• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $125,000 - $165,000

Position Summary

Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs is seeking a Senior Editorial Director to bring editorial leadership and execution to a range of strategic communications and initiatives at the school.

The Senior Editorial Director’s main priorities will be:

1) Support the dean’s communications portfolio, serving as one of the dean’s senior writers, executing high-level, public-facing communications; 2) In collaboration with the Director of Event Management, steward SIPA’s signature events strategy by generating speaker and topic ideas, managing speaker booking, and guiding all event content elements to ensure these events support SIPA’s reputation as one of the leading voices and conveners of dialogue on some of the most complex and urgent policy issues facing our world today; and 3) Lead on editorial content across the school, including but not limited to SIPA Magazine and other annual and high-level, school-wide communications, 4) Support media relations strategy for the school.

The Senior Editorial Director is based in the Communications & External Relations unit, reports to the Associate Dean of Communications & External Relations. They would have frequent interaction with the Dean and other senior leadership and faculty. Our ideal candidate is passionate about international affairs and connecting with audiences – whether through speeches, writing, or programming – and can organize and coordinate the internal and external resources required to produce world-class communications, content, and events.

At SIPA—the world’s leading school of global policy—we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We work to cultivate these values in our practices, programs, and policies. We aim to create a workplace that is welcoming and celebrates the unique lived experiences of all our staff, students, and faculty. We are particularly interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the School. Applicants are encouraged to include information in their cover letter about how they will further this goal.

Responsibilities

Executive Communications:

• Support the Dean’s communications portfolio including public-facing speeches; high-level internal communications to SIPA faculty, staff, and students; strategic communications to external affiliates.
• Partner with the Dean to author op-eds based on the dean’s academic research and pitch them to news outlets for publication.
• Write original content to augment the dean’s personal presence across social media channels, particularly LinkedIn. 

Editorial programming, communications, and media relations:

• Develop and execute the school’s speaker and programming strategy, leveraging SIPA’s network and convening power to develop an annual calendar of signature events, continuously bringing in timely speakers and topics that engage SIPA’s audiences and elevate SIPA’s brand in the international public affairs community.
• Advise the Communications & External Relations department broadly on editorial content and style as applied across channels.
• Develop and implement communications plans that use multiple media and venues to promote wider public recognition and awareness of the SIPA brand.
• Collaborate with public affairs staff, other Columbia University communication specialists, the dean, and faculty to proactively develop media relations plans as well as identify media opportunities for internal and external placement.
• Prepare press releases and news articles; write content for newsletters, websites, and social media.
• Develop a regular reporting structure for capturing and sharing news about faculty research and student projects.
• Work closely with SIPA offices to ensure consistency of messages and factual information across all publications and communications.
• Work with faculty to edit and advise or place articles in mainstream media publications.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and at least 7 years of professional experience in journalism, communications, or other related field.
• Familiarity with international affairs, either through professional experience or academic qualifications.
• A talent for writing intelligent and engaging prose about international politics, translating academic concepts into accessible language with an understanding of the audience.
• High energy, hands-on, action-oriented personality that will enable quick turnaround for a driven principal.
• Excellent project management experience to coordinate multiple contributors and stakeholders and set/enforce timelines/deadlines. 
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Enthusiastic team player with a positive and flexible attitude who can work both independently and collaboratively.
• An understanding of how to write and program for various audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in policy, economics, international relations, or a related field.
• Additional years of directly related professional experience, especially digital magazine or print editing, event programming, or policy communications work.
• Strong track record of published articles under own byline or on behalf of principal.
• Digital publishing experience. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.