Writer/Editor Job at Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Purdue University

Overview

Writer/Editor role in the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Purdue University. The Office of Communications seeks an Editor as part of Editorial Operations.

The Editor will be under the direction of the Senior Manager, Editorial Operations and will contribute to quality control so Purdue’s central communications team communicates the university story effectively. Primary responsibilities include general editing, copy editing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and fact-checking, ensuring accurate faculty/administrative titles and the names of iconic campus locations and buildings. The Editor will also participate in Purdue’s Editorial Style Guide committee. The position involves work on both online and print projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform general editing, copy editing, and fact-checking for accuracy of titles, campus locations, and buildings.
• Ensure content adheres to AP style and Purdue’s Editorial Style Guide.
• Collaborate on online and print projects, including Purdue Today, news releases, executive communications, event announcements, feature stories, recruitment materials, social media posts, advertisements, brochures, videos captions and on-screen text, and other materials.
• Assist in maintaining quality control across publications.
• Possess or develop proficiency in Photoshop (or ability to learn) and familiarity with digital tools and content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Meltwater).
• Work outside standard hours on occasion (8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET availability required occasionally).
• Collaborate with others in a collegial environment and contribute to the Editorial Operations team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, English, journalism, public relations or related field
• Three (3) years of professional writing and/or editing experience
• Experience creating compelling messages for different target demographics
• In lieu of a degree, an equivalent combination of related education and required work experience will be considered (Associate's + 5 years, or HS/GED + 7 years)

• Excellent content and copy-editing skills
• Ability to operate with limited supervision and work quickly
• Eagerness to share and promote Purdue's work
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with Photoshop and Acrobat/PDF markup tools; willingness to learn other software and platforms including WordPress and Meltwater
• Proficiency in AP Style
• Ability to write for traditional and emerging channels, including social media
• Ability to distill verbose content into a concise main message
• Strong quality control and adaptability of copy style to different audiences and media
• Strong organizational and time/resource management skills
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Journalism, broadcast and/or PR experience
• External or in-house agency experience

Additional Information

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contribution Waiting Period

About Purdue

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