Assistant Director, Editorial – Harvard Graduate School of Design
Position Description:
Job Summary :
The Assistant Director, Editorial brings wide public attention to the achievements of GSD alumni and engages the broader community by foregrounding the ideas and discourse animating the School. Catalyzing an alumni-focused editorial stream, the Assistant Director supports the overall mission of the Communications office to showcase the GSD’s success, innovation, and impact in the context of the wider field of design and through its contributions to other fields including economics, public policy, engineering, governance, medicine and public health, art, and the humanities. The Assistant Director seeks out stories from within the alumni community and beyond, maintaining a deep awareness of the research and practice undertaken by student, faculty, and affiliates across the GSD’s many departments, degree programs, labs, and initiatives.
With a strategic understanding of communication priorities, the Assistant Director conceptualizes and produces innovative editorial content geared toward the needs and interests of alumni and the GSD community. Potential formats for these communications include, but are not limited to, digital features for the GSD’s website, print publications, email newsletters, video, and social media. Working closely with colleagues in the Communications office as well as the office of Development and Alumni Relations, the Assistant Director develops a robust editorial plan to highlight the most important and newsworthy alumni research and projects. In addition, the Assistant Director coordinates with Harvard University communications professionals to ensure that the achievements of GSD alumni feature prominently within the University’s robust publication ecosystem, in alignment with the GSD’s strategic goals.
A critical component of this position is the capacity to generate and express an original narrative point of view—and to do so in a way that reflects an awareness of the field of design. It is essential that the Assistant Director possess the knowledge and creative agility to realize and articulate engaging, as-yet unreported story lines on the impact of GSD alumni on both the field of design and other areas of practice. The Assistant Director will collaborate closely with the Editorial Director and his team to produce and pursue story ideas, and to decide the most effective format for communicating about them.
Of equal importance is that the Assistant Director possess strong writing skills, and that the selected candidate be able to work independently and be able to juggle competing priorities and deadlines while moving an agenda forward in an organized and timely fashion. Experience with print publications, especially managing print deadlines and collaborating with graphic design professionals, is highly desirable.
Applicants must submit a selection of writing samples and other work demonstrating their writing and editing skills, and ability to position, frame, contextualize, or otherwise present in narrative form a story or activity to media and/or public audiences.
Position Description :
Develop and produce editorial content for multiple platforms about GSD alumni, their respective research initiatives and practices, and the School community more broadly
Actively engage the alumni community and maintain a deep and rapid awareness of newsworthy initiatives, projects, and achievements by GSD alumni
Develop and execute an alumni-focused content strategy across both print and digital platforms, in alignment with the GSD’s long-term mission and near-term priorities and communications goals
Produce announcements, press releases, and other campaign communications with input from stakeholders from across the School
Actively support the University’s communications priorities in making regular pitches for university coverage of relevant stories featuring the School
Collaborate closely with the Editorial Director and his team to produce and pursue story ideas, and contribute regularly to the School’s digital editorial channels under her direction
Attend and contribute ideas to regular team-wide editorial meetings, and coordinate publications, both and print, with other editorial and communications colleagues
Assist in drafting important public announcements and other communications on behalf of the School’s leadership
Perform other duties as assigned, as part of a team that manages a wide portfolio of projects related to external communications, public programs, exhibitions, and publications
Basic Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree required, with 5+ years’ experience as an editor, writer, public relations professional, or similar.
Demonstrated ability to produce high quality writing and review others’ writing with a keen copyeditor’s eye.
Additional Qualifications and Skills :
Bachelor’s degree in a design-related field, architectural or art history, journalism, English, communications, or the humanities. Master’s degree preferred
Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-pressured environment and be self-motivated to bring projects to completion at agreed upon deadlines
Must be able to work independently and be enthusiastic about engaging with and across groups of highly ambitious individuals operating near or at the tops of their professions
Ability to synthesize complex information into exciting and persuasive communications
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple and disparate projects simultaneously
Must be able to exercise discretion and sound judgment with sensitive and confidential information
Working Conditions:
This position requires frequent in-person work at the GSD throughout the academic year. Applications are accepted and encouraged from candidates not based in the Boston-Cambridge area, so long as they are able to commute to campus regularly during the academic year and reside in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, California, New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Washington, and Maryland.
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.
[Full-Time (Salaried)] Salary Range: 80000-90000
Schedule Requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
Working Conditions:
This position requires frequent in-person work at the GSD throughout the academic year. Applications are accepted and encouraged from candidates not based in the Boston-Cambridge area, so long as they are able to commute to campus regularly during the academic year and reside in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, California, New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Washington, and Maryland.
Level of English Required: Advanced/Fluent
How to Apply:
https://jobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?PageType=JobDetails&partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&Areq=64610BR