Copywriter & Content Developer

College of Southern Maryland • La Plata, MD

5d

About The Position

The Copywriter & Content Developer develops, researches, writes, and edits clear, compelling, audience-focused content supporting College of Southern Maryland (CSM) marketing priorities and initiatives. The role supports recruitment, enrollment, student engagement, Continuing Education, institutional priorities, and other strategic needs. In collaboration with Marketing team members, college departments, and subject-matter experts, the position gathers information and translates complex academic, programmatic, and institutional topics into effective communications for identified audiences. Work includes research, interviews, message development, fact-checking, storytelling, and adapting content for email, web, advertising, print, video, social media, and other channels. The position also develops stories and promotional content highlighting CSM programs, people, accomplishments, and outcomes, and supports emerging content needs identified by Marketing. The position reports to the Director 1, Marketing. The hiring salary will be from the minimum to the midpoint of the advertised salary range. The position is open until filled.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, English, public relations, or a related field.
• Two or more years of professional experience in writing, editing, content development, marketing communications, or a related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, including the ability to develop and adapt clear, compelling content based on audience, communication objective, and channel.
• Ability to research complex topics and translate academic, technical, or institutional information into accessible, audience-focused communications.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills and ability to collaborate with employees at all organizational levels and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct interviews and build rapport with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and other sources.
• Strong storytelling skills and ability to identify narratives supporting institutional, marketing, and enrollment objectives.
• Knowledge of content development for digital, print, email, web, advertising, video, and multimedia platforms.
• Ability to adapt messaging, tone, length, and format for different audiences and communication channels.
• Strong copy editing, proofreading, fact-checking, and quality-control skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, including ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and editorial schedules.
• Creativity, initiative, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with content management systems and other digital content tools.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop, write, and edit audience-focused content for web, email, advertising, print, newsletters, direct mail, presentations, video, social media, and other digital and multimedia platforms.
• Produce content for HawkTalk, CSM's weekly student e-newsletter, including gathering information and developing student-focused headlines, summaries, features, and calls to action.
• Develop content for Continuing Education schedules and promotions, including introductory content and promotional messaging.
• Provide writing, research, interviewing, and content-development support for major institutional publications and projects, including the Annual Report and Career Pathways magazine.
• Research and develop faculty profiles, alumni testimonials, student success stories, program features, and other stories demonstrating the value and impact of a CSM education.
• Develop and refresh website content, translating complex academic, programmatic, and institutional information into clear, accessible, audience-focused language.
• Review and edit content developed by others for clarity, accuracy, organization, grammar, style, tone, brand alignment, and suitability for the intended audience and channel.
• Develop recruitment and enrollment communications, including prospect and student email campaigns, landing-page copy, direct mail, advertising copy, and audience-specific messaging supporting enrollment goals.
• Develop messaging for collegewide initiatives and priorities, including campaign concepts, headlines, slogans, key messages, talking points, event promotions, presentations, and other communications.
• Ensure cohesive, audience-appropriate, strategically aligned messaging across channels, adapting core messages and long-form content for email, web, advertising, print, video, social media, and other platforms.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team on campaign concepts, messaging, and content approaches that support marketing, enrollment, and institutional objectives.
• Conduct research and interviews with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, employers, and subject-matter experts to gather accurate and meaningful content.
• Collaborate with college departments and subject-matter experts to understand communication goals, identify key messages, and translate specialized information into effective marketing and communications content.
• Research programs, initiatives, trends, and other subject matter necessary to develop accurate and compelling content.
• Review and fact-check content for accuracy, clarity, consistency, accessibility, brand alignment, and appropriateness for its audience and channel.
• Write scripts and develop content for video, message-on-hold programming, and other multimedia communications.
• Support CSM-TV content development, including program concepts, scripts, interviews, features, promotional content, and storytelling needs.
• Develop and adapt content for emerging digital and multimedia storytelling opportunities, collaborating with Marketing team members on concepts and approaches.
• Support time-sensitive and emerging communications needs, assist with college emergency communications as needed, carry out assigned special projects and programs, and perform other related duties.

Benefits

• Excellent health insurance benefits
• State Retirement Pension plan
• Wellness programs
• Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer
• College closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level