Job Description:

Reporting to the University Editor, the Assistant University Editor works collaboratively with colleagues in University Advancement, including Development and Alumni Engagement, to develop communications for the university’s alumni, donor and parent audiences and to develop strategies and tools to help the university nurture its relationships with those audiences more broadly.

Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.

Essential Functions:

• Assists the University Editor in the development of advancement periodicals, including three annual issues of W&L: The Washington and Lee University Magazine, and two annual issues of Discovery, the newsletter for the School of Law.

• Develops materials in support of upcoming capital campaign, including case statements, website content, donor profiles and a campaign newsletter.

• Takes a lead role in the creation and distribution of electronic newsletters including Generally Speaking (monthly), Women in General (two issues/year), and Inside W&L (two issues/year).

• Writes and edits feature stories, donor profiles, newsletters, annual alumni and parent giving print collateral in support of advancement initiatives.

• Serves as communications liaison for University Advancement, ensuring quality and consistency of service from Communications and achievement of goals and objectives for alumni engagement and philanthropic support.

• Serves as a member of the communications office content strategy group, participating in the development of story ideas and the strategic integration of key messages and institutional storytelling in advancement materials.

• Ensures brand and messaging consistency across all platforms of advancement communications.

• Provides copy editing and proofreading services to other members of the Communications and Public Affairs office and other offices across the university.

• Covers university events.

• Additional related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 5 years of experience in communications, marketing, or development, preferably in higher education. Expertise in development writing, digital marketing, social media, and website content, and an understanding of how to inspire donor and volunteer engagement across diverse audiences. Excellent writing, editing and interpersonal communication skills. Superb attention to detail and proven experience in proofreading/copyediting. Experience working with writers, photographers and designers to produce quality publications within strict budgets and deadlines. Aptitude for strategic thinking and the use of metrics in developing strategy, assessing effectiveness, and achieving goals. Ability to collaborate and build relationships, to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents, and to understand the essence, culture, and values of the Washington and Lee community. Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize, and perform well on deadline as well as on long-term projects.

The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and new employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.

Application Instructions:

Review of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please include a cover letter, resume, and three writing samples (either uploaded with application materials or shared through a link). You will also be asked to provide three professional references.

External Applicants: Application instructions for external applicants are located on the jobs.wlu.edu or here.

Current W&L Employees: Apply from your existing Workday account. Instructions are located at jobs.wlu.edu.

Work Schedule: M-F, 8:30am - 4:30pm.

Physical Requirements:

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.

• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Working Conditions: The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Types of Work: Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Benefit Eligible

FLSA: Exempt

Weekly Hours: 35

Minimum Pay: $55,131.00 Pay commensurate with experience.