Editorial Director (Hybrid Opportunity)

University of Massachusetts Amherst•Amherst, MA

58d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Editorial Director leads the development and execution of compelling, high-quality content for distribution across all university-owned and managed platforms including recruitment materials, campaign messaging, publications, UMass magazine, and other strategic communications initiatives. This role ensures alignment with the university's mission, brand and marketing objectives. Reporting to the Executive Creative Director (ECD), the Editorial Director leads a team of marketing professionals, and defines and enforces editorial standards, manages content assignments, schedules and workflows and related budgets while collaborating with MarCom colleagues to ensure alignment and cross-functional synergy. All written materials are expected to reflect and advance the university's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree plus 8-10 (eight to ten) years of progressive experience in editorial leadership, content strategy, communications, marketing, or a related field.
Proven success leading multi-platform content strategy and integrated editorial initiatives across print, digital, and web.
Experience overseeing full publication cycles-including editorial planning, messaging frameworks, and team/vendor management.
Magazine editorial management experience, with demonstrated excellence in storytelling, tone and editorial consistency.
Strong understanding of brand strategy and the ability to translate institutional goals into compelling, audience-driven narratives.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
Advanced organizational and project management skills, including budgeting, workflow optimization, and use of project management tools.
Strong leadership and editorial direction skills, with the ability to manage feedback loops, and guide creative outcomes.
Demonstrated mentoring skills and experience leading/developing a marketing and communications team.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in communications/journalism or a related field.
Experience in higher education or mission-driven organizations with complex stakeholder environments.
Knowledge of social media strategy and experience adapting editorial content for social platforms to boost reach and engagement.
Familiarity with SEO and accessibility best practices for digital content.

Responsibilities

Works closely with the ECD to develop and implement a comprehensive content strategy to support the university's marketing, communications and institutional goals.
Provides strategic vision for the brand direction, guiding the planning while also directing project execution to appropriate team members to ensure optimization of brand initiatives and campaigns which align with brand architecture.
Stewards the university's brand and messaging, ensuring adherence to voice, tone and brand guidelines across all content. Provide guidance on brand management, reinforcing the University's message through all content initiatives.
Leads and mentors a team of writers and editors, provides editorial oversight, storytelling guidance and strategic direction, fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. Delegates and prioritizes assignments to ensure deadlines are met. Advises writers on stories and themes for various communications and reviews work for accuracy.
Directs the editorial and operational aspects of content across all communications channels, including recruitment, retention, magazine, research and institutional materials. Ensures alignment with the university's brand, mission, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Acts as managing editor of the UMass Magazine, overseeing editorial planning. Lead the development of ideas, writing and editing of stories, and photo sessions. Assigns story writing and/or editing to staff as appropriate. Edits all articles at the developmental and final review stages.
Manages story pool and internal pitching process for magazine content, coordinates client discovery meetings and visioning of content across university platforms.
Develops and implements integrated content strategies across print, digital and web platforms. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to ensure cohesive messaging and optimal audience engagement.
Guides the creative process from concept to execution, mentoring the editorial team in developing innovative and impactful materials, including digital and print collateral, marketing and brand campaigns, the magazine and other high-level communications and initiatives. Assigns work to team members in support of upskilling, and as a means of developing growth opportunities for team members which will also build in redundancy to support times of high-volume workload.
Collaborates with the ECD and colleagues on editorial synergy and content to ensure consistency of content creation and distribution across all marketing and communications platforms.
Works closely with colleagues to ensure all published content adheres to editorial standards and supports the university's brand pillars.
Partners with the ECD and colleagues to establish and refine content processes and review workflows and approval structures.
Manages freelance writers, editors, and photographers as needed to support content initiatives.
Works closely with the Executive Director of Strategic Operations to content related budgets, ensuring efficient use of resource allocation and optimizing workflow processes.
Demonstrates awareness to and contributes to cultivating an inclusive university community.