The Senior Writer/Content Strategist is a key member of the School’s communications team who serves as the school’s lead storyteller: conceiving and writing stories and copy that highlight the School’s mission, values, and initiatives. Reporting to the Director of Communications, this individual is responsible for strategizing, creating, and disseminating a wide variety of high-quality content across multiple channels to engage a range of audiences, including current families and students, prospective families, alumni, donors, faculty/staff, as well as the general public. They serve as the editor-in-chief of the School’s major publications, including the website, digital magazine, annual report, admissions materials, and other newsletters and communications. This position is a full-time, in-person position slated to begin August 1, 2023.
The ideal candidate brings a creative, collaborative spirit along with excellent verbal and written communication skills, superb attention to detail, and a strong background in writing, editing, content strategy, and digital communications.
Primary Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
As the primary writer and editor for the School’s communications efforts, create compelling news and magazine articles, website copy, community messages, social media updates, email campaigns, and other written materials, that effectively communicate the School’s mission and values to a range of school constituencies.
Serve as a lead editor and proofreader of the Magazine as well as various other publications to ensure that materials are accurate, grammatical, and consistent with the School style guide and graphic standards.
In collaboration with the Communications team, strategize and create content for various social media platforms.
Manage brand voice and identity messaging for the School’s various internal and external publications.
Remain in touch with and knowledgeable about the life of the school, including academic departments, student and alumni accomplishments, athletics, and the arts, in order to independently identify key stories and trends to highlight on various platforms.
As needed, work closely with the Director of Communications to strategize and implement crisis communications plans on a variety of issues.
As needed, assist in promoting Menlo stories to the media and serve as a media liaison.
Oversee special communications projects and initiatives as assigned by the Director of Communications.
Some work on weekends and evenings may be required.
Required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience include but are not limited to:
An outstanding writer, editor, proofreader, and storyteller who can produce a prolific volume of engaging, authentic, error-free copy for a variety of channels, often on a tight timeline, and exercises sound judgment as a final reviewer and approver.
Superb attention to grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation; familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style is preferred.
Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and visual communication skills as well as a sense of humor and the ability to work effectively with all constituencies within the School’s internal and external communities (faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni).
Familiarity with journalism norms and/or public relations and media outreach.
Extremely detail-oriented and organized; adept at prioritizing and managing multiple projects simultaneously with demonstrated examples of work where versatility, resourcefulness, innovation, and problem-solving skills influenced the outcome.
Technically savvy: fluency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, and Slides); familiarity with a website Content Management System (CMS) and basic HTML; experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) is a plus but not required; familiarity managing social media, including Hootsuite or similar social media management tool as well as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field. A minimum of three years of experience in the communications or public relations field. Familiarity with the education field, independent schools, and/or nonprofit work is desired but not required.
We Offer:
An exceptional work environment and caring community
Excellent professional development opportunities
Highly competitive salary
Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous contributions to a retirement plan. Learn more by going to https://www.menloschool.org/employment-benefits.php.
Free lunch on campus when school is in session
On-campus child care center
Tuition remission
Many other perks and benefits
To Apply:
To be considered for this position, you must apply through our portal.
To complete your application, we are requesting candidates submit the following supplemental materials in addition to their resumes. Priority will be given to candidates who complete these items.
In a brief cover letter, please address the following:
discuss how your skillset aligns with the position description and describe your experience managing complex communications projects
explain why you want to work at Menlo School
attach or provide a link to a portfolio of at least three writing/work samples you are particularly proud of and indicate your role in creating them and how they showcase who you are as a storyteller
(Note: when submitting writing samples through our portal, you must do so in a single document. Additional materials can be included as a link in your cover letter or emailed to communications@menloschool.org.)
We look forward to hearing from you!
About us:
Menlo School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for students in grades six through twelve. Located in Atherton, California, and established in 1915, the School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National and California Associations of Independent Schools.
Menlo is dedicated to providing a challenging academic curriculum complemented by outstanding creative arts and athletic programs. The School helps students develop positive values and nurtures character development in a supportive environment that upholds the highest moral and ethical standards. Our program encourages students to reach their fullest potential and to develop the skills necessary to respond intelligently and humanely to the complexities of a diverse and increasingly interconnected world.
At Menlo School, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are at the core of our organizational identity. Through our daily efforts, the School demonstrates a shared commitment to the development of all stakeholders by supporting a campus ethos where equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging reflect the major cornerstones of our community.
Our equal opportunity employment policy:
Menlo School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants. We administer all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or domestic partnership status, disability, protected veteran status or military status, genetic information, or any other category protected under applicable law.
Pay range:
In the spirit of pay transparency we share the base salary range for this position for the 2023-2024 academic year. The full pay range, which encompasses all experience levels is $90,000 - $125,000. Within this broad range, we pay each Faculty member in accordance with what could be reasonably expected based on an individual's experience level. Base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, retirement plan employer contributions or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at Menlo are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at Menlo School, your final base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status and number of months of work per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the generous range mentioned above is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical for Menlo School in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.
