Senior Copy Editor - Central Government

Spinwell Global; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Copy Editor for a 12-month contract. The role involves editing and proofreading various documents, maintaining the organization's style guide, and training staff on writing best practices. Candidates should have a degree in English or a related field and exceptional writing skills. This hybrid role is primarily based in Edinburgh or Newport, with a pay rate of £35 per hour and offers a chance to impact the quality of written communication.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in copy editing.
• Keen eye for detail and strong command of grammar and style.
• Experience in developing and aligning to a corporate voice.

Responsibilities

• Edit and proofread papers, reports, and publications.
• Develop and enforce the organisation's style guide.
• Provide one-on-one coaching and feedback to writers.
• Assist in drafting media, blogs, and digital content.

Skills

Exceptional writing and editing skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to align work with strategic objectives

Experience in delivering writing training

Education

Degree or equivalent experience in English, Journalism, Communications

Job description

Senior Copy Editor

Role: Senior Copy Editor REF 98212
Contract Length: 12 months
Location: Hybrid/Edinburgh or Newport - 4 days in office
IR35: Inside
Pay Rate to Intermediary: £35 per hour
Security Clearance: BPSS

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Copy Editing

• Edit and proofread papers, reports, and publications to ensure a clear narrative, accuracy, grammar, and style conformity.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce the organisation's style guide, ensuring consistency in all written materials, including developing and embedding a common voice that aligns with our organisational values and our new strategy.
• Collaborate with our team to enhance the overall quality and readability of our work.
• Ensure that any client copy is accessible and aligns with current accessibility guidelines.

Building Capability

• Assess the writing needs of the organisation and implement strategies to address them effectively.
• Provide one-on-one coaching and feedback to writers, helping them refine their writing style and communication.
• Develop training assets and deliver training programs and workshops to improve the writing skills of staff members.

Impact Enhancement

• Work closely with our subject matter experts to ensure our messages are clear and accessible, ensuring our written regulatory work has the desired impact.
• Conduct content reviews to identify opportunities for enhancing the impact and clarity of our written materials.
• Ensure that all communications adhere to best practice.

Support the work of our communications team:

• Assist with drafting media, blogs and digital content and website publishing tasks to help a small communications team manage peaks and troughs.
• Be a key member of the wider client Communications Team, to support forward planning, wider digital communications, and engagement activities.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF THE SENIOR COPY EDITOR

• Degree or equivalent experience in English, Journalism, Communications or a related field with proven experience in copy editing.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills - able to produce a clear narrative with a keen eye for detail and a strong command of grammar and style.
• Ability to align your work with our broader strategic objectives and take a forward-thinking approach to your role, considering the long-term impact of your work on client’s reputation and vision. Experience of developing and aligning to a corporate voice.
• Support the growth and development of colleagues by providing constructive feedback and mentoring.
• Inspire others to understand and embrace the importance of clear and accurate written communication.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively speak and collaborate with diverse teams and external stakeholders.
• Experience in delivering writing training and workshops.

If you are a Senior Copy Editor, apply now or send your CV to Spinwell!

We welcome all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Applying to this or any other vacancy advertised by Spinwell Ltd constitutes an agreement for Spinwell Ltd to hold your details for 24 months for the purpose of assessing suitability for the advertised position and to make you aware of any other positions deemed suitable of which You will make you aware by means of either email, text or phone. In line with GDPR regulations you are able to request your details be removed from the company data at any time by emailing us

Disability Confident

As a member of the disability confident scheme, the client guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

Armed Forces Covenant

The client is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

If you qualify for the above, please notify us and quote the role you are applying for.

We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview.

Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let us know.