market for the position or similar positions, level and scope of responsibilities, required education, skills and relevant experience as well as internal equity. All salary offers must have the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.
The anticipated hiring or recruitment range for this position is $60,000-$65,000.
Physical Demands
ADA Statement:
Individuals must possess these knowledges, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.
Eeo Statement
Wheaton is a private coeducational liberal arts college within easy
commuting distance of Boston and Providence. We have nearly 1,700
undergraduates from 40 U.S. States and more than 70 countries. Nearly 23%
of our undergraduates are U.S. students of color and 11% are international
citizens. Wheaton College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the
basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age,
race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic
information, or disability. In a continuing effort to maintain and enrich
an intellectually diverse learning environment, the Department and the
College actively encourages applications from women and members of
underrepresented groups.