Director of Content Strategy

Boston, MA, United States

Job Description:

Reporting to the Senior Director of Content and Media Strategy, the Director of Content Strategy oversees the production and development of all editorial content and publications, leading the creation and implementation of content strategies and policies across the Berklee organization, including Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, and Berklee NYC.

The Director provides strategic leadership and creative vision to tell Berklee's stories across various print and digital platforms. This involves developing content strategies that align with organizational goals, shaping a cohesive brand voice, and promoting Berklee's reputation in music, dance, theater, and higher education. The Director also advises leadership at Berklee campuses, departments, institutes, and programs on effectively communicating messages to students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and other stakeholders.

The Director manages the editorial strategy and vision for Berklee.edu, the alumni magazine Berklee Today, the news website Berklee Now, and the Berklee Now newsletter, overseeing content calendars to ensure timely and consistent publication across all platforms. The role also includes implementing SEO strategies to boost content visibility and engagement, creating platform-specific content to reach diverse audiences.

Additional responsibilities include establishing target audiences, analyzing content performance to identify opportunities for improvement, and setting and measuring KPIs to ensure success; writing and/or editing executive communications, institutional announcements, and internal communications; and providing backup support to Berklee's Crisis Communications Team (CCT).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Editorial Content Strategy: Develops editorial content strategy for key areas and initiatives across the institution. Manages editorial content strategy meetings and provides ongoing content management support for Berklee.edu. Collaborates on content planning aligned with Berklee's enrollment strategy, advancement goals, and strategic initiatives.

Content Calendar Management: Leads the development and oversight of the editorial content calendar for timely and consistent publication. Coordinates with departments to align content with institutional goals and strategic initiatives, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards.

Strategic Assessment: Works closely with the Senior Director of Content and Media Strategy to establish and continually assess key performance indicators (KPIs) for editorial content, and uses search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure that Berklee's content reaches target audiences. Develops platform-specific content strategies to maximize engagement and reach on social media. Monitors industry publications to stay current on higher ed communications and trends in music, dance, theater, business, technology, and related fields.

Quality Control and Brand Compliance: Oversees Berklee's Proofreading Services process and operations, working closely with nearly 400 individual content managers across the institution to edit, review, and provide guidance on a wide range of public-facing materials, ensuring their adherence to high standards and brand consistency.

Project Management: Assume project management and communications liaison duties for projects requiring written digital and print collateral, working with clients across the institution to set and meet established deadlines while delivering high-quality content that aligns with institutional goals.

Collaboration: Works with Communications and Marketing leadership in social media, creative, video, digital strategy, and enrollment marketing to execute content campaigns. Advises Berklee's offices and departments on editorial services, interpreting needs and providing options, and collaborating to decide on courses of action.

Management and Hiring: Recruits, hires, and manages all editorial staff and freelance/contract employees; establishes, assigns, and implements department-wide and individual staff goals; manages workflow to evenly distribute editorial workload; directs and evaluates staff performance; and directs editorial staff in the planning of professional photography where needed.

Writing and Editorial Direction: Oversees and contributes to the writing, proofreading, copyediting, rewriting, and overall quality assurance of copy and other editorial content across various media platforms to ensure they maintain a professional standard and positively reflect the institution. Manages the editorial workflow for all public content on Berklee.edu's content management system and handles editorial requirements for print materials and other online marketing materials. Leads editorial brainstorms, reviews pitches, assigns stories, and works with writers throughout the content development process.

Style Guide Oversight: Oversees the regular updates to the Berklee Style Guide and actively promotes its usage among all individuals communicating on behalf of Berklee. Shares best practices for content and communications across all channels and platforms with stakeholders, ensuring alignment with Berklee's brand, strategic vision, and goals related to enrollment and advancement.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Oversees the Berklee Inclusive Language Guide and supports and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the institution by exercising careful attention to language choice, being mindful of the range of individuals and interests that comprise the community, and ensuring accuracy in presentation.

Crisis Communications: Supports Berklee's Crisis Communications Team (CCT), backing up the Senior Director of Content and Media Strategy as the stakeholder communications lead. This involves developing and executing crisis communication strategies and ensuring all stakeholders receive clear, accurate, and timely information during critical situations.

Budget Management: Manages contractor budgets for freelance writers, editors, proofreaders, and illustrators who contribute to editorial content. Manages travel budget for editorial team.

Travel: Travels as needed to create engaging online and print content through written and photojournalistic coverage, while also serving as an ambassador for the institution to represent and promote its values and mission.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

Minimum ten years experience in professional editorial positions.

Minimum five years experience managing multiple in-house and freelance writers, and other editorial contributors.

Superb English language skills. Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or the equivalent required; master's degree preferred.

Seasoned editing, writing, reporting, and proofreading experience; the ability to convert goals and ideas into compelling, creative communications.

Proven experience in managing content across multiple communications channels, including print, web, and video.

Demonstrated ability to work on many projects simultaneously, and to set and meet deadlines.

Experience in developing and implementing SEO content strategies to enhance visibility and engagement.

Ability to set and measure key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure content effectiveness and success.

Demonstrated awareness of the subtleties of conveying the diversity of a multicultural institution.

Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact effectively with individuals and groups at all levels of the institution, and beyond. Proven ability to balance customer needs with the larger goals of the institution, and to manage clients and their expectations;

Experience in and understanding of traditional and contemporary publishing procedures; ability to apply the needs of the editorial/creative process via the tools of the times.

Strong familiarity with music, dance, and theater.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [email protected] or call 617-747-2375.

Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type:

Staff

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