Copyeditor

William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science; United States; Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

William & Mary is seeking a Copyeditor for University Marketing to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to AP style across print and digital materials. The role requires editing, fact-checking, and collaborating with stakeholders to maintain brand voice.

This hybrid position based in Williamsburg offers an opportunity to contribute to university advancement communications, donor outreach, and alumni publications while meeting tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in writing or related field or 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong initiative, independent judgment, and service-oriented attitude.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with command of grammar.
• Experience using Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Acrobat.
• Experience writing in journalism or PR styles.

Responsibilities

• Copyedit materials to meet editorial style guide and brand guidelines.
• Develop written materials supporting advancement efforts.
• Attend meetings and assist University Marketing in events and campus initiatives.

Skills

Excellent editing skills

AP style

Grammar mastery

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in writing or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Adobe Acrobat

CRM databases (Blackbaud/Salesforce)

Job description

Job Requisition:

JR101871 Copyeditor (Open)

Job Posting Title:

Copyeditor

Department:

CC00301 WM001 | WMUA | Univ. Mktg & Adv. Comms

Job Family:

Staff - Communications

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular (benefited)

Job Requisition Primary Location:

Discovery 2

Primary Job Posting Location:

Posting Location - William & Mary

Job Description Summary:

University Advancement creates the conditions for opportunity – human, financial, & experiential – by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary.

At William & Mary, we convene great hearts and minds to meet the most pressing needs of our time. As such, the university aspires to attract and retain exceptional students, faculty, and staff who keep W&M at the forefront of teaching, learning, and research. University Marketing emphasizes three core areas — enrollment, advancement, and reputation — to enhance William & Mary’s standing as a top institution of higher learning in the U.S. and around the globe. Through its work to strengthen brand perception, student recruitment, alumni engagement, and fundraising, University Marketing advances William & Mary’s distinctive excellence, raises its profile worldwide and secures its financial foundation — creating meaningful connections and wide-ranging impact for all times coming.

The Copyeditor is a key member of the Strategic Communications team in University Marketing at William & Mary. In keeping with William & Mary’s values of excellence and integrity, all of our communications must be accurate, consistent, error-free, adhere to our style guides (internal and Associated Press), and convey their message clearly and concisely. The Copyeditor reports to the Director of Advancement Communications and partners with and advises colleagues across University Marketing to help the university, William & Mary Foundation, or other university foundations advance their goals by ensuring their materials meet these high standards.

The majority of the Copyeditor’s work is copyediting print and digital materials to ensure they align with William & Mary’s editorial style guide and brand guidelines, Associated Press (AP) style and accepted rules of spelling and grammar. They will also verify names and constituent information in our customer relationship management database and fact check other information included in our materials as necessary. The Copyeditor may also recommend edits to increase clarity, readability, and accuracy, while keeping within the voice and tone of the piece. They will communicate needed changes and the reasoning for them with the Director of Advancement Communications, colleagues within University Marketing, and university partners as necessary.

In addition, the Copyeditor will create written materials in support of our advancement efforts. These may include letters and emails thanking our donors, including on behalf of the vice president for university advancement and the university’s president; reports on the impact of key funds; articles for the W&M Alumni Magazine and our websites about our alumni and initiatives, based on interviews with alumni, staff and others; print and web copy for prospective students and their families; and other writing that advances our culture of philanthropy and engagement. These writing assignments will require research skills, creativity, and the ability to write in different voices and tones for different audiences.

The Copyeditor will help foster a culture of belonging that embraces all people and perspectives. This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg that offers a flexible work environment.

This position is classified as operational, meaning it is salaried and eligible for overtime (non-exempt). For benefits and leave purposes, this role falls under the “Operational” classification

Job Description:

Salary: $50,000-$55,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a field that required significant writing and research or several (typically three or more) years’ experience directly related to the position.
• The desire and ability to work and succeed in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, independent judgment, and a positive, responsive, service-oriented attitude.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, including use of style guides, with the demonstrated command of correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• Experience and comfort using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, as well as Adobe Acrobat (typically three years).
• Experience writing and editing articles in journalism or public relations styles.
• Experience writing in a variety of voices and tones.
• Commitment to diplomacy, tact, and confidentiality when working with individuals on and off campus and responding to Advancement audiences.
• Great degree of flexibility and outstanding organizational skills with the demonstrated ability to manage multiple and competing projects concurrently while adhering to strict deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal communications skills, including the ability to explain editorial changes and discuss alternative wording options clearly and respectfully.
• The ability to build consensus among colleagues and work with diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented research skills, including using internet-based databases.
• Experience writing in the voice of a specific person (ghostwriting), preferably an institutional leader.
• Experience using a customer relationship management database (CRM) such as Blackbaud or Salesforce.
• Comfortable using Adobe InCopy.
• Extensive portfolio that includes a variety of digital and print communications pieces.
• An understanding of best practices in university or nonprofit marketing and communications.

Conditions of Employment:

• This is a non-exempt position, eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. This position may be subject to overtime during high peak times, etc. as directed and approved by the supervisor.
• This position is eligible for a flexible work schedule.
• This position is subject to evening and weekend work.
• This position requires the ability to travel as required.

Job Duties:

70% - Copyedit:

• Ensure all materials adhere to W&M’s editorial style guide and brand guidelines.
• Ensure all materials adhere to Associated Press style (except when superseded by W&M style), follow accepted spelling and grammar rules and are free of copy errors.
• Recommend edits that improve the clarity, readability, and accuracy of text, while keeping within the piece’s voice and tone.
• Verify all names listed in our materials against the customer relationship management database (Wren) to ensure they are correctly listed.
• Request updates to Wren or other university resources when errors are found.
• Conduct research to fact check data, statistics, and other claims included in materials.
• Explain edits and discuss alternate wording options with the Director of Advancement communications, colleagues within University Marketing, and external partners.
• Check printer proofs to ensure all text edits were incorporated correctly.
• Keep up with changes to AP Style and other higher education-specific terminology and styles.

25% - Develop Content:

• Create written materials in support of William & Mary’s advancement efforts. These may include letters and emails thanking our donors, including on behalf of the vice president for university advancement and the university’s president; reports on the impact of key funds; articles for the W&M Alumni Magazine and our websites about our alumni and initiatives, based on interviews with alumni, staff and others; print and web copy for prospective students and their families; and other writing that advances our culture of philanthropy and engagement.
• Analyze trends, evaluate feedback on communications, and recommend improvements.

5% - Common Tasks:

• Attend meetings and provide information and assistance to colleagues.
• Assist University Marketing in staffing large-scale events, as is required for all department staff.
• Learn about the university and participate in campus and advancement programs.

Additional Job Description:

Job Profile:

JP0836 - Public Relations & Marketing Specialist III - Nonexempt - Salary - S08

Compensation Grade:

S08

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-07-08

Position Restrictions:

Continuing E&G funded position and not term-limited

EEO is the Law. Applicants can learn more about William & Mary's status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

Background Check:

William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Remote Work Disclaimer:

Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor’s ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.