Senior Content Writer and Copy Editor (Hybrid)

The University of Connecticut is a top-ranked national university and health-system with its flagship campus located in idyllic Storrs. Designated a Carnegie Research 1 institution, UConn is the state land- and sea-grant university focused on education, research, and service to the state of Connecticut and beyond. The University serves over 33,000 students across seven campuses, 8,550 first-in-family students, and boasts numerous national championships. UConn Health is a top-ranked health provider that delivers groundbreaking medical education, research, and hospital and clinical services to over one million patients each year. In addition, UConn has nearly 300 scientists who are in the top 2 percent of researchers investigating everything from cancer to AI.

UConn continues its meteoric rise as New England's top public University with a record number of applications, continued investment in student success, health, and wellness, recruitment of top faculty, innovation in research, and top-tier athletic programs that also focus on the health and financial literacy of student-athletes. This includes the men's and women's basketball teams, which have brought home three consecutive NCAA National Championship trophies in the last three years. UConn is proud to have 26 national championships across all sports.

Guided by a new strategic plan and the public launch of its most ambitious campaign in history, Because of UConn The Campaign for UConn Nation, UConn is moving boldly into the future. The $1.5B comprehensive campaign spans all schools, colleges, campuses and UConn Health. The Campaign focuses on four pillars that will drive UConn, the state of Connecticut and the world forward. The Campaign pillars support UConn's 10-year Strategic Plan, designed to make education more affordable and a UConn degree more valuable by elevating UConn among its national peers.

• Students First: making transformative investments in financial aid, student health, career readiness, and life skills to improve time-to-degree and career outcomes.
• Academic & Innovation Excellence: driving investment in top faculty and graduate fellows and building the innovation ecosystem of the state and beyond.
• Health & Wellness of People & Planet: focusing on patient care, medical research, and development of life-changing technologies that improve healthcare outcomes.
• Husky Pride: investing in athletic excellence and supporting a thriving UConn Nation that includes more than 290,000 alumni worldwide.

Because of UConn will have a profound impact on the University. It will double the number of named scholarships, fund scientific breakthroughs and advanced lifesaving therapies, and engage UConn Nation in the life and mission of the University like never before.

We seek the top talent in the country to join Husky Nation and help us drive our mission and UConn into the future. We are committed to a caring and supportive work culture, professional and leadership development, and flexibility for high achievers with a passion for higher education.

We're looking for dedicated professionals to drive success and excellence and exemplify our values of integrity, empathy, kindness, accountability, collaboration, transparency, and a commitment to embracing the differences that make us stronger together.

The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We celebrate different perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that will value your unique experiences and identity. As an organization, we strive for continued growth each and every day.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Content Writer and Copy Editor is a member of the Creative Content and Communication department. In this role, you will create compelling copy, edit, and contribute to concept development to engage our diverse constituencies across multiple channels, including digital platforms, social media, direct mail, phone, and texting. You will produce a variety of materials such as marketing and solicitation collateral, stewardship materials, newsletters, email and social media content, and event collateral. You will also work with the multimedia team as needed to contribute to compelling copy development.

In this role, you will:

• Write compelling copy, edit and contribute to concept development to engage constituencies across multiple channels including digital platforms, social media, direct mail, phone, and texting. Deliverables include, but are not limited to creative marketing and solicitation collateral, stewardship materials, newsletters, email/social-friendly copy, event collateral, and audio visual copy contributions
• Interview alumni, donors, faculty, and students for writing assignments, as well as other alumni, parents, and friends of the University as needed.
• Contribute conceptual directions for Foundation communications.
• Ensure cohesive and unified brand voice across all content and platforms, maintaining consistency to strengthen brand identity and enhance audience trust and engagement.
• Manage project schedules in collaboration with the Creative Content and Communication team to ensure deliverable timelines are met. This includes managing the editorial content calendar for the Creative Content and Communication team.
• Identify project stakeholders and ensure all copy reviews are completed, edits made, and needed approvals are acquired.
• Coordinate the production of communications materials assigned in partnership and/or consultation with the Senior Designer, including layout, photography, and print production, among other tasks, in collaboration with the Creative Content and Communication department.
• Build and maintain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the mission, strategic plans, priorities, and operations of the Foundation, the University, and the Because of UConnCampaign.
• Collaborate with the Digital Marketing team to collect content performance data that drives content marketing decisions.
• Work collaboratively within the Creative Content and Communication editorial team.
• Provide thought leadership in how to best utilize brand storytelling in a compelling way to support Foundation, University priorities, and the Because of UConnCampaign.
• Develop new ideas for compelling stories and copy to help achieve furthering the goals of the Because of UConn Campaign.
• Understand the audience journey to identify content gaps and opportunities, ensuring that every stage of the customer experience is addressed and optimized.
• Liaise with academic unit communications colleagues across the university.
  
  
  
  • Support clearly defined and strategic fundraising priorities within the campaign and articulate compelling cases to advance these priorities.
  • Model and articulate the Foundation's organizational core values at all times.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  
  
  

Engagement

Collaborate with department and stakeholders to steward donors, engage with alumni, and support campaigns specific to your department.

Leadership

Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as departmental meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.

To be successful in this role, you should:

• Be a champion for inclusive priorities both internally and externally.
• Possess a high level of motivation and ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy.
• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to effectively communicate University priorities to donors and prospects, and to positively represent the University and Foundation.
• Demonstrate the ability to write persuasive, inspirational features, and solicitations. Track record of developing strong concepts that inform the copy and design.
• Be familiar with the use of computers and information management tools, such as CRMs (Blackbaud).
• Be able to handle multiple tasks, to assess and order priorities, and to track details in a fast-paced environment.
• Be extremely organized and project management focused with strong understanding and respect of deadlines.
• Possess advanced knowledge of communication in the digital space and how to develop compelling copy in limited space.
• Be able to engender trust and confidence of donors and prospective donors and to maintain confidentiality of donor information; ability to represent the UConn Foundation to prospects, donors, faculty, administrators, and others.
• Demonstrate attention to and concern for others.
• Be able to work to the demands of the position, which may exceed a 40-hour work week.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in liberal arts, communication sciences, journalism, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of experience producing creative, innovative, and well-executed content in a corporate marketing environment. Some ad agency experience is a plus.
• Competence in Microsoft Office suite and donor management systems.
• Writing samples are required. Please submit with your application.

Salary:

The expected salary for this position is $85,000+. It will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also placing an emphasis on internal equity.

Benefits:

Benefits start from day one. We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.

In addition, there are a few other perks to being a UConn Foundation employee:

• We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan to help you plan for retirement.
• We place an emphasis on work/life balance. In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive thirteen paid holidays, five weeks of paid time off per calendar year, and additional sick time.
• We invest in your professional development. Aside from opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

Please inform a Human Resources Representative if you need any assistance completing any forms or participating in any part of the application process due to a disability.