Director, Copy

J. Jill•Quincy, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director Copy is the brand voice expert/editor in chief and leads the Copy and Copyediting teams while serving as key support/partner for VP Creative Development to deliver compelling brand story that distinguishes J.Jill in a competitive marketplace and drives sales. Collaborates with C-suite Execuitives, Brand Marketing, Merchandising and Ecommerce leaders in strategizing and executing direction for all creative omnichannel customer touch points—Retail, Direct, Ecommerce and any new opportunities that may develop—to establish and/or strengthen the emotional connection with new and existing customers. This role also leads the development and optimization of customer-facing content strategies across digital channels, ensuring copy is discoverable, relevant, and performant across traditional search engines and emerging AI-driven discovery platforms.

Requirements

Decisive leader that is a creative/strategic thinker at the brand level while being comfortable in a fast pace production environment
Strong business and operational senses; able to balance and address conflicting needs and timelines of multiple stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast paced, deadline driven environment.
Must be an energetic creative partner in helping develop brand concepts and campaigns
Talent champion and developer, balancing hands-on guidance with delegation
Ability to challenge senior executives with strategic intent and accountability
Passion for continually learning and offering fresh viewpoints
In depth knowledge of production and creative processes.
Ability to thrive within a fluid, fast-paced environment
Familiarity with AI-assisted content workflows and content optimization technologies while maintaining strong editorial oversight and brand standards
Ability to balance performance-driven content objectives with premium brand voice and customer experience
Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration skills with Ecommerce, Marketing, Analytics and Technology teams
15+ years fashion branding/editorial writing for an in-house creative department or agency (specialty retail omnichannel expertise preferred) with a minimum of 6 years managing team of 10 or more
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communications or related field
Mac proficient with ability to learn any necessary platforms
Sedentary work, prolonged periods of time working at a desk and on a computer.
Ability to communicate information and observe details at close range.
Light to moderate lifting may be required.

Nice To Haves

Fashion Design, Luxury brand experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Continuously refines brand voice and executes consistently across all customer facing touch points
Is adept at creative copy development across all types of media.
Partners with Design and Creative Development team in brainstorming seasonal initiatives ranging from concept themes (guides for all omnichannel creative work) to quick-turnaround market response projects
Interprets data and translates business strategy into creative strategy; makes recommendations to senior management.
Stays current on all new technologies and market developments.
Creates seasonal manifestos that serve as a voice guide for corporate creative teams.
Continually reviews and refines all processes and workflows related to creative copy and copy editing within the organization.
Collaborates with Brand Marketing, Merchandising and Ecommerce partners to continually explore options to drive sales, acquire new customers and strengthen J.Jill brand
Meets and exceeds all deadlines with the highest standards and quality controls
Develops, mentors and inspires best-in-class Copy team (writers and copyeditors)
Conducts regular analysis of key competitor and e-commerce leaders for best practices in creative, technology, user experience, and store design and experience.
Creates a culture of success while valuing curiosity, compassion and respect
Ensures all digital copy adheres to SEO best practices including metadata optimization, semantic keyword usage, internal linking strategy, structured content hierarchy and accessibility standards
Develops GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) strategies that improve brand visibility and authority within AI-powered search experiences, generative engines and conversational discovery platforms
Partners with Ecommerce and Product teams to optimize PDP, PLP, editorial and campaign copy for both human engagement and machine readability
Champion for the best work and for our brand to be the best we can.