Editorial Director (HR Title: Associate Director, Editorial)

Southern Methodist University Inc; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Tuition assistance

Professional development

Job summary

SMU in Dallas seeks an Editorial Director to lead writing across Marketing and Communications, elevating SMU's institutional voice and campaigns. In a player-coach role, the director will manage a team of writers and editors, set standards for writing excellence, and partner with strategy, design and digital teams to drive content across channels.

Priority is storytelling that supports enrollment, advancement, and reputational objectives while maintaining a distinctive SMU voice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Degree in advertising, marketing, communications, English, creative writing or journalism preferred.
• 7+ years of writing/content development experience required.
• 3+ years in managing or mentoring writers or creatives required.
• Experience in integrated marketing/communications environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of high-impact, high-visibility content that advances SMU's reputation and enrollment goals.
• Serve as lead writer on priority initiatives and major campaigns.
• Own and evolve the University’s written voice across SMU Marketing and Communications.
• Ensure clarity, consistency and differentiation across audiences and channels.
• Define and uphold writing standards across marketing content and campaigns.
• Lead and develop a writing team, setting performance expectations and coaching growth.

Skills

Writing leadership

Team coaching

Editorial standards

Strategic communications

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Advertising/Marketing/Communications/Journaling degree preferred

Tools

Content management systems

Job description

Description Salary Range: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMUSMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence. Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact. SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department

As SMU continues its academic ascent, Marketing and Communications plays a central role in elevating the University's profile and advancing its institutional priorities. Working collaboratively across campus, the team leads communications, marketing, media relations, digital and reputation-building efforts that showcase academic excellence, research, the student experience and SMU's impact. Through integrated planning, creative marketing and communications, proactive engagement and issues management, the team builds and protects SMU's reputation and strengthens connections with audiences locally, nationally and globally.

About the Position

This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Editorial Director serves as the central leader for writing across SMU marketing and a key partner to SMU communications - elevating the quality, creativity and impact of written content. The role leads writing excellence, ensuring that SMU storytelling reflects the depth of its academic work, strengthens its reputation, and engages prospective students and other key audiences. Operating in a player-coach model, the Editorial Director serves as lead writer on high-priority initiatives while elevating the capabilities of the broader writing team. The role partners closely with strategy, creative, digital and communications teams to align content with institutional priorities and audience needs, ensuring that the SMU voice is distinctive, compelling and consistent across channels. Reporting to the Executive Director of Creative Marketing, the Editorial Director manages a team of writers and editors.

Essential Functions

• Lead the development of high-impact, high-visibility content that advances SMU's reputation, supports enrollment and advancement goals, and elevates the University's voice.
• Serve as the lead writer on priority initiatives, including institutional storytelling and major campaigns.
• Own and evolve the quality and distinctiveness of the University's written voice across SMU Marketing and Communications.
• Ensure clarity, consistency and differentiation across audiences and channels.
• Define and uphold standards for writing excellence across marketing, ensuring that all content is clear, compelling, audience-centered and aligned with the SMU brand and positioning.
• Lead and develop a team of writers and an editor, setting performance expectations and fostering a culture of creative excellence.
• Coach team members to strengthen their storytelling, messaging and craft, empowering them to produce work at a high level across a range of formats and audiences.
• Partner closely with strategy, creative and digital teams to ensure writing is integrated into broader marketing efforts and aligned with campaign goals, audience insights and desired outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Media Relations Director and communications team to align writing resources and assignments, ensuring that projects are staffed appropriately and that messaging is consistent across marketing and communications efforts.
• Shape and contribute to content strategy and planning, defining how stories are developed and delivered across channels - including digital platforms, campaigns, multimedia storytelling and long-form content.
• Contribute to search engine optimization efforts and coach writers on ways to make content more easily found by constituents and by AI tools.
• Ensure editorial quality and consistency across all content through effective editing, guidance and collaboration with the editor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's is required.
• Master's is preferred.
• A degree advertising, marketing, communications, English, creative writing, or journalism is preferred
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in writing, content development or creative roles with a demonstrated ability to produce high-quality, impactful content across formats and audiences is required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience managing or mentoring writers or creative professionals with a demonstrated ability to develop talent and raise the level of team performance is required.
• Experience working in integrated marketing or communications environments as well as collaborating across disciplines such as strategy, design, digital and media is required.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit or mission-driven organizations preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate and communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies and senior stakeholders. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.
• Candidate must have strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.
• Candidate must have a demonstrated ability to operate as both player and coach, balancing hands-on creative work and content creation with leadership and coaching. A strong editorial judgment and great attention to detail, with experience ensuring consistency, clarity and quality is essential.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply

Priority consideration may be granted to applications received by October 29, 2026. Candidates must submit a link directing to their portfolio showcasing exceptional writing and storytelling, particularly in brand, campaign or institutional contexts, in order to be considered. Position will remain open until filled.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits

• SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
• SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
• The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.