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Job Description

About Virginia Tech:

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Virginia Tech is dedicated to InclusiveVT—serving in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence. We seek candidates who adopt and practice the Principles of Community, which are fundamental to our on-going efforts to increase access and inclusion, and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members. Virginia Tech actively seeks a broad spectrum of candidates to join our community in preparing leaders for the world.

Position Description:

The Writer/Editor is a member of the Executive Vice President and Provost’s communications team and plays a critical role in researching, writing, editing, and proofreading content for various platforms. Reporting to the Associate Vice Provost for Communications, the Writer/Editor will generate news, feature stories, and announcements to both internal and external audiences as well as promotional communications and web copy to support the strategic priorities of the academic enterprise and university.

The Writer/Editor will research, write, and edit stories and other content, support various storytelling platforms, establish and share best practices, develop branded messaging, and engage the broader academic and university community. The Writer/Editor will work on daily assignments to develop story ideas on various university initiatives, academic/research collaborations and accomplishments, faculty development and support programs, campus notices and announcements, and leadership activities and engagement of university stakeholders. The Writer/Editor will also support and collaborate with communication personnel in the individual colleges, institutes, centers, and student and faculty organizations to align and synthesize content with university messaging.

Platforms for posting and distributing Writer/Editor outputs include the Virginia Tech News site, the Virginia Tech homepage, the university’s official social media channels, Virginia Tech Magazine, the Virginia Tech Monthly email newsletter, and internal and external memos and communications from university leadership. The Writer/Editor will write in a variety of styles, including profiles, features, technical and academic-focused, social media, website, email, and news, and on various deadlines, from daily assignments to longer-term projects.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communications, or related discipline
• Demonstrated track record of professional experience in a communications field with evidence of excellent writing and editing skills
• Versatility in a range of writing styles, with the ability to make complex stories interesting and understandable
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Experience interviewing a wide range of sources
• Experience using the Macintosh platform and Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize competing assignments, and organize work to meet deadlines
• Ability to work individually and within a team environment, alongside writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers, web developers, video producers, marketers, stakeholders, and more, in order to accomplish objectives

Staff Member and Professional Expectations:

• Exercise good judgment; solve problems promptly, effectively, and creatively.
• Act in a professional manner as a representative of the University.
• Project a consistently professional and positive image to coworkers, the campus, community, and all internal and external stakeholders.
• Create and maintain a positive, productive, customer/constituent-focused environment.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others to achieve university goals.
• Promote the highest standards of professional, personal, and creative integrity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field, or experience that equates to an advanced degree
• Experience in academic, research/technical, and/or web writing and editing
• Experience in a digitally driven storytelling environment
• Knowledge of standard copyediting marks
• Experience writing and editing in Associated Press style
• Experience working in a content management system
• An understanding of graphic design, photography, video, and/or branding/marketing principles
• Experience measuring the performance of content and audience behavior
• Experience in a higher education environment

Overtime Status: Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type: Regular

Salary Information: $55,000 - $60,000 Commensurate with Experience

Hours per week: 40

Review Date: May 9, 2025

Additional Information:
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.