Editorial Strategy Manager

Editorial Strategy Manager

As a leading online school in New York since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 28 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule. As CUNY SPS moves beyond its 20th year, we dedicate ourselves to engendering an innovative and transformative student-centered experience.

CUNY SPS seeks an Editorial Strategy Manager to serve as a hands-on editorial leader and the lead writer, editor, and proofreader for the School's marketing and communications team. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, the incumbent will shape and execute editorial strategy across the School's website, executive and internal communications, public relations, print and digital publications.

This role combines strategic leadership with substantial day-to-day writing, editing, and proofreading. The Editorial Strategy Manager will guide the School's editorial voice and standards, translate complex information into clear and audience-appropriate communications, and lead editorial planning and contributors. Website content strategy and quality will be a key component of the portfolio, alongside communications for School leadership and other institutional priorities.

In addition to the CUNY Title Overview, key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leads and executes an integrated editorial strategy across the School's website, executive and internal communications, public relations, print and digital publications, ensuring content supports enrollment, engagement, reputation, and institutional priorities

• Serves as the marketing and communications team's lead writer, editor, and proofreader, personally developing and refining high-priority content for multiple audiences, channels, and formats

• Plans, develops, writes, and audits content for the CUNY SPS website, working collaboratively with the team's SEO and web technology specialists to ensure content is clear, accurate, accessible, discoverable, current, and aligned with audience and institutional needs

• Establishes and maintains the School's editorial voice, messaging, guidelines, and quality standards, applying rigorous practices for research, interviewing, fact-checking, verification, editing, and proofreading

• Serves as a strategic writing partner to the Dean, Chief Marketing Officer, and other School leaders, developing newsletters, remarks, speeches, talking points, and communications involving complex, sensitive, or high-visibility matters

• Manages and mentors a communications coordinator and freelance contributors, including prioritizing and assigning work, establishing deadlines, providing editorial direction, and reviewing and editing deliverables

• Develops and manages editorial calendars and workflows for prioritizing, assigning, reviewing, approving, publishing, and updating content across channels

• Writes and edits web stories and profiles of students, faculty, and alumni, as well as other feature content for digital and print publications

• Directs and oversees the development of press releases, news announcements, and other public-facing editorial content highlighting School programs, people, achievements, and institutional developments

• Leads the editorial planning, content development, and production coordination of the CUNY SPS Magazine and Annual Report

• Provides editorial guidance across the School and identifies opportunities to strengthen storytelling and repurposes content effectively across channels

• Uses audience insights, SEO principles, analytics, and content performance data to inform editorial planning and improve content effectiveness

NOTE:

• Until further notice, work will be performed in a hybrid manner with 70% onsite presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and six years' related experience required experience in communications, journalism, editorial strategy, public relations, or a related field required.

• Preferred

• Seven or more years of related professional experience in communications, journalism, editorial strategy, and/or public relations, with at least one-year leading editorial work, directing contributors, supervising staff or contractors, or serving in a senior writer or lead-writer capacity

• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and research skills, with demonstrated ability to produce clear, compelling, accurate content and adapt voice and tone for different audiences and formats

• Demonstrated experience developing content for websites and multiple additional communications channels, such as executive or internal communications, public relations, or print and digital publications

• Experience contributing to editorial strategy, web content planning, editorial standards, or content workflows

• Experience in higher education, government, nonprofit, public-sector, or another complex institutional environment

• Experience developing executive and internal communications, including communications involving complex or sensitive institutional matters

• Experience formally supervising staff or managing writers and freelance contributors

• Experience using audience research, analytics, or content audits to guide editorial decisions and improve content

• Strong editorial judgment and discretion, including the ability to work effectively with sensitive or confidential information

• Strong organizational, project-management, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments, stakeholders, contributors, and deadlines

• Working knowledge of SEO principles, web accessibility, and content performance metrics, with the ability to collaborate effectively with SEO and web technology specialists

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

• CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

• Oversees implementation of communications programs and produces communications in all media to meet a variety of College needs

• Provides creative direction for publications and marketing materials, such as catalogs, annual reports, brochures, direct mail packages, print advertising and other marketing materials

• Works with College clientele (faculty, administrators, and student representatives) to understand their communications objectives, select appropriate messages, formats, and distribution methods, set production timelines, and establish appropriate editorial and design approaches

• Provides creative direction and supervision to external and/or internal creative resources such as writers, photographers, illustrators and graphic designers

• Ensures consistent application of standards and guidelines for College materials, such as graphic identity standards

• Manages production activities, including creating printing specifications and arranging procurement of services, managing work flows, and production schedules, and assuring a quality finished product

• Prepares sensitive and high-priority communications such as speeches for use by senior management

• Performs related duties as assigned.

CUNY TITLE

Higher

Education

• Associate

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary commensurate with education and experience, from $89,777 - $98,231. CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.