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Editor 3

Employer
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Location
California, United States
Closing date
28 Dec 2020

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Note: The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

JOB PURPOSE:

The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) is the center of a world-class liberal arts education at Stanford University. The largest school encompassing the humanities and arts, social sciences, and natural sciences, H&S has 23 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs. It is the university's home for foundational and applied research.

The position of editor 3 reports to the director of public relations for H&S, manages a half-time writer who covers the humanities and arts, and works closely with two additional team members, freelance writers, and the director of science communications in the Stanford News Service. The successful candidate will be an experienced news and story editor as well as a strong writer.

This position is responsible for editing and writing news and features stories, as well as press releases, about primarily the natural sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics (theoretical and applied), math, and statistics. They may also edit or write stories about the social sciences, and they will be the story editor for the humanities and arts writer. They will work closely with the director of PR to develop strategic messaging for the school through news and feature stories. An educational background in the natural sciences and/or extensive experience writing about the natural sciences is critical to this position. The successful candidate needs to be able to translate technical language and abstract ideas into stories that are accessible and of interest to the general public.

As an experienced editor and writer, the editor 3 will also manage and plan the preparation and development of publications, both print and digital. They will assist with media inquiries. With a strong understanding of higher education, the editor helps tell the story about the research, teaching, and learning taking place in the school for a wide-range of audiences: current and prospective students, alumni, university leadership, donors, fundraisers, friends of the university, general public, and reporters. The person must be proficient in writing content from scratch (including conducting interviews) and editing/repurposing existing materials for communications and development purposes.

The ideal candidate is a strong science storyteller who is also a strong project manager. They must take the initiative to solve problems and learn new tools to help them, as well as the team, be successful. The successful candidate will be a critical thinker with strong analytical skills, self-motivated team player, well organized, and able to follow through on commitments while managing multiple projects.

CORE DUTIES:

  • Generate new content and edit existing content for print and digital, including H&S news stories and press releases, printed promotional materials, web content, feature stories, HTML emails, and fundraising materials (white papers and proposals).
  • Manage editorial and production process that is complex in nature and reaches across organizational levels.
  • Identify stories and themes and monitor editorial/publication progress.
  • Ensure that information included in publications follows policies and procedures.
  • Make decisions on proposed changes and amendments to communications or publications.
  • Supervise the distribution of the publications.
  • Cultivate new methods to promote and disseminate information.
  • Maintain high-level interactions with specialized constituents to promote departmental goals, visions, and strategies.
  • Apply advanced knowledge to determine the approach necessary to achieve department objectives.
  • May manage budget and negotiate contracts with vendors.
  • Assist the director in evaluating workflow, resources, and make recommendations. May supervise professional or support personnel and may conduct performance evaluations, hiring, and staff management.
  • May develop and implement long-term and short-term strategic plan for a unit and across organizational line.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant work experience or combination of education and relevant experience. Master’s degree preferred. Experience working in higher education preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Demonstrated ability to oversee all aspects of editorial and publication process.
  • Demonstrated advanced editorial and public relations skills and the ability to synthesize material from multiple sources.
  • Demonstrated ability to determine publication and editorial approaches.
  • Extensive experience managing and coordinating complex editorial and publication projects.
  • Expert level knowledge of job-required tools and applications.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and allocate department resources.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and apply ingenuity and creativity in solving complex problems.
  • Demonstrated ability to apply discretion and judgment in evaluating implications of information release to internal and external audiences.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

  • Skilled writer and editor, who is familiar with Chicago Manual Style and Associated Press. Knowledge of Stanford’s internal styles preferred but not required.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Experience and advanced knowledge managing front end of Drupal CMS. Advanced understanding of how content types and features are built in Drupal. Ability to talk to web developers in Drupal speak.
  • Proficient in InDesign. Experience using Photoshop and Illustrator helpful.
  • Proficient in web content strategy. Ability to write for the web (e.g., Yahoo! style for digital environments) and meeting accessibility standards. Ability to use data from Google Analytics. Awareness of SEO best practices. Knowledge of basic HTML preferred but not required.
  • Experience writing promotional materials for a university environment and fundraising materials for donors and gift officers at nonprofits.
  • Experience using a D-SLR camera and processing RAW images preferred.

Certifications and Licenses:

None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

  • Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
  • Frequently stand/walk, sit, use a telephone, and grasp lightly/fine manipulation.
  • Occasionally grasp forcefully, writing by hand.
  • Rarely sort/file paperwork; lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  • Occasional work on evenings and weekends.

WORK STANDARDS:

  • Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
  • Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
  • Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

Final offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of national criminal background check, national sex offender registry search and, where applicable, driving record.

Stanford is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

  • Schedule: Full-time
  • Job Code: 4253
  • Employee Status: Regular
  • Grade: J
  • Requisition ID: 87628

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