Writer-Editor, IS-1082-11

Smithsonian Institution•Washington, DC

1d•$85,447 - $111,087•Remote

About The Position

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (CFCH or the Center) on the Communications team. The position functions as an editor and web content manager for CFCH as well as the editor for the Center’s online magazine and blog and public-facing print materials. The position also supports the Center’s development of digital media materials. The primary purpose of these educational and promotional materials is to inform the Center’s stakeholders and the public about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and related programs offered by CFCH.

Requirements

Knowledge of project management principles and practices, for planning, scheduling, coordinating, implementing and managing CFCH projects involving writing, editing and web content, gained through experience.
Knowledge to edit blogs and news/event articles to produce content that is clear and precise while maintaining the author’s intended meaning, gained through experience.
Ability to coordinate the production of the Center’s Folklife Magazine and Festival blog, making editorial decisions based on readability, accuracy, style, syntax, and knowledge of the subject matter.
Knowledge to prepare articles that align with the organization’s programming, strategic plan, and annual communications strategy, gained through experience.
Knowledge to add closed captioning and proofread open captioning to all new videos to evaluate for accessibility.
Ability to manage an organization’s websites, including adding new content, updating information, and maintaining quality assurance, gained through experience.
Knowledge to evaluate that all web content adheres to best practices for web accessibility.
Ability to use web analytics to evaluate user experience.
Must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience gained through experience.

Responsibilities

Writes, edits, and proofreads promotional materials, such as direct mail copy, email newsletters, signage, and brochures.
Works in close cooperation with the Communications team on a broad array of publications and projects. Researches, writes, and edits materials for the web and print in support of programming and communications initiatives. Creates, edits, and evolves content as needed for dissemination in print and other applications.
Uses the Chicago Style Manual and Folklife Style Guide to edit and proofread a range of CFCH products, including, but not limited to: Folklife Magazine, Festival Blog, news & events articles, Festival signage, Festival guide text and other miscellaneous written content as required. Ensures clarity and precision, i.e. restructuring sentences, eliminating redundancy, and ensuring flow without changing the author’s intended meaning.
Coordinates the production of the Center’s Folklife Magazine and Festival blog, making editorial decisions based on readability, accuracy, style, syntax, and knowledge of subject matter. Ensures all articles align with the Center’s programming, strategic plan, and annual communications strategy. Ensures that content is accurate and has been reviewed and approved by appropriate staff prior to dissemination. Maintains editorial calendar for online publications. Makes decisions on story placement and page design.
Identifies Folklife Magazine and Festival blog articles that would be suitable for Smithsonian Voices blog audiences. Makes required edits and publishes articles weekly on Smithsonian Voices. Identifies and acquires available media assets and other materials. Makes informed decisions drawing on an understanding of best practices governing elements such as image quality, copyright issues, and audience accessibility.
Adds closed captioning and/or proofreads open captioning to all new videos for accessibility.
Ensures that all online and print materials conform to appropriate Center standards, both internal and external.
Provides recommendations to the supervisor on updates to the Style and author guidelines to reflect current strategic plan and messaging requirements. Maintains Editorial SharePoint page with updates resources for staff.
Trains and mentors Center staff and interns to strengthen quality of written products.
Updates folklife.si.edu, festival.si.edu, and mothertongue.si.edu websites. Updates include but are not limited to: home page, staff lists and bios, new pages for annual Festival programs and other CFCH projects, schedules and programming information, using the Festival Trumba calendar tool, and livestreaming for the Festival and other events.
Ensures all new content adheres to best practices for web accessibility.
Evaluates analytics to analyze user experience.
Manages and supports maintenance of the Center’s websites: folklife.si.edu, festival.si.edu, andmothertongue.si.edu, including routine quality assurance.
Coordinates website contractor services.
Trains and mentors Center staff and interns to use content management systems effectively.
Performs project planning with internal and external stakeholders, such as other cultural organizations, university or other research partners, media organizations and outside contractors, for writing, editing, and web projects. Manages project workflows. Prepares statements of work for contractors and evaluates their performance. Recruits and oversees interns to support projects.
Designs and manages editorial workflows, establishing processes and ensuring articles on Folklife Magazine and Festival blog comply with Center standards, quality, and adherence to programming and strategic plan. Works with staff, supervisors and outside reviewers to ensure the articles are accurate and account for nuances. External reviewers include Folklorists, Anthropologists, scholars, and staff at partner or collaborative organizations. Leads weekly editorial meetings and reports on editorial activity to Center’s leadership team.
Manages timelines and activities for website contractor services including content management system upgrades, accessibility measures, and addressing website vulnerabilities. Schedules meetings with staff and other stakeholders for necessary reviews.
Supports Center staff to develop and implement digital exhibitions, mini-sites and other digital products for greater public awareness of the Center’s work. Identifies creative solutions and presentation methods to communicate the Center’s work online. Manages deadlines and workflows to ensure timely completion of projects.
Performs other duties as assigned.