Senior Communications Editor

Educational Insights; Vernon Hills, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

hand2mind in Vernon Hills, IL, is seeking a Senior Communications Editor to lead content development for toys, games, curriculum materials, and digital assets. You will concept, write, and edit across formats to inform and inspire our diverse audience while upholding storytelling quality and brand standards.

In this hands‑on role you will collaborate with product managers, designers, and marketers, shaping editorial processes, and guiding publishers from ideation to on‑time delivery.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive content/creative copy development experience.
• Exceptional creative writing and editorial skills; portfolio required.
• Experience developing and implementing editorial style guides and standards.
• Strong editing for brand guidelines and standards.
• Able to partner with all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop a variety of high‑quality content for toys, games, teacher guides, activity cards, catalogs, and digital assets from conception to publication.
• Apply editorial skills through all stages: substantive editing, copyediting, proofreading, and contextual editing.
• Develop fresh brand‑building copy for product descriptions, packaging, landing pages, digital assets, samplers, sell sheets, video scripts, and more.
• Write, review, fact check, and edit content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to style and brand guidelines.
• Perform other duties as needed to meet department and company goals.

Skills

Creative writing

Editorial skills

Brand‑building copy

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English/Communications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Senior Communications Editor

Regular Full-Time hand2mind, Vernon Hills, IL, US

Salary Range: $85,000.00 To $95,000.00 Annually

About hand2mind

For more than 60 years, hand2mind has inspired learning through play by creating hands‑on, classroom‑tested materials that help children learn by doing. We’re a growing, family‑owned company recognized as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and trusted by teachers and families alike. We create a wide range of educational products—classroom tools like Hands-on Standards®, consumer products for NumberBlocks®, and innovative items like our new BubblePlush™ Yoga Balls. If you’re curious, collaborative, and a kid at heart, you’ll feel right at home here. Join us in shaping the future of learning with our award‑winning team!

Team & Position Description

We are currently seeking a versatile, highly skilled Senior Communications Editor to join our Product Development Content team! As Senior Communications Editor, you will be responsible for concepting, writing, and editing a variety of creative, impactful educational product content and product copy for toys, games, curriculum materials, digital assets, and more. You will play a pivotal, hands‑on role in content development and strategy to inform and inspire our diverse audience, meeting the highest standards of storytelling, quality, accuracy, and engagement.

This role offers the chance to shape content innovation, actively build our brand through your exceptional creative writing skills, apply your editorial expertise to align editorial processes and standards across teams, and own content development from ideation to on‑time delivery. As a content liaison, you will partner closely with product managers, designers, and marketers on challenging, meaningful, multifaceted projects that support your career growth in a deeply collaborative and mission‑driven environment.

What You’ll Do Day to Day (Responsibilities)

• Use your exceptional creative writing skills to develop a variety of high‑quality product‑related content for toys, games, teacher guides, activity cards, catalogs, and digital assets from conception to publication.
• Apply your established editorial skills and experience through all editorial stages, from substantive and line editing to copyediting, proofreading, and contextual editing to deliver polished, purposeful, impactful content.
• Develop fresh, brand‑building copy for product descriptions, packaging, landing pages, digital assets, samplers, sell sheets, video scripts, and more.
• Write, review, fact check, and edit content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to style and brand guidelines.
• Perform other duties as needed to meet department and company goals.

What We’re Looking For (Key Performance Objectives)

• In the first 3 months:
  • Review and audit Editorial Resource Library, style guides, and monday.com content development processes, recommending changes aligned with industry‑leading standards.
  • Develop and edit high‑quality, engaging product copy for annual catalogs and product landing pages.
• Within 6 months:
  • Implement product content development processes and best practices across a variety of guides, cards, and digital assets for different audiences.
  • Help manage, onboard, and support a growing network of freelance writers, editors, and subject matter experts.
• Within 12 months:
  • Partner with Editorial Manager to help lead content and copy development for 30+ new consumer products.
  • Review and implement editorial workflow efficiencies using emerging AI tools and technology, reducing time on repetitive or administrative tasks.

Requirements/Ideal Attributes

• Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive content/creative copy development experience.
• Exceptional creative writing and editorial skills—portfolio and/or samples required; certifications are a plus.
• Experience in developing and/or implementing editorial style guides and standards.
• Strong critical thinking, problem‑solving, interpersonal, and communication skills; able to partner with all levels of the organization.
• Solid understanding of project management and experience in handling complex projects.
• Ability to accept and apply constructive criticism and feedback from multiple stakeholders in a fast‑moving environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite.

We are a drug‑free workplace and an EEO employer.

Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.

Compensation Range: $85,000 – $95,000 annual salary – Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set and location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here).