Executive Director of Editorial Services

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

BASIC FUNCTIONS:

The Executive Director of Editorial Services serves as Howard University's Editor-in-Chief and provides strategic leadership for the University's enterprise-wide editorial vision, content strategy, and publication planning. As a member of the Office of University Communications (OUC) leadership team, the Executive Director is responsible for developing and executing an integrated editorial strategy that advances Howard University's strategic priorities, enhances institutional reputation, strengthens brand identity, and elevates the University's thought leadership and global visibility. Reporting to the Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, the Executive Director oversees the planning, creation, editorial direction and planning, governance, and continuous improvement of the University's editorial portfolio, including but not limited to: Howard magazine, The Dig, annual reports, presidential and Administration publications, print and digital magazines, feature stories, newsletters, special reports, institutional profiles, executive communications, brochures, long-form storytelling, special editorial initiatives. This position also serves as the lead storyteller and writer for flagship print and digital publications.

The Executive Director establishes and maintains editorial excellence through University-wide standards for writing, editing, fact-checking, accessibility, brand voice, inclusive language, digital publishing, and content governance. The position ensures editorial consistency across print and digital platforms while promoting innovative storytelling approaches that engage internal and external audiences. The incumbent leads a collaborative editorial operation that integrates with media relations, digital communications, creative services, marketing, photography, video, social media, and web strategy to produce compelling, audience centered content across multiple channels.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:

Provides strategic leadership and supervision for the Editorial Services team, including staff writers,editors, editorial assistants, student interns, graduate assistants, freelance writers, copy editors, proofreaders, illustrators, printers, and publishing vendors. Responsible for recruitment, coaching, professional development, workload management, performance evaluations, succession planning, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing editorial culture.Manages the Editorial Services operating budget and vendor contracts.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

This position exercises significant editorial judgment and serves as a University senior team lead on editorial quality, publishing standards, institutional voice, and editorial governance, and strategic communications that advance institutional priorities.The Executive Director collaborates extensively with senior University leadership, faculty, researchers, students, academic deans, administrative units, alumni, institutional partners, and external stakeholders to develop high-profile publications and to identify, develop, and amplify stories that demonstrate Howard University's excellence, innovation, scholarship, service, and impact.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Editorial Strategy & Leadership

• Collaborate with Office of University leadership and management teams to develop and execute an enterprise-wide editorial strategy aligned with Howard University's Strategic Plan and institutional priorities.
• Serve as Editor-in-Chief for the University’s flagship publications, brochures, and external newsletters establishing editorial vision, priorities, standards, and governance.
• Lead a comprehensive editorial content strategy supporting reputation management, enrollment, philanthropy, research visibility, alumni engagement, faculty excellence, faculty subject matter expert profiles, and student success.
• Identify emerging storytelling opportunities that strengthen the University's national and international profile.
• Develop annual editorial priorities and integrated editorial calendars across University publications. Oversee editorial planning from concept through publication.

Editorial Operations

• Direct the planning, writing, editing, planning, and publication of institutional print and digital publications.
• Establish editorial workflows, publication schedules, review processes, and quality assurance procedures.
• Ensure all content reflects Howard University's editorial standards, institutional voice, brand guidelines, and style requirements.
• Maintain editorial calendars and publication timelines.
• Collaborate with the Director of Creative Services and Graphic Design on the production and creative design of flagship publications and external facing editorial content.

Storytelling & Content Development

• Lead development of compelling, audience-centered storytelling highlighting Howard University's academic excellence, research, innovation, public service, student experience, alumni achievements, and institutional impact.
• Collaborate with communications teams to develop multimedia storytelling opportunities across print, web, video, photography, podcasts, email, and social platforms.
• Commission and edit long-form feature stories and executive publications.
• Identify stories that advance institutional priorities and elevate Howard's national reputation.
• Experience writing and simplifying complex issues, including research, into strategic storytelling.

Editorial Governance

• Maintain University editorial policies, publishing standards, editorial guidelines, and style manuals.
• Ensure editorial consistency across all University communications.
• Establish standards for fact-checking, source verification, inclusive language, accessibility, copyright compliance, and ethical publishing.
• Lead editorial review and approval processes for institutional publications.

Collaboration

• Partner closely with the Director of Creative Services/Graphics Design, Digital Communications, Institutional Communications, Media Relations, Photography, Video Production, Marketing, Enrollment, Advancement, Academic Affairs, and schools and colleges.
• Build productive relationships with faculty, researchers, students, administrators, alumni, and University leadership.
• Serve as an editorial consultant for executive communications and institutional initiatives.

Innovation & Digital Publishing

• Advance digital-first storytelling strategies.
• Evaluate emerging publishing technologies, AI-assisted editorial tools, and evolving content platforms to improve editorial effectiveness while maintaining editorial integrity.
• Incorporate audience analytics and engagement metrics into editorial planning.
• Support search engine optimization (SEO), accessibility, usability, and content discoverability.

Leadership & Administration

• Lead and mentor editorial staff.
• Manage budgets, vendor relationships, publication contracts, and production schedules.
• Establish departmental goals, performance metrics, and operational priorities.
• Monitor editorial performance using data and analytics.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Leadership

• Strategic thinker with demonstrated editorial leadership.
• Ability to inspire creativity, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent judgment and executive presence.

Editorial Excellence

• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills.
• Extensive experience editing complex publications for diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of editorial ethics, journalism standards, and publishing best practices.
• Experience writing and managing a diverse portfolio of editorial content including institutional storytelling, higher education; academic research; arts and sciences; technology and innovation; African diaspora and Black life, culture, and history; international affairs; policy, thought leadership, health, and medicine, among other topics.

Communications Strategy

• Expertise developing integrated editorial and content strategies.
• Experience aligning storytelling with institutional priorities and brand positioning.
• Strong understanding of reputation management.

Project Management

• Demonstrated success managing multiple complex editorial projects simultaneously.
• Ability to prioritize competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Relationship Building

• Outstanding interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority across large organizations.
• Strong client service orientation.

Digital Fluency

Knowledge of: Content Management Systems (CMS), digital publishing platform, SEO best practices, Web accessibility standards (WCAG), AI-assisted editorial workflows, Editorial analytics, Adobe Creative Cloud collaboration tools, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams Project management

software

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Strategic Communications, Public Relations, Publications or Marketing.
• Master's degree and experience managing higher education communications preferred but not required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in strategic communications, editorial and journalistic writing, along with progressively responsible experience in editorial leadership, publishing, journalism, higher education or government institutional communications, media, strategic communications agency or non-profit or corporate office.
• Minimum of 10 years of supervisory or management experience and demonstrated success leading editorial teams and managing complex editorial operations, preferably serving as Editor-in-Chief or Publications Director.
• Experience overseeing both print and digital publications and developing print and digital enterprise content strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership and diverse stakeholders.
• Experience managing editorial budgets and external vendors.
• Experience using AI-enabled editorial technologies while maintaining editorial quality and integrity.
• Knowledge of AP Style, The Chicago Manual of Style, accessibility standards, copyright, and digital publishing best practices.
• Ability to work outside normal business hours and travel as required.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Expected Salary Range: $135,000 - $140,000