Assistant Director, Editorial

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

Additional Information
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.
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

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Physical Requirements
There are no known physical requirements related to this position. Work is mainly performed in an office setting.
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.
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.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
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.
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Work Format Details
This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. 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.