We are seeking a senior leader, an established writer and excellent editor with a strong point-of-view and nuanced understanding of social change work. You believe that words matter and that narrative changes lead to policy changes which leads to societal change. 

sees the Content Department providing overall direction to all projects and ensuring editorial content meets Swell standards of excellence and exceeds client expectations. 

Lead the Content Department, managing a team of writers who deliver Swell's unique voice and deliver content produced for impact. 

Reports to the VP of Strategy.

Qualifications

Leadership Experience: 5+ years relevant leadership experience, including 2+ years in agency, activism and/or change work.

Work Experience: Significant experience concepting and writing in a fast-paced agency, political campaign or start-up setting (including social content, email campaigns/series, newsletters, long-form digital, blogs, and print).

Brand Development : Expertise in brand and tone development, including a strong understanding of how to incorporate a brand’s voice throughout all aspects of a campaign.

Campaign Experience: Experienced in strategic vision and tactical deployment of content used to execute winning campaigns across multiple channels in the areas of racial justice, criminal justice, and/or economic justice. A comprehensive understanding of behavior change campaigns  as it relates to social change. A keen eye and gravitational affinity for emerging pop culture and social movements. 

Technical Experience: Working knowledge of online social platforms as well as WordPress, leading CRMs and SEO concepts.

KPI Experience: Ability to develop performance indicators of success and then leverage quantitative and qualitative data to develop, decipher insights, optimize and drive decision making.

Team Experience: Experience directly supervising and coaching staff.

Network: An expansive network in the publishing and advertising industry.

Other Preferred Knowledge:

• Experience working in an agency setting or consulting firm.
• Experience running communication efforts in a campaign context.
• Knowledge and understanding of the political process, power and politics.
• Active member of coalitions, communitie, and networks we serve.
• An insatiable hunger for content, research, podcasts, and public academic media. 
• Bilingual

Key Competencies and Responsibilities 

Campaign Management

• Lead content strategy across campaigns that are complex, high budget, and require speed, working closely with client teams to develop a voice and editorial style-guide and fulfill assignments that will range from writing and copyediting, editorial/comms calendar creation, A/B testing different options, managing client feedback, overseeing the QA process and helping teams track and make changes based on engagement data.
• Work with Strategist on editorial calendars and theme development for clients and campaigns that support cross-channel messaging arcs and collaborate on voice, tactics, and timing. 
• Work in partnership with other team members in Design, Data & Technology, and Strategy  to produce cohesive and integrated campaign plans and deliverables that are cohesive, goal-oriented, and moving the client closer to their goalposts through feedback, testing, quality assurance etc.

Writing

• Develop the voice, language, and tone for brands and related style guides. 
• Write and review  focused, keen, authentic and relevant copy for email, web, social media, SMS and more.
• Develop cross-channel messaging arcs with specific guidance on voice, tactics, and timing.
• Build skillful and effective program and campaign briefs, and be able to articulate these ideas in decks and memos.

Visioning

• Possess the ability to optimize and refine organization approach to content and community building. 
• Develops holistic tactics to manifest Swell's vision in the world through the Content Department's work, from planning through implementation. 

Research

• Contribute to research for the discovery process. 
• Keep tabs on the latest digital trends and incorporate new tactics, tools, and platforms into client campaigns as needed.

Supervision

• Supervise 3-4 staff being proactive about their professional development and well-being.
• Translate Swell's vision to the work of the content team and individual direct reports. 
• Takes responsibility for performance of specific projects, and supports direct reports by setting clear goals and expectations, tracking progress against the goals, giving timely corrective and affirmative feedback, and addressing performance challenges and opportunities.
• Fosters a culture of teamwork by providing opportunities for people to work together and support each other.

Client Management

• Work with clients to refine  their copy to ensure the highest quality product.
• Present ideas and participate in client-facing creative briefings, brainstorm sessions, and status meetings as needed. 
• Contributes to first-level support to clients and ensures that questions about our services are addressed.

Swell Leadership

• Lead the Content Department ensuring alignment between the larger org/theory of change the departmental strategy and individual contributions.
• Work with Managing Editor and Agency Planner to leverage internal resources or bring in outside consultants as needed, managing client resources and budgets.
• Collaborate across teams to level up our content development and strategic thinking as it relates to content for campaigns.
• Be a visible and vocal presence by actively contributing to our organizational culture and building inclusive spaces within your teams and across Swell.

Business Development 

• Lead and participate in the process of building and pitching new business proposals.