Job Description

Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statement

In addition to its commitment to a harassment-free educational and working environment, the College is an equal employment opportunity employer. The College is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable state and federal laws on the matter. The College does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including gender, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition or medical leave, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law. The College also prohibits the harassment of any employee on any of these bases.

Location:

Claremont, CA

Job Posting Title:

Director of Content & Senior Writer

Job Details and Requirement:

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Director of Content & Senior Writer drives communications and marketing content and creative strategy and tactics in support of the College. The position is responsible for providing strategic oversight and tactical precision to the development of compelling storytelling across a diversity of platforms, audiences, and objectives, and deploying communications to motivate audiences to action. The position crafts key messaging and brings cohesion in communications across the College. The Director of Content & Senior Writer is an exceptionally collaborative, creative communications professional, with experience and talent in writing content, deep understanding of marketing and communications strategy, excellent editorial judgment, and strong design sensibility. The position requires a combination of strategic planning and high-level orientation, with a hands-on, tactical focus, and solid ability to multi-task and manage large projects.

This position reports to the Executive Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing – Content and Social Media.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serve as the lead liaison with Dean of the Faculty on promoting the academic storytelling, including individual faculty members, academic departments, and research institutes.  This content Director will also assist the Executive Director for Advancement, Admissions, and the President’s Office with managing and creating content for the Office of Advancement.
• Serves as a key writer and editor for external and internal communications, including website, video material content, magazine, newsletters, and marketing materials.
• Actively searches for unique CMC stories by developing stakeholder relationships across campus – administration, faculty, students by being immersed in campus activities and events.
• Assist the department leadership with creating forums for delivering content such as a newsroom platform, continued updated content on websites, social media platforms, and other outlets.
• Develop robust relationships with external media outlets to allow for pitching and media placements for our key priority stories.
• Participate in Office of Strategic Communications & Marketing (OSCM) increased facility and efforts with marketing and promotions.
• Assist with the content creation, editorial functions, and publishing of OSCM materials as needed including magazine, newsletters, marketing materials, etc.
• Develops communications strategies and content, identifying and targeting key audiences while ensuring consistency of messaging across all platforms, including print, web, video, and social.
• Works with graphic designer, photographers, and videographers to ensure that visual assets support College’s main priorities and messaging.
• Works with department leadership and other organizational leaders to shape effective themes and messaging. Gathers input and solicits feedback from multiple stakeholder constituencies to hone messaging.
• Provides editorial planning expertise for a wide range of communications projects in support of College initiatives. Manages the work of freelance writers, photographers, and videographers as needed.
• Powerfully conveys the values and mission of the CMC through compelling storytelling, spanning a range of content development and design imperatives.
• Serves as a liaison with the Human Resources, Dean of Students, Dean of the Faculty, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Establishes and maintains highly productive, collaborative working relationships with institutional leaders, department chairs, center and program leaders, faculty, administrators, and staff, developing sources of information and collaborating across organizational lines to work toward common goals.
• Builds new, unified paradigms for powerful storytelling, including content curation and editorial collaboration.
• Explores technology innovations including AI to enhance the productivity of the function and drive cutting-edge communications strategies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field or combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE: 5-7 years of experience in communications/marketing content strategy, content creation, or production, including writing, editing, and digital media.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES: 

• High degree of professionalism and judgment that earn the respect of leadership, faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents, and donors.
• Exceptional content creation including writing for a variety of publication types including magazines, web, social media, longer stories, etc.
• Proven track record of relationship building and collaboration with internal and external partners. Ability to serve as an ambassador of the Office of Strategic Communications & Marketing and Office of Advancement as needed.
• Exceptional editorial and content development editing skills, creativity, and attention to detail, with a demonstrated ability to translate sophisticated academic subjects for lay audiences.
• Experience developing brand messaging and positioning.
• Deep knowledge of content strategy spanning the range of traditional and state-of the-art media, with particular expertise in AI-driven communications and analytics.
• Strategic thinker with a deep understanding of audience needs and demonstrated ability to advance goals and messages through specific communications plans.
• Initiative, self-motivation, and the ability to meet deadlines while successfully managing a high-volume workload and prioritizing among multiple projects.
• Experience in leading and participating in collaborative teams.
• Ability to handle sensitive and highly confidential information with discretion and judgment.
• Proven track record of mapping content plans to editorial calendars and executing omnichannel campaigns.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with a commitment to respectful communication and collaboration within a diverse community.
• Brings a sense of joy and humor to the workplace.

REQUIRED HOURS: The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Regular hours may vary due to the needs of the College or division. Some evening and/or weekend work may be required to support campus programs and activities. Occasional requirements to work outside of standard business hours may be required to ensure timely responsiveness to our college community.

CLASSIFICATION AND STATUS:

This is a full-time, 12-month year-round, exempt level, benefits-eligible position.

Supervisor – AB1825: Yes

Mandatory Reporter – CA Penal Code: Yes

Responsible Employee – Title IX: Yes

Campus Security Authority – The Clery Act: Yes

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Normal physical job functions performed within a standard office environment and include reaching, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. May occasionally lift/push/pull items up to 20 lbs.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: No

SALARY RANGE: The anticipated salary range is $100,000 - $120,000 per year. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

GROOMING AND APPEARANCE: Employees are expected to wear attire that is appropriate to the office or department in which they work.

BACKGROUND CHECK:  The successful candidate will be required to undergo a full consumer background check.  Certain positions will require the successful completion of a post-offer physical agility test.  Employment is contingent on the satisfactory results of the aforementioned, in addition to compliance with the requirements cited in this job description.

ADA/OSHA: This job description defines the essential or fundamental job duties of this position.  It is assumed that employees hired for this position can perform the essential functions of this job without imposing the risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others.  It may also include marginal functions, generally defined within Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. 

DISCLAIMER: This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position.  Duties and responsibilities can change and develop over time, accordingly the College reviews job description on a periodic basis and may make changes of business necessity.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT:  Employment with the College is “at-will” meaning that the terms of employment may be changed with or without notice, with or without cause, including, but not limited to termination, demotion, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, duties, and location of work.  There is no agreement express or implied between the College and you for continuing or long-term employment. While the College has every hope that employment relationships will be mutually beneficial and rewarding, employees and the College retain the right to terminate the employment relationship at will, at any time, with or without cause.  The President is the only person who can modify or alter the at-will employment relationship.

Claremont McKenna College hires and promotes individuals on the basis of their qualifications, consistent with applicable state and federal laws, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Inquiries may be directed to the Director for Human Resources, 528 N. Mills Avenue, Claremont, California 91711-4015, (909) 621-8490. All applicants must complete and submit an online application to be considered for an open position.

Employment is contingent upon new employee providing documents verifying U.S. citizenship or, for aliens, documents verifying legal permission to work in the United States, applicant's acceptability for positions requiring use of a college vehicle is contingent upon a driving record acceptable to the College's automobile liability insurance. Promotion from within is encouraged whenever qualified employees of Claremont McKenna College are available. Interested employees of the College are urged to contact the Office of Human Resources if qualified for any open position. Please do not contact departments directly.

Disability Accommodations

In compliance with applicable laws ensuring equal opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability, CMC will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual (applicant or employee) with a disability if the disability affects the performance of essential job functions, unless the accommodation results in an undue hardship for the College. Employment decisions are based on the merit and not an individual’s disability.

An applicant or employee who requires an accommodation should contact the immediate supervisor and the Human Resources Office. If multiple accommodations are identified that do not pose an undue hardship for the College, the selection of an accommodation will be at CMC’s discretion. To request disability accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (909) 621-8490 or hr@cmc.edu for assistance.

Job Tags

Full time, Temporary work, Immediate start, Afternoon shift, Monday to Friday,

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