Executive Director of Content and Editorial Strategy

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Job Description

About HPAC

Harvard Public Affairs and Communications (HPAC) manages and facilitates the University’s relationships with the general public, media outlets, federal, state, and local governments, and our neighboring communities. HPAC advances information and communications related to the University’s mission of excellence in teaching, learning, and research.

Although the position will remain posted until filled, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by the end of the day on Friday, October 24th.

The Executive Director of Content and Editorial Strategy leads the development and production of creative, innovative and proactive storytelling strategies to advance the mission of Harvard University. Responsible for the quality, accuracy, and creativity of content, the Executive Director will manage highly effective teams to ensure the university’s content has optimal reach and impact, deploying best-in-class products and projects across all mediums. Reporting to the Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications, this role is a senior member of the university’s central communications and public affairs team and requires deep collaboration within the department and across the university, bringing seasoned judgement and expertise on the intersection of digital, journalistic and multi-media brand management.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversee the university’s flagship news publications and content channels, including the Harvard Gazette and Harvard.edu, as well as a team of creative, editorial, multimedia and digital communications professionals. Responsible for ensuring these teams and content strategies are integrated into broader University communications and public affairs efforts, as well as ensuring the stewardship of digital communications capabilities and resources available to Harvard’s schools and other units within the university.
• Develop creative and innovative approaches to advance the university’s long- term integrated creative and content strategy, incorporating and advising on evolving best practices from within and beyond higher education that cut across the portfolio. Requires the ability to adopt and champion innovative and proactive ideas, including using AI and other tools, that take advantage of the broader communications and media landscape to drive deep and measurable engagement with Harvard’s multiple audiences and constituencies, and to advance Harvard’s messages and areas of impact through a variety of mediums including the university’s range of digital platforms.
• Strong diplomacy, leadership and management skills will be required. Demonstrated ability to recognize and foster talent, nurture and develop ideas, and collaborate across disciplines. As a senior representative of the HPAC senior leadership team, works closely with the Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications and with peers across the department and the University.
• Collaborates closely with peers across HPAC’s communications and government relations functions to ensure consistent positioning and messaging, coordinated relationship building and strategic outreach, including around various internal and external events and relationship management with key stakeholders.
• Must be an accomplished team leader and collaborative colleague with a relevant portfolio and will have the capacity to build and lead a communications program. Must have exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and oral communication skills as well as experience in producing communications pieces, across a variety of platforms.
• Manage strategic direction, administration, and budget for flagship and other content properties, platforms, and tools, lead cross-platform consultant teams, and partner with colleagues to evaluate and implement enterprise-wide delivery tools to support university-wide communication and engagement initiatives.
• Should have a track record of driving successful content strategy across multiple channels. Additionally, should have in-depth understanding of relevant and emerging social media platforms and trends, analytics and perception data, and the ability to deploy social media in comprehensive communications and marketing strategies.
• Creativity, initiative and team orientation skills are required. Must have the ability to, on occasion, be available to work evenings and weekends.
• Manage a team of communications professionals, and responsible for hands-on management, training, and mentoring of staff. Ensure continued integration and collaboration across the team and the department, creating clearly defined goals, objectives and metrics by which to measure maximum effectiveness. Create strategies to enhance staff retention and morale, and provide opportunities for professional development for both individual and group success
• Provide meaningful development and career growth opportunities for existing staff while simultaneously developing a pipeline of future talent. This role demands a strong office presence and a leader who will encourage and provide opportunities for staff to collaborate across the department and to work comprehensively across functions to effectively obtain relevant information and to disseminate communications expertise, tools and content across multiple channels.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Fifteen or more years of experience in content strategy, journalism, marketing communications or related fields with extensive background in editorial management.
• Graduate of an accredited four-year college.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience overseeing communications functions, preferably in a complex or decentralized setting. Demonstrated expertise in writing, editing, and content development.
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategy, managing direct and indirect reports, and overseeing departmental budgets.
• Ability to think strategically as well as operationally. Must have demonstrated the ability to successfully initiate change and/or oversee major institutional projects within a highly decentralized environment.
• Able to juggle multiple projects and work in a collaborative and deadline-oriented environment.
• Advanced digital and social understanding; fluent in use of Microsoft office tools as well as web-based project management tools.
• Proven ability to function effectively in highly complex organizational environments.
• Skilled communicator in many different media and for multiple audiences.
• Experience developing social media campaigns.
• Experience with mobile marketing programs and SMS.
• Strongly committed to the higher education mission, with a willingness to function effectively as a university citizen.
• Five or more years of management experience.

Additional Information

• Work Format: Strong in office presence and attendance at relevant events and functions will be required in alignment with HPAC’s current hybrid work practices.
  • This hybrid position requires a minimum of two days per week on campus, with additional on-site days anticipated based on business needs.
  • Occasional travel, as well as evening and weekend hours, may be required
• For consideration, please include a cover letter
• This position has a 6-month orientation and review period
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• As part of the hiring process, candidates selected for further consideration may be required to submit work samples and or additional materials.

Work Format Details

This is a position that is based at a Harvard campus location with some remote work options available. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 061. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.