Jobs

Editorial Director (Senior Writer & Editor)

Editorial Director (Senior Writer & Editor)

Are you a wizard with words who excels at capturing the unique voice of others to draft and develop opinion pieces, speeches, and advocacy content? Can you craft strong arguments and compelling storytelling narratives that resonates with lawmakers, donors, and the media? Do you have a successful track record of placing content in prominent news and opinion outlets?

If you’re looking for an opportunity to apply your skills and talent to make a positive contribution and help others flourish, this could be the role for you. The Commonwealth Foundation is seeking a forward-thinking Senior Writer & Editor to develop a world-class editorial capability and to lead the editorial strategy for our owned and placed content.

In this role, you serve as lead writer and editor within the organization, pitch editors at prominent state and national outlets, and will oversee the content pipeline. You will work closely with members of the Commonwealth Foundation production team to provide exceptional writing and editing services that advance our policy goals and business objectives.

This is a remote position with the option to work out of our Harrisburg or Philadelphia offices or forthcoming Washington, D.C. office and will report to the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs.

Responsibilities

Writing and Editing

• Serve as lead writer and editor for all drafts authored by other team members, managing the editorial process through copy-editing until placement.
• Bring a creative spark to the organization’s writing to better engage our primary audiences (staff members, investors, and lawmakers), primarily through ghostwritten materials.
• Manage the editing process and contribute to the production of op-eds, feature stories, and commentaries with a particular focus on editing others’ work for clarity, conciseness, and messaging alignment.
• Identify new contractors and work with existing writing contractors to greatly expand Commonwealth Foundation’s reach statewide and nationally, enabling the organization to take prompt advantage of emerging opportunities.
• Partner with production team members to find and interview people for story inclusion in op-eds and recurring columns.

Personnel and Project Management

• Manage the content process for a bi-weekly column in Pennsylvania’s largest newspaper, including ideation, drafting, editing, and placing
• Develop and drive ideation plan to constantly be identifying new opportunities and areas for op-eds.
• Identify new contractors and work with existing writing contractors to greatly expand Commonwealth Foundation’s reach statewide and nationally, enabling the organization to take prompt advantage of emerging opportunities.
• Manage the day-to-day priorities of writing and editing team, including contract writers and editors.

Key Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience as a policy and opinion writer able to craft strong arguments and secure op-ed placements in prominent outlets at the state and national level.
• A track record of identifying opportunities and executing on them rapidly, either independently or by mobilizing a team.
• Detail oriented editor that is passionate about improving the structure and argument of written materials.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, specifically for published commentaries and op-eds.
• Knowledge of and experience with AP Stylebook and/or Chicago Manual of Style.
• Belief that achieving the organization’s goals is more important than having your name on a published piece.
• Existing relationships with editors at major state-based and national outlets preferred. If none exist, an ability to build these relationships is required.
• Standout candidates will have experience managing content processes and teams, including full-time staff and/or contractors.

The Organization

The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is among the most effective and influential state-based think tanks in the country. With a top-notch team of policy analysts and communication experts, the Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish. Our research and advocacy have led to lower taxes on working Pennsylvanians, greater transparency in state government spending and contracts, criminal justice reform that reduced both prison population and crime and increased educational options for thousands of students.

Benefits

• Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package which includes 80% employer contribution and medical, vision, dental
• 4% company contributions towards retirement plan
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Reimbursements for needed mobile technology and home office supplies

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials as a single PDF to hr@commonwealthgs.org:

• Resume.
• Three writing samples, including:
  • At least 1 op-ed placed at a mainstream media outlet
  • At least 1 piece authored by you and published under someone else’s name

Job posted: 2023-01-11