What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director of Editorial Services / Creative Director position at The University of Kansas?
Position Overview
The Associate Director of Editorial Services is responsible for the management of copy and editorial standards across all branding, advertising, print, and digital collateral and will work with copywriters and editors to improve copy and deliver consistent, effective, and on-brand messaging. This role is the creative leader for copy and editorial for KU Marketing and is focused on the quality of the messaging and will ensure that communications are strategically focused and factually accurate. The Associate Director of Editorial Services is an integral part of KU Marketing and fulfills the copy and editorial leadership role across all work.
Internally, this position supervises full-time, temporary, and student staff in the areas of copywriting, editing, proofreading, and fact-checking.
Job Description
45% Leading content creation
Lead creative teams with design and strategy peers in the development of marketing content. Work with marketing teams and clients to develop/review project briefs, research topics and gather information, and create/refine content for variety of media. Work with the Marketing leadership team to develop and maintain calendars, content plans, technical specs, inventories and taxonomies. Collaborate on content audits and the development of content strategy for print and digital.
25% Editing
Copy edit text and/or review printer proofs of projects produced by the department. Verify the grammatical and factual accuracy of all content. Ensure that all content conforms to KU’s editorial style and branding platform. Work directly with copywriters and editors to maintain a consistent voice and tone while presenting clear, accurate copy. Work closely with project teams to ensure the timely flow of copy. Develop and update a comprehensive editorial style guide for the university.
20% Leadership
Manage assignment of projects, maintain quality standards, and supervise staff, including strategic direction and review. Meet and work collaboratively with the directors and team leaders of Marketing to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of high quality, high profile materials, and other products. Develop the expertise of the copy and editorial teams through professional development opportunities.
10% Other duties as assigned
Attend staff and client meetings. Plan, strategize, trouble-shoot and review needs and solutions for wide range of clients. Work collegially with staff and clients in a team environment. Related tasks include occasional preparation of proposals, presentations, and job status reports. Other duties may include assisting with events requiring office staff assistance, such as commencement; and serving on internal and external committees.
Required Qualifications
A complete application includes:
Application review begins Monday, March 17th. For consideration, please apply no later than Sunday, March 16th.
Contact Information to Applicants
Lauren Erickson, laurene@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$73,000-$76,000
Work Schedule
M-F 8-5
Application Review Begins
Monday March 17, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday April 14, 2025
The Associate Director of Editorial Services is responsible for the management of copy and editorial standards across all branding, advertising, print, and digital collateral and will work with copywriters and editors to improve copy and deliver consistent, effective, and on-brand messaging. This role is the creative leader for copy and editorial for KU Marketing and is focused on the quality of the messaging and will ensure that communications are strategically focused and factually accurate. The Associate Director of Editorial Services is an integral part of KU Marketing and fulfills the copy and editorial leadership role across all work.
Internally, this position supervises full-time, temporary, and student staff in the areas of copywriting, editing, proofreading, and fact-checking.
Job Description
45% Leading content creation
Lead creative teams with design and strategy peers in the development of marketing content. Work with marketing teams and clients to develop/review project briefs, research topics and gather information, and create/refine content for variety of media. Work with the Marketing leadership team to develop and maintain calendars, content plans, technical specs, inventories and taxonomies. Collaborate on content audits and the development of content strategy for print and digital.
25% Editing
Copy edit text and/or review printer proofs of projects produced by the department. Verify the grammatical and factual accuracy of all content. Ensure that all content conforms to KU’s editorial style and branding platform. Work directly with copywriters and editors to maintain a consistent voice and tone while presenting clear, accurate copy. Work closely with project teams to ensure the timely flow of copy. Develop and update a comprehensive editorial style guide for the university.
20% Leadership
Manage assignment of projects, maintain quality standards, and supervise staff, including strategic direction and review. Meet and work collaboratively with the directors and team leaders of Marketing to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of high quality, high profile materials, and other products. Develop the expertise of the copy and editorial teams through professional development opportunities.
10% Other duties as assigned
Attend staff and client meetings. Plan, strategize, trouble-shoot and review needs and solutions for wide range of clients. Work collegially with staff and clients in a team environment. Related tasks include occasional preparation of proposals, presentations, and job status reports. Other duties may include assisting with events requiring office staff assistance, such as commencement; and serving on internal and external committees.
Required Qualifications
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college, university, or school in English, journalism, advertising, public relations, strategic communications, creative writing, writing, or a closely related field
- Minimum of 5 years’ professional editing or proofreading experience in an advertising, public relations, or marketing agency or similar in-house unit; magazine; publishing house; newspaper; or related entity
- Mastery of English language usage, including rules of composition and grammar, as evidenced by application materials
- Experience writing and editing for marketing contexts at an institution of higher education, ideally, for The University of Kansas
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team and independently
- Outstanding interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
- Ability to meet tight deadlines with grace under pressure
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail
- Determination to completely understand client's brand, products and competitive landscape
- Ability to quickly respond to creative brief requests and effectively address copy needs
- Demonstrated ability to translate instructions, rules, and regulations into clear, engaging copy containing a call to action
- Demonstrated ability to write across a variety of topics and formats and create compelling copy
- Experience leading and managing full-time employees
- Master knowledge of AP Style, as evidenced by application materials
- Demonstrated ability to write and edit copy for web sites and wireframe/sitemap specifications
- Experience contributing to content management systems
- Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
- Strong copywriting/creative marketing portfolio
A complete application includes:
- Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications
- Résumé
- Contact information for three professional references
- Completion of the online application
Application review begins Monday, March 17th. For consideration, please apply no later than Sunday, March 16th.
Contact Information to Applicants
Lauren Erickson, laurene@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$73,000-$76,000
Work Schedule
M-F 8-5
Application Review Begins
Monday March 17, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday April 14, 2025
Salary : $73,000 - $76,000
