Editorial Lead

TechDigital Group; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology services firm is seeking an Editorial Lead to guide content creation and enhance thought leadership. The ideal candidate will possess over 15 years of experience in B2B writing and content strategy, alongside strong leadership skills. This role requires mentoring a team of writers and develops innovative content across various media. The position is temp-to-perm and focuses on shaping Cognizant's voice in the market, leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in business-to-business writing, editing, and content strategy.
• Strong understanding of editorial and brand governance.
• Hands-on experience with generative AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team responsible for Cognizant's thought leadership agenda.
• Manage a team of editors and writers to develop high-impact content.
• Analyze content performance and refine editorial strategy.

Skills

Content Strategy

B2B Writing

Editorial Leadership

Team Management

Generative AI Tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree or research background

Job description

Overview

JD: As Editorial Lead, you will lead the team responsible for shaping and delivering Cognizant's thought leadership agenda. You'll guide the creation of compelling, insight-rich content that strengthens Cognizant's voice in the market and positions us as a leaderin technology services—often by writing about emerging technologies, including AI.

We're looking for a strategic editorial leader who is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves and editing a research report, executive blog or web page, and helping a team of talented editors and writers navigate the challenges of a large, fast-moving organization to deliver top-quality content aligned with the business's goals. The ideal candidate will be an experienced B2B content marketer and creative problem-solver, able to influence senior stakeholders across the business; apply new technologies and approaches like AI in content creation; develop and leverage content in a variety of media channels, from web and social, to presentations, campaigns, events and advertisements—and measure its success.

This is a temp-to-perm leadership role reporting to the head of brand, creative strategy, content and thought leadership—who started at Cognizant as a consultant herself.

Top Must Have's

• Experience with long form, top line editing
• Ability to spot and shape great stories based on unclear business requests
• Act as a mentor to a team of writers, editors and analysts

Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage a team of on-staff and contract editors and writers to develop high-impact thought leadership content in a variety of short- and long-form formats.
• Set and uphold editorial standards; define and continuously evolve what "good” looks like across different content types.
• Maintain and expand the firm's editorial strategy, ensuring it aligns with Cognizant's business goals and market positioning.
• Mentor and develop team members through coaching, feedback and hands-on guidance.
• Allocate resources effectively across projects and content streams to meet timelines and quality benchmarks.
• Analyze content performance and use those insights to refine the editorial strategy.
• Stay current on technology industry and content trends to ensure Cognizant's editorial approach remains forward-looking.
• Promote the editorial function to senior executives; act as a brand ambassador for Cognizant and Cognizant's thought leadership.
• Create space for innovation, repositioning legacy editorial programs and piloting new ones in response to evolving business needs.

Content Development & Editing

• Oversee the end-to-end editorial process—from ideation and research to outlining, ghostwriting, editing and production.
• Track technology news and Cognizant priorities to proactively develop content ideas.
• Guide internal and external writers in producing everything from a web page or infographic to a research report, blog, executive POV or client presentation.
• Take the lead on writing high-profile pieces when needed, including both short- and long-form content.
• Collaborate with research teams from hypothesis development to publication, helping shape narratives grounded in original data and insight.
• Partner with marketing, digital, and design teams toensure effective distribution and audience engagement.
• Ensure all content is accurate, insightful, well-structured, and consistent with Cognizant's brand and compliance standards.
• Understand and apply digital metrics to inform content strategy and optimize performance across platforms.

Communication & Collaboration

• Serve as a trusted editorial advisor to subject-matter experts and business leaders across the organization.
• Continuously educate people across functions and organizational levels on thought leadership standards, personnel and processes.
• Use influence and empathy to uphold best practices in thought leadership—even under tight timelines.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders across research, communications, brand, digital, social and executive teams.
• Build relationships with external media outlets and industry publications to amplify Cognizant's voice.
• Help the team and firm adopt generative AI tools wisely; bring a thoughtful, ethical approach to using AI to scale and strengthen editorial work.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in business-to-business writing, editing and content strategy, spanning long-form content such as research reports and short-form content, such as executive blogs, web pages, infographics and client presentations.
• Proven track record in partnering with research teams on original studies—from hypothesis framing to narrative development to final product.
• Prior experience leading editorial or thought leadership programs and managing teams of editors, writers and other contributors at a professional services, consulting or research-driven organization.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and navigate a complex, matrixed organization.
• Strong understanding of editorial and brand governance, and comfort operating in regulated or compliance-heavy environments.
• Hands-on experience with generative AI tools and a clear editorial philosophy around their integration.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or research background a plus.
• Personable, curious, adaptable—able to operate in ambiguity and unafraid to challenge assumptions in the service of better ideas and content.